Snorkelling
The ocean surrounding the islands of Sao Tome and Principe in the Gulf of Guinea is one of the world’s hotspots for marine diversity, and time spent snorkelling is wonderfully rewarding.
Even though the islands are quite close to the African mainland, of the 240 species of tropical fish that have been recorded so far, many are endemic. It’s worth chatting to our island specialists if you are keen to snorkel, as some places are better than others for spotting fish. As well as accessing good sites straight from the beach (always check it’s safe first), you might like to join our organised trips to the best snorkelling sites.
Contact one of our team to find out more about doing some snorkelling during your tailor made holiday to São Tomé.
Best time to go
The tropical Islands of Sao Tome and Principe can be enjoyed during any month of the year. The most optimum months to visit are perhaps during the short dry season, between December and February, because this is a good time to see the turtles coming to shore to nest. The long dry season, between June and September, is the most settled. During the dry seasons the weather is usually warm and predominantly dry, but you can get some short downpours, and high humidity does mean that the skies are often overcast.
If you enjoy the intensity of short tropical downpours followed by clear blue skies, and an abundance of tropical foliage, then visit during the wetter months: October and November, and March to May.
Turtle nesting season runs from mid-November through to early February, with hatching generally occurring during March. October through to March are the optimum months for bird watching enthusiasts and there are a range of bird watching walks and excursions on offer. Humpback whale watching season is between late July and October, most of which falls in the long dry season, with the exception of October which is the wettest month on Sao Tome and Principe.
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
