Sao Tome and Principe Travel Overview
At a glance
Capital: Sao Tome
Official language: Portuguese
Currency: Dobra
Continent: Central Africa
The advertising paradise
The island state of Sao Tome and Principe is often used for commercials.
Location
According to Countryaah, the island state of Sao Tomé and Príncipe is located in Western Africa about 200 kilometers off the coasts of Equatorial Guinea and Gabon. After the Seychelles, Sao Tomé and Prinicpe is the second smallest state in Africa. The official language is Portuguese.
Vacation on Sao Tome
The islands are the tips of extinct volcanoes and are therefore characterized by rugged landscapes and lush tropical rainforests. On the islands, the main attraction is definitely the lush rainforests. The west of Sao Tome is popular for hiking. The starting point for this is usually the Bom Successo ecotourist camp.
Vacation on Principe
The somewhat small island of Principe is still clearly marked by the Portuguese colonial past. Principe is popular as a base camp with divers. A Bacardi commercial was once filmed there, so don’t be surprised if the place looks familiar to you.
Mobility
You can only reach the island from Europe by direct flight from Lisbon. Otherwise there are open jaws via Libreville in Gabon and Luanda in Angola.
Once in Sao Tome you will find taxis at Praça de Taxis. You can be driven alone, like in a German taxi, or wait for other passengers to get on to the same destination, then the price is shared. There are also a handful of small public buses. All hotels also rent cars, which are essential if you want to go to remote areas.
Important facts
Capital: Sao Tome
Official language: Portuguese
Currency
Currency (sub-unit)
Dobra (100 centimes)
ISO 4217 code
STD / 678
Geography
Continent: Africa
Region: Central
Geo coordinates: N 0 ° 11 ‘10.9 ” E 6 ° 36’ 47.1″
Highest mountain: Pico de Sao Tome (2,024 m)
Total area: 1,001 km²
Mainland: 1,001 km²
Coastline: 209 km
Politics
Dependency: Portugal until 1975
UN member since: 1975
Other political affiliation: African Union
Form of government: Presidential Democracy
Economy
Export goods: Cocoa, palm oil, bananas
Inflation rate: 15.8%
Export: $ 9,600,000
Import: $ 40,000,000
Electricity consumption: 20 million KWh
Cultivation area: 57.4%
Demographic data
Residents: 193,400
Residents in cities: 92,800
Average age: 16.2 years
0-14 years: 47.4%
15-64 years: 48.8%
> 65 years: 3.8%
Population growth: 3.15%
Birth rate: 40.25 / 1,000 residents
Death rate: 6.47 / 1,000 residents
Migration: -2.32 / 1,000 residents
Ratio men / women: 0.98
Fertility: 5.62 children / woman
Infant mortality: 41.83 ‰
Life expectancy men: 65.73 years
Life expectancy women: 68.95 years
Country codes and abbreviations
ISO 3166 Alpha 2: ST
ISO 3166 Alpha 3: STP
ISO 3166 numeric: 678
Top Level Domain: st
IOC country code: STP
UN / LOCODE: ST
Source: Abbreviationfinder
Transportation
Merchant fleet (ships over 1,000 GRT): 8th
Health
Number of doctors: 70
Daily food intake: 2,580 kcal / resident
Education
History
Foundation: 1975
Last sovereign since: 1975
Religion
Main religious group: Christians
Crime
Prison inmates: 100
Defense Spending: $ 600,000
GETTING THERE
Arriving by plane
TAP Portugal (TP) (Internet: www.flytap.com) offers regular flights between São Tomé and Libreville (Gabon) with connections to Europe. There are also scheduled flights from Portugal (Lisbon) and Angola. The cheapest connections from Germany, Austria and Switzerland are via Lisbon.
Departure fee
Adults: 450,000 Dobra (approximately US $ 25); Children (2-11 years): approx. US $ 15. The fee must be paid in cash upon departure.
Arrival by ship
The main port is São Tomé. Few international cruise lines and other passenger ships call at it, but boats from Libreville and Doula stop here.
ON THE GO
Traveling by plane
Scheduled air traffic with the national airline Air São Tomé e Príncipe (KY) from São Tomé to Principe (flight time approx. 40 minutes).
On the way by car / bus
The 117 km long road network is only partially asphalted. All-wheel drive vehicles are necessary for trips outside of the cities.
The bus network is good (only minibuses on Principe).
Taxis are also available.
Rental cars can be obtained from various car rental companies and from the Hotel Miramar (see accommodation).
Documentation: International driver’s license.
Out and about by ship
Relatively irregular ferry connections.
