Bradt's Sao Tome and Principe is the only standalone guide to Africa's second-smallest country, considered by some to be the centre of the world as it is the site of the closest point to the intersection of the Greenwich Meridian and the Equator. In this comprehensively updated third edition, Kathleen Becker, regular tour leader for a major tour operator on Sao Tome, and Sean Connolly, who first visited and fell in love with Sao Tome in 2015 and has been raving about ever since, provide priceless insider information to the best spots for sleeping, eating and drinking, hiking, watersports, turtle-watching and rainforest hikes. Since the previous edition of this guide, a wider choice of accommodation has become available - trendy guesthouses, a surf lodge, a homestay and new plantation tourism on Principe to name a few options - and the country has gained an even greater reputation as a gourmet hiking destination, from the 'best chocolate in the world' to the freshest fish straight from the beach alongside the equator mark. Meanwhile, Principe, Sao Tome's jewel sister island, is now a UNESCO Biosphere offering more watersports opportunities such as stand-up paddle boarding and surfing lessons. Bradt's Sao Tome and Principe is the perfect companion for independent travellers, wildlife enthusiasts, trekkers, foodies, anyone interested in colonial history and African developments, or in setting up in business there. This indispensable guide to the second-most important biodiversity hotspot in Africa offers sections on background and practical information, followed by four easy-to-follow chapters on Sao Tome and a dedicated chapter on Principe. It shows the way to plantations lost in time and an organic cocoa cooperative and includes local expression, advice on cultural and medical issues as well as on how to get by on a budget in a destination without backpacker infrastructure. All budgets are catered for, from luxurious chic boutique resorts to city apartments and budget guesthouses. It also includes additional contributions by local experts on wildlife, politics and economy, controversies and tourism.

PART 1 GENERAL INFORMATION Chapter 1 Background Information Geography and climate, Natural history and conservation, History, Politics and society, Economy, People, Religion, Education, Culture Chapter 2 Practical Information When to visit, Highlights and itineraries, Tour operators, Red tape, Embassies and consulates, Getting there and away, Health, Safety, What to take, Money, Budgeting, Getting around, Accommodation, Eating and drinking, Public holidays and opening hours, Shopping and services, Activities, Arts and entertainment, Photography, Media and communications, Language, Business, Buying property, Tourism, Cultural etiquette, Travelling positively PART 2 Sao Tome Chapter 3 Sao Tome: the Capital Highlights, Getting there and away, Getting around, Tourist information and travel agencies, Where to stay, Where to eat and drink, Entertainment and nightlife, Shopping, Other practicalities, What to see and do Chapter 4 The North and Northwest Highlights, Getting around, Northern beaches, Guadalupe town, From Guadalupe to Neves, Neves, Neves to the end of the road Chapter 5 The Interior Highlights, Getting around, Madre de Deus, West of Madre de Deus, Trindade, From Trindade to Bombaim, Towards Bom Sucesso, Monte Cafe and Nova Moca Chapter 6 The East and South Highlights, Getting around, From Sao Tome to Sao Joao dos Angolares, Sao Joao dos Angolares and around, From Sao Joao dos Angolares to Porto Alegre, Around Porto Alegre, Ilheu das Rolas, The Southwest PART 3 Principe Chapter 7 Principe Highlights, History, Culture and tradition, Getting there and away, Getting around, Other practicalities, Santo Antonio: the capital, Exploring the rest of Principe, Activities, Bom Bom Island resort, Belo Monte, Sundy, beach resorts Appendices Wildlife Glossary Language Further Information Index