Upon landing at Sao Tome airport, you will transfer by private car to your hotel Omali Lodge. Experience an appealing oasis on the shores of Lagarto Beach, a short distance from the cultural attractions of São Tomé City. Settle into Omali’s comforts – a fabulous place to first base yourself when exploring this exciting equatorial island. Explore the capital city where you’ll find a rich cultural history with an extraordinary collection of colonial buildings with vibrant markets, fascinating museums line the port with exhibits that will tell you stories of colonial times, slavery, voodoo, and facts about the turtle population.
Head out on a day trip to explore central inland Sao Tomé where you’ll explore the beautiful countryside. Start the day at the Monte Café, an old restored coffee plantation, and a museum where you can sample the delicious local coffee. You’ll learn the difference between Arabica and Robusta beans cultivated by the renowned Claudio Coralla. You’ll then drive to the impressively beautiful Cascata Sao Nicolao waterfall, a narrow fall immersed in the Sao Tome jungle where you can dip your feet into the chilled mountain water. Delight in lunch with a view overlooking the tropical jungle canopy whilst dining on local delicious home-cooked cuisines.
Head out inland to the tropical rainforest around the Obo National Park where you’ll embark on a three day-jungle trek which will take you up to the foot of the island’s highest peak, Pico do São Tomé, reaching a towering height of 2024m. Trek through the vivid green, lush volcanic slopes and spot endemic species, including rare birds and monkeys. To unwind after the long trek, you’ll be greeted at the beautiful Roca Santo Antonio Ecolodge where you can relax with all the usual comforts combined with delicious homemade cuisine.
With the surrounding areas bursting with wildlife both on land and underwater, head to Lagoa Azul, the Blue Lagoon, for an exceptional diving experience. Due to the islands’ equatorial locations, you can find fantastic dive conditions all year round. The coastal waters fall within the Gulf of Guinea, a marine biodiversity hotspot, where you’ll discover vibrant coral reefs hosting tropical fish species, rays, moray eels, gorgonian sea fans, and a variety of octopi. The coastal areas also provide very important breeding grounds for hawksbill, green, and leatherback turtles.