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Equatorial Guinea

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Equatorial Guinea

DISCOVER EQUATORIAL GUINEA TOUR

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

Marvel in Equatorial Guinea’s to discover the incredible biodiversity, second only to the Amazon. The region is home to the second-largest forest globally, and Equatorial Guinea itself is home to 13 different protected areas, ranging from natural parks and monuments to scientific reserves. Beachgoers will also find stunningly clear waters juxtaposed against black volcanic beaches — and four species of sea turtle make their home in the country’s waters.

TOUR DESCRIPTION

Day 1 Arrival - Malabo

Upon arrival at SSG airport, you’ll be welcomed by our representative. Our team will provide airport assistance, baggage clearance, and, later on, transferred to your Hotel. After hotel check-in, a short briefing with the guide to fine-tune details of Equatorial Guinea’s next days. Dinner and night at Yoli Hotel or silimar

Day 2 - Malabo

Spend today exploring Equatorial Guinea’s capital. We visit the city centre with its colonial buildings dating back to the 19^th century, including the neo-Gothic cathedral, Independence Square, and market, a colourful and lively place and a good place to get to grips with local culture. We also visit the national park. Overnight Yoli Hotel or similar. (B)

Day 3 - Luba - Arena Blanca - Moka

After breakfast visit the town of Batete, with its unusual wooden church and cacao plantations. From here we drive to Luba, a small town with colonial architecture, and explore the picturesque coastal area of Arena Blanca. Continue to Moka where we will stay tonight. Overnight Moka Hotel or similar. (BD)

Day 4 - Moka

A full day to explore the village of Moka and its surrounding areas. Located on the heights of the volcanic massif, Moka is a good place to appreciate the island’s endemic forest and learn about the culture of the Bubi people, we visit the Iladyi waterfalls, where three branches of the Iladyi river plunge into a gorge of 250 metres, and hike through the forest (approx. 3 hours). In the afternoon we visit the Moka conservation center with BBPP. Dinner. Overnight Moka Hotel or similar. (BLD)

Day 5 Malabo- Bata

We leave the Hotel this day after breakfast and head on for the airport for the morning flight to the mainland part of the country, Bata. After a 20min flight, we attain Bata airport from where our local guide will transfer you to the Hotel for lunch. In the afternoon, we undergo a sightseeing tour of Bata, where and visit the clock square, the cathedral, the vibrant and colorful market, the mosque, and the central avenues. Time permitting, we may go to the seafront in Bomé for a beach walk in the afternoon before returning to the Ibis Hotel for the overnight and dinner.

Day 6 Bata – Mongomo

After breakfast, we leave Bata for Mongomo, which we attain three hours later. The road to Mongomo takes us across picturesque habitats and villages along the road bank with long patches of thick rainforest all through the distance. Upon arrival, we transfer to the Akoakam hotel for lunch and afterward depart for a sightseeing tour of Mongomo. Mongomo is the hometown of E. G’s first president, uncle to the current one. The Fang ethnic tribe inhabits it. With its more than seven thousand people, Mongomo is privileged for receiving president during long weekends. The town itself has less to offer if not for the beautiful stadium which hosted the 2015 African Cup Of Nations.

The newly built cathedral – a reduced copy of St Paul’s Cathedral in the Vatican- The center that boasts a stela in respect of the national history with the bust of the three leaders of the country: Bonifacio Ondo (Former head of internal autonomy during the Spanish reign), Francisco Masias the shot dictator and of course the current president Teodoro Obiang. Through picturesque habitats and villages along the road bank, we leave Mongomo in the afternoon and drive across long patches of thick rainforest and back to Oyala. Overnight at Djibloho Hotel

In the morning, we visit Oyala, a futuristic city that is soon to become the capital of Equatorial Guinea. Settled in the middle of the jungle, Oyala, also known as ‘the city to peace’, is a vast field under heaps of construction work. We will visit some gigantic buildings that will serve as government offices, hotels, supermarkets and others. We then leave for Bata, which we attain in the early afternoon after stopping at Anisok for a quick visit. From Bata, we catch the domestic flight to Malabo airport for check-in for the connecting flight back home.

