Island feeling

• São Tomé City Tour
  Visit the old city centre and get a feel of what São Tomé was like during the colonial era. At the lively Mercado Central, you will discover the islands products and the Calilu’s secret ingredients. With a visit to the National Museum, our guide will tell you about the life on the plantations and São Tomé’s tormented pre-independence history.
   
• Visit to Bom Sucesso Botanical Garden
  São Tomé’s native flora (700 species including a hundred orchids) and fauna (birds and marine turtles) are of particular interest, as many of its species are endemic. Indeed, it is possible to see more than 100 different orchids from the island at the Bom Sucesso Botanical Garden.
   
• Sea Turtle Night Patrol
  Marine turtles have been coming to São Tomé for millions of years. Between October and April, five species can be seen on the island: the green turtle, the leatherback, the olive riddley, the hawksbill and the caouanne. We invite you to accompany our eco-guides on their nightly patrols of the beach to supervise and protect the sea turtles as they crawl ashore to nest

Day 2: Saturday -  Flight to Príncipe

Day 3 – 7: Sunday - Wednesday - Príncipe

While Bom Bom is a wonderful place to relax and recharge your spirit, there is also plenty there to explore and discover. 

• Santo Antonio City Tour

  It is a photographer’s dream: the rustic town of Santo Antonio tells the colourful story of a colonial Portuguese village that is now home to the people of Príncipe. Enjoy the warm, friendly atmosphere of the town as you stroll through its streets, visit the fish and fresh produce markets, and step into some of the old shops with their assorted goods and trinkets. Sample some of the local delicacies or see what natural remedies the chemist might prescribe. 

• Hiking

  Circumnavigate Bom Bom Island by foot, and discover its beautiful rock pools with their own ecosystems varying from one pool to the next. Or go on a leisurely hike through the forest to experience the sounds of the jungle and catch glimpses of a Mona monkey or the African grey parrot. If you are looking for something more challenging, you can mount the peak “Pico Papagaio”. At the start of the climb, you will see the daily life at a livestock farm. From here we follow the old historic trail to the top of Pico Papagaio, which rises at the centre of the island to a height of 680 metres. Reaching the summit, you are met by breathtaking views of the island. 

• Kayaking

  Let our guides introduce you to kayaking on the calm waters around Bom Bom Island, then kayak out to the ruins of the old church from the first Portuguese
  settlement on Príncipe 400 years ago or visit a fishing village. If you get the hang of it, you can also paddle out to an idyllic beach named Praia Banana, where you can enjoy a picnic lunch followed by some snorkelling between the huge volcanic boulders. 

• Quad Biking

  At Bom Bom Island Resort we use quad bikes as mere tools for experiencing nature in a more adventurous way. All quad bike excursions are guided and stick to designated trails. Utility quads are used to ensure the minimum environmental impact. A short introductory course is available for beginners. 

• Diving*) & Snorkelling

  Discover the underwater world of Bom Bom! São Tomé and Príncipe, both ancient volcanic islands, are home to some of the world’s most spectacular rock formations, above and below the waterline. With drop-offs of over 35 metres, overhangs and cascading boulders, there is plenty of sea life here to keep you coming back for more!
   
  *) One dive per person is included in the price. Bom Bom has a certified NAUI dive instructor. Based on NAUI's policy, the minimum age for children to go diving is 12 years old. For more information, please see our special diving packages.  

• Whale Watching*) 

  From mid-July to mid-September, humpback whales visit the waters around Bom Bom as they migrate from their low-latitude summer feeding grounds to more tropical mating and calving areas.
   
  *) Please note that sightings cannot be guaranteed and this excursion is not included in the cost of this programme and that a surplus will be charged. 
   

• Deep-sea fishing *) 

  The tropical island of Príncipe is one of the world’s least explored and most exciting Big-Game Sport Fishing destinations. Target the elusive large blue marlin and world-record size sailfish that have rightfully made the area so famous, as well as a vast variety of other game fish such as yellowfin tuna, wahoo, dorado, snapper and barracuda, amongst many others. Africa’s Eden practises a catch and release policy for all billfish captured, and caters for experienced and novice anglers alike. We take pride in introducing you to this thrilling sport and the magic of our seas. 
  
   *) For more information, please see our special fishing packages. Please note that deep-sea fishing is not included in the cost of this programme and that a surplus will be charged. 

• Bird-watching expeditions 

  Príncipe is a birder’s paradise. Discover some of the island’s many exotic birds, including 7 endemic species. You can spot African grey parrots, palm swifts, Príncipe weavers, bronze mannikins, bronze-naped pigeons and a few cattle egrets. Dohrn’s thrush-babblers, Príncipe Drongo’s, Príncipe sunbirds, blue-breasted kingfishers and Mona monkeys can also be heard here.
   
  In the evenings, enjoy the wonderful cuisine of our Indian chef who is only too pleased to share his knowledge with you! 

Day 8: Friday – Flight back to Libreville / Europe / US

In the morning you will be brought to São Tomé airport for your connecting flight to Libreville, where you can connect to the international flight back to Europe / US.