The nation of Equatorial Guinea sits on the Gulf of Guinea on the west coast of Central Africa. It’s home to about 620,000 residents with 95,000 of them living in the capital
city of Malabo. Up until 1959 the country was a protectorate of Spanish Guinea and it gained full independence from Spain in 1968. The official languages are Spanish and French and
there are a few African languages spoken too. Equatorial Guinea enjoys a tropical climate throughout the year with quite a bit of rain. The driest season is from December to February.
Equatorial Guinea also consists of the island of Bioko, as well as the small islands of Great Elobey, Corisco, Annobon, and Small Elobey. The mainland area is known as Rio Muni and
consists of plantations, forests, and mountains. Some of the other popular towns are Luba, Bata, Mbini, Riaba, Ebebiyin, and Mongomo.
The country is filled with beautiful scenery and lush vegetation, such as snow-capped volcanoes and tropical forests. The capital of Malabo is located on Bioko
and is pretty charming and features old and interesting Spanish architecture, along with an active market. The Spanish Cultural
Center is a great place to learn about local culture and history. The white sandy beaches are spectacular around the coastal areas and islands. The towns of Luba and Bata have some great deserted sandy beaches as does Mbini.
The beaches are excellent for swimming and water sports and there are some wonderful hiking trails on Bioko, especially in the south. Mountain climbing is popular on Bioko’s Pico
Malabo volcano, but you need a government permit to scale it because it’s in a military zone.
The main airport is in Malabo and it handles a lot of flights from Europe and Africa. There’s also an airport in Bata and you can rent cars there. Those two towns also have seaports
and run ferries over to Douala, in the country of Cameroon. There are road links to Gabon and Cameroon, but it’s a good idea to check ahead of time to see if the borders are open.
Once you’re in Equatorial Guinea, there are flights between Bata and Malabo every day but Sunday. You can travel the islands by road, but you might need a four-wheel drive when it
rains. Minibuses are also available as well as bush taxis.
There are several restaurants and hotels in the country and most of those are in Bata and Malabo. The majority of them specialize in continental and Spanish dishes. Some of the best
local dishes include chicken with cream sauce or peanut butter, rice, boiled plantain, grilled fish and meat served in leaves with crushed pumpkin seeds, cassava, yams, sweet potatoes,
and plantains. A couple of the best local drinks are called Malamba, which is made from local sugar cane, an African tea called Osang, and locally-made palm wine and beer. The
nightlife’s a little scarce, but it’s quite lively in Bata and Malabo as there are lively clubs and outdoor bars.
Equatorial Guinea offers some amazing scenery and beaches with several interesting towns to visit and activities to enjoy.
About Equatorial Guinea