Chocolate
Find the King of West African Chocolate, Claudio Corallo, at Roça Terreiro Velha plantation on Principé, and find out why São Tomé and Príncipe are known as the Chocolate Islands.
São Tomé and Príncipe will remind you why we travel in the first place. It is a place for travellers wanting to feel the wild soul of the world. São Tomé and Príncipe is the second-smallest country in Africa with a population of just over 200,000 people. Popular attractions include Bom Bom Island, Lagoa Azul, and Banana Beach.
Get ready to go where few have gone before with cheap flights to São Tomé and Príncipe. São Tomé International Airport (TMS) is the main airport serving the islands and is a 15-minute drive from the capital city, São Tomé. TMS serves TAAG Angola Airlines. Popular connecting flights to São Tomé and Príncipe depart from Cape Town and Johannesburg. The flight duration from Johannes-burg to São Tomé and Príncipe is about 9 hours.
| Flight Route | Airline | Trip Type | Travel Dates | Searched | Price From |
|---|
Find the King of West African Chocolate, Claudio Corallo, at Roça Terreiro Velha plantation on Principé, and find out why São Tomé and Príncipe are known as the Chocolate Islands.
Explore the islands of São Tomé and Príncipe and you will stumble upon many old Portuguese plantations that offer a glimpse into the fascinating history of this tiny island nation.
Praia Café is a decadent curve of velveteen sand and glittering blue water. Praia Bateria is quite possibly the cutest beach in the world. And Praia Banana was made famous in a Bacardi ad.
Essential details you need to know before your trip
| Currency | São Tomé and Príncipe Dobra |
|---|---|
| Exchange Rate | 1 ZAR = 1516 STD |
| Language | Portuguese |
| Hub Airport | São Tomé International Airport (TMS) |
| Time Zone | GMT+0 |
| Travel Adaptor | Type C & F |
São Tomé and Príncipe have a tropical climate with hot and humid weather throughout the year. Rainfall is abundant most of the year, but there are two dry seasons: December to February and June to September. These months are considered the best times to visit São Tomé and Príncipe. However, if you want to witness hundreds of turtles hatching, March is the best time to visit São Tomé and Príncipe.
Average temperature (°C) & rainfall (mm) per month
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low °C | 22°C | 22°C | 22°C | 22°C | 21°C | 20°C | 20°C | 20°C | 20°C | 21°C | 21°C | 21°C |
| High °C | 29°C | 29°C | 30°C | 29°C | 29°C | 27°C | 27°C | 27°C | 27°C | 27°C | 28°C | 28°C |
| Rainfall (mm) | 80 | 85 | 130 | 120 | 115 | 19 | 0 | 1 | 17 | 110 | 100 | 110 |
São Tomé and Príncipe is not a place where you will find shopping malls, ATMs, and all the luxuries of a resort island. It is a place where you will be dazzled by the soulful rhythm of an island nation lost in the sea and delighted by exotic beaches, world-class chocolate, and heavenly rum.
The biggest island, São Tomé, is home to Obo National Park, an enormous sprawl of tropical rainforest that hides strange and wonderful plant and animal life beneath its emerald canvas – a real treat for nature lovers and those looking for a little wild island adventure.
Lagoa Azul is a shimmering lagoon that offers some spectacular snorkelling for those wanting to get their fins wet. And Praia Jalé on the edge of São Tomé is famous for its nesting turtles.
The smaller island, Príncipe, is much less developed than its sister island, but is every bit as lovely and known for its beautiful beaches. Its most notable beaches are Praia Banana, Praia Burra, Praia Caju, and Praia Pretta.
Compare several airlines and book your cheap flights to São Tomé and Príncipe online at Travelstart!
South Africans need a visa to visit São Tomé and Príncipe unless they have a valid visa for the United States. You can obtain a visa from the São Tomé and Príncipe embassy in Angola or Gabon.
Your passport will need to be valid for 12 months beyond your return date to South Africa and have empty pages for entry stamps.
The Embassy of São Tomé and Príncipe in Gabon is situated in Libreville.
Address: Boulevard de l’Indépendance, Boîte Postale 489, Libreville
Phone: (+241) 01.72.15.27
The Embassy of São Tomé and Príncipe in Angola is situated in Luanda.
Address: Rua Comandante N`Zaiji N: 64/66, Miramar, 1304 Luanda
Phone: (+244) 222 326 224 / (+244) 222 328 663
Email: emb-stp.ango@snet.co.ao / emb-stame@snet.co.ao
São Tomé and Príncipe are generally considered quite safe, although the odd petty crime does happen. Avoid leaving valuables unattended and keep your wits about you as you would in any other unfamiliar country. Medical facilities are also limited, so travel insurance is recommended.
You will need a Yellow Fever certificate to visit São Tomé and Príncipe. Malaria is also present on the islands, so you should get some good quality anti-malarial tablets and take precautions to avoid mosquito bites. Some recommended vaccines include Bilharzia, hepatitis A & B, cholera, typhoid, rabies, MMR, diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis, varicella, polio, and influenza.
| Item | Cape Town | Johannesburg | São Tomé |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meal, inexpensive restaurant | R 120.00 | R 130.00 | R 318.53 |
| Domestic Beer (0.5 litre draught) | R 30.00 | R 30.00 | R 19.11 |
| Cappuccino (Regular) | R 25.32 | R 25.73 | R 15.93 |
| Taxi 1km (Normal Tariff) | R 10.00 | R 15.00 | R 24.02 |
| Pack of Cigarettes (Marlboro) | R 40.00 | R 45.00 | R 33.52 |
Explore our Hotel listings:
Need help with your booking? Contact our expert Travelstart Live agents for guidance and booking assistance.