Bradt's São Tomé & Príncipe is the only standalone guide to Africa's
second-smallest country, still home to the Voice of America, and
considered by some to be the centre of the world as it is the site of
the closest point to the intersection of the Greenwich Meridian and the
Equator. In this comprehensively updated third edition, Kathleen
Becker - regular tour leader for a major tour operator on São Tomé -
provides priceless insider information to the best spots for sleeping,
eating and drinking, hiking, watersports, turtle watching and rainforest
hikes.Since the previous edition of this guide, a wider choice of
accommodation has become available: trendy guesthouses, a surf lodge, a
homestay and new plantation tourism on Príncipe to name a few options.
Maybe the biggest surprise to visitors is the gourmet food available
here, from the 'best chocolate in the world' to the freshest fish,
straight from the beach alongside the Equator mark. Meanwhile, Príncipe,
São Tomé's jewel sister island, is now a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, and
offers watersports opportunities such as stand up paddle and surfing
lessons.Bradt's São Tomé & Príncipe is the perfect companion for
independent travellers, wildlife enthusiasts, trekkers, foodies and
anyone interested in colonial history and African developments. This
indispensable guide to one of Africa's most important biodiversity
hotspots offers sections on background and practical information,
followed by four easy-to-follow chapters on São Tomé and a dedicated
chapter on Príncipe. It shows the way to plantations lost in time and an
organic cocoa cooperative, and also includes local expressions, advice
on cultural and medical issues as well as on how to get by on a budget
in a destination without backpacker infrastructure. All budgets are
catered for, from luxurious chic boutique resorts to city apartments and
budget guesthouses. It also includes additional contributions by local
experts on wildlife, politics and economy, controversies and tourism.
