The São Tomé & Príncipe surf, tropic islands and unique culture is on offer on these islands. And there is even a upcoming tourism here that is nurtured in an ecofriendly manner.
São Tomé and Príncipe are two volcanic islands just off the coast of Gabon and here you will find your tropical paradise. Throw in a big potential for unexplored surf spots and you have a destination that will charm any soul surfer looking for both adventure and comfort in Africa. Only drag is the often pricy plane tickets.
The São Tomé & Príncipe Surf
The infrastructure doesn’t allow the west coast to be explored, yet. But you still find a couple of nice spot where the roads have reached so far.
Go explore either Príncipe or the west coast of São Tomé and you will probably find a lot more as these volcanic islands should pick up any swell in the Gulf of Guinea.
The better time to visit is in the dry season between April and October with June to September as the better months. And the good news is that the water is warm enough for just wearing you board shorts.
Africa – The Birth Place of Surfing
Also check out the surf movie “The Lost Wave – An African Surf Story” where we follow a group of american surfers searching for an ancient African surfing culture in São Tomé & Príncipe.
Look out for…
Not many hazards on these down tempo islands except the pricy plane tickets to get here. The cheapest leaves from Portugal or via Gabon (Libreville), where you can take a ferry – if you dare.
Other than that you can relax whenever you plan to arrive. Take your malaria pill, plunge in the surf, relax on the palm fringed beaches of São Tomé & Príncipe. Just remember to bring cash as there are no ATMs anywhere on the islands.
Visa to São Tomé & Príncipe
You must obtain your visa in advance and you also have to show a yellow fever vaccination to enter these little paradise islands.
São Tomé & Príncipe Surf Spots:
Lavaduro: Just south of São Tomé, Lavaduro offer one of the only mapped surf spots on the island. This will make a fine tubular wave when a big southern swell hits the island though. But it rarely gets big enough for that.
Ecolodge: On the southernmost tip of São Tomé Ecolodge where you can find some good lefts.
São Tomé West Coast: Not yet mapped as the access is very hard because of the lack of roads. Hire a boat or take a hike with your board and go explore.
Príncipe: No surf spots on the map here yet. All the breaks are up for grabs.
São Tomé & Príncipe Links:
www.saotomeislands.com
www.lowpressure.co.uk
www.surfline.com
After your visit to São Tomé & Príncipe please report back to GoSurfAfrica.com and let your experiences and photos benefit later surf explorers. Also contact us if you need more information about surfing in São Tomé & Príncipe and we will try to help you and answer all your questions: contact@gosurfafrica.com.