The trip went well and the island was lovely, peaceful and quiet. The lodge was wonderful!

At Sao Tome everything runs smoothly :-)

Best regards,
Cecilie Tefre

 

My strongest impressions of the beautiful island of São Tomé:

…Visiting São Tomé town: the museum, for its eye-opening exhibits on the country’s colonial history; the market, for its pungent heaps of marlin, flying fish, bananas and mangoes; and Café e Companhia, the Portuguese expats’ favourite hangout, for strong black local coffee.

…Watching three-day-old turtle hatchlings being released into the ocean. I joined Hipólito Lima, a local conservation officer, as he carried the tiny turtles back to the beach where their mother had nested. We gently lowered them onto the sand and wished them well as they staggered into the surf. It was a genuinely moving moment.

…Lunch at Roça São João dos Angolares, a lovingly restored plantation house in rural São Tomé. It’s part restaurant, part guesthouse and part contemporary art project. We settled down on the wide veranda and owner João Carlos Silva and his team treated us to a succession of tiny, immaculate dishes.

…Touring the islands by road. Both islands have some spectacular scenery – wild, craggy and lush – and both stay green all round thanks to their truly impressive tropical downpours.

Thank you to all at Africa’s Eden for giving me a fascinating first glimpse of this intriguing little country.