Day 7 Mongomo - Oyala - Bata

Day 8 – Ureka

Today we head south to the southern coastal village of Ureka. With a record-breaking 10,450mm of rainfall per year, it is known as the wettest place in Africa and one of the wettest in the word. In Ureka we will visit the local base camp of the Bioko Biodiversity Protection Program (BBPP). From November to March BBPP researchers and staff are present to protect the turtle nesting sites of Ureka. During our visit we hope to see turtles come ashore to lay their eggs; a wonderful experience. Please note that it may be very late into the evening before the turtles come ashore and as with any wildlife viewing experience, guarantees cannot be given that the turtles will be seen. Also depending on the tides you should be prepared to wade through water as the tide comes in. It is important that shorts or swimwear is worn. Depending on the location of the nesting sites it can be up to a 2 hour walk along the beach in each direction. Later we return from the beaches of Ureka to our hotel in Luba. Arrival may be in the early hours of the morning. Overnight Hotel Nautico. (BL)

A leisurely start to the day before we take a lunchtime flight over to Río Muni, the country’s mainland region, where we touch down in the coastal city of Bata. Far larger than Malabo, this is the throbbing heart of the nation and a gateway to the African interior. Here you can enjoy a relaxing walk along the breezy maritime pathway, which runs the length of this long, thin city, and take in the sea views from your hotel. If you thought Malabo was a cultural melting pot, then prepare to be amazed by Bata, as you rub shoulders with Spanish businessmen, Italian engineers, Chinese construction workers, Middle Eastern hoteliers and African traders from across the region. These groups have all brought their own food, so the choice of restaurants and bars spread throughout the city is fantastic. As you might expect, there is also a strong cultural scene, centred mainly around the Spanish, French and Equatoguinean Cultural Centres, which feature musical performances, art displays and other events throughout the year. After an afternoon city tour, we will take dinner. Overnight Hotel Carmen. (BD)

Day 9 – Malabo – Bata

10 Bata – Rio Campo - Bata

Leaving Bata behind, we head up the north coast towards the border with Cameroon. Along the way we will make stops at the old Punta Mbonda lighthouse and Tika Beach before reaching Rio Campo where we will lunch. The River Campo forms the border between Equatorial-Guinea and Cameroon, and we are likely to meet friendly locals who make the crossing between the two countries in simple canoes. From Rio Campo we will head back down the coast to our hotel in Bata. Overnight Hotel Carmen. (BL)

Today we journey through the forested inland plateau to the President’s home town of Mongomo, on the Gabonese border. Home to a breathtaking series of architectural monuments, a particular highlight is the massive basilica styled after St Peter’s in the Vatican City. From Mongomo we continue to the country’s proposed new capital city of Djibloho, also known as Oyala. Truly isolated in the heart of the jungle, you will have the surreal experience of driving along a deserted eight lane highway until Oyala’s skyscrapers appear on the horizon, seemingly out of nowhere. Due for completion in 2020, the city already boasts a five star luxury hotel, our home for the night, and an 18 hole golf course. Overnight Hotel Djibloho (Oyala). (BD)

Day 11 – Mongomo – Djibloho (Oyala)

Day 12 – Monte Allen – Bata – Mbini - Cogo

Venturing back towards the coast, our next stop is Monte Allen National Park, a vast space which was previously home to an abundance of wildlife including forest elephants, Western Lowland Gorillas and chimpanzees. Sadly as the park has little infrastructure and has suffered from years of neglect and poaching, on a short visit we are unlikely to see any wildlife. Nonetheless, a visit is still recommended so we can enjoy the jungle experience, and discover one of Africa’s least visited national parks. From Monte Allen we head back to Bata and onto Mbini, located at the mouth of Benito River. The river landscape here is dominated by the Chinese-built suspension bridge which stretches 800m over the river, linking the southern portion of the coastline to Bata. The bridge is a sight to behold, especially at night when it is often lit up, but be careful taking photographs as bridges are designated ‘strategic sites’. Overnight Complejo Turistico de Mbini. (BD)

After breakfast we drive to Cogo located at the mouth of the Muni River, surrounded by the Reserva Natural del Estuario del Rio Muni. The government hopes to make Cogo a commercial and tourism hub in the area and it is expanding rapidly. The redevelopment of the waterfront is already underway and it is clear that the walkway by the town’s market is intended to a smaller version of the Paseo Maritimo in Bata. On a clear day you can see all the way across the river to Gabon. In the afternoon we return to Bata, where will have time for an early evening dinner, before taking the short flight back to Malabo. (BD)

Day 13 – Cogo – Bata - Malabo

Day 14 – Pico Basile

Drive up to the top of Pico Basile, the highest point on the island at 3018m and the highest in the country. The tour will also visit the Virgin of Bisila church. Later we return to Malabo in time for a check-in and departure of evening flights to Europe. (B)

Inclusions:

Arrival and departure transfers
All accommodation
Transportation
Domestic flights
Services of English speaking guide / tour leader
Meals as listed (B – Breakfast, L – Lunch, D – Dinner) –Entrance fees for sites listed as part of the itinerary
Tourist permits