Do you know São Tomé and Príncipe? Located in the heart of the Gulf of Guinea and less than 250 kilometers from the Gabonese coast, this small archipelago, still untouched by tourists – attracting only 30,000 visitors annually, making it one of the least visited countries in the world – is just beginning to open up to lovers of wild and lush nature. This is where we suggest you head, from November 28 to December 6, 2020, for an off-the-beaten-track trip organized by the tour operator Awateha and accompanied by Sandrine Leveugle-Souan, web editor-in-chief of the magazine.Des rich and preserved marine lifeThis new untouched diving territory is a real paradise: « It is the only place in the Eastern Atlantic with a coral reef « , explains Luís Castelo Branco, instructor at the Dive Tribe diving center, which opened two bases in São Tomé and Príncipe in 2019. « The marine life is beautiful, in excellent health. The topography is varied, with caves, arches. There is a lot of endemism, a huge biodiversity.« 
You can observe many species of seahorses, several of which are endemic to the archipelago. Also, frogfish, many moray eels, large solitary barracudas, and numerous turtles. Five species lay eggs annually on the archipelago’s beaches between November and February, mainly hawksbill, green, and olive ridleys, but also leatherback and loggerhead turtles.
Situated between 8 and 23 meters deep, several wrecks are easily accessible to all divers, particularly fish-rich: « Fishermen do not come to these sites due to the risk of snagging their nets« , explains Luís Castelo Branco. « As a result, these wrecks are teeming with life.« Head out of the waterFormer Portuguese colonies, these volcanic islands offer breathtaking hikes between equatorial forest and plantations. Sometimes referred to as the « African Galapagos, » the island’s rich jungles and volcanic peaks are full of endemic plants, including hundreds of orchid species and extraordinary 3-meter-high begonias. There are also many wild animals to observe, notably the smallest ibis in the world and the largest sunbird in the world. Until 1913, São Tomé and Príncipe, « the chocolate islands, » was the world’s largest chocolate producer. Today, a few plantations remain, some of which can be visited. On the Turtle Dove Island, waterfalls and fruit trees abound.
From November 28 to December 6, the itineraryFlights from France necessarily pass through Lisbon.
Upon your arrival on the island of São Tomé in the late afternoon, you join the Pestana São Tomé hotel, where you stay for the first 3 nights.The Pestana Sao Tomé is a 5-star hotel located 1 km from the center of Sao Tomé city and 1 minute from the beach. This beachfront hotel offers elegantly decorated rooms, all equipped with a television and stunning sea views. You can enjoy the hotel’s restaurant, an infinity pool with panoramic ocean views, a private beach, a fitness center, and a gym. Free Wifi. Restaurants and bars are nearby.
On the 4th day, your transfer takes place by road and then by boat to the Turtle Dove Island, a small piece of nature 3 km2 South of São Tomé considered one of the most important ecological sanctuaries on the planet. For the following 4 nights, you stay at the Pestana Ecuador hotel.Just 1 minute’s walk from the beach, Pestana Ecuador is a natural paradise surrounded by white sand beaches. The air-conditioned rooms offer a lovely view. The hotel features a seawater swimming pool, a spa, and a sports field. A restaurant and two bars are available to you. Free Wifi.
The dives at São Tomé and on Turtle Dove Island
You enjoy a 10-dive package with the Dive Tribe center, distributed throughout your stay. It is possible to carry out up to 3 or 4 immersions per day depending on the weather conditions: the water is warm, with good visibility and little current.
You dive on entirely virgin sites, very rich and colorful, and in the north of São Tomé, on easily accessible wrecks like the Barco Do Arroz, this rice-filled cargo ship that sank right in front of the island. Further south, Ponta Baleia is like an aquarium due to the abundant wildlife: it is one of the most beautiful dives on the island. To the East, many submerged peaks are accessible around Santana islet, around which it is common to encounter jacks, dorado, barracudas… You will also have the chance to swim at the « center of the world », at the intersection of the Equator with the Greenwich meridian!The Dive Tribe center has two recently constructed sites, integrated into the Pestana São Tomé (in the north) and Pestana Ecuador (in the south) hotels. They are PADI and SSI centers, equipped with Bauer compressors with the Securus system ensuring excellent air quality, and have recent Mares rental equipment. Nitrox available at an additional charge. Snorkeling trips are possible for non-divers.
For any registration request, contact Claire or Chloé at Awateha: claire@awateha.com, chloe@awateha.com. Tel.: 01.44.01.99.59