The African Galapagos Have One Of The World's Least-Visited Islands
By Angelica Tobit
VACATIONS
Ranked as one of the least-visited countries in the world by the World Population Review, the African islands of São Tomé and Príncipe welcomed just 15,000 tourists in 2021.
The incredible biodiversity of these islands earn them the nickname of 'the African Galapagos.' They are a prime holiday destination for beach lovers and outdoor enthusiasts.
The islands' golden sand beaches are spectacular and often quiet due to fewer tourists. Visitors should come prepared to embrace a slower pace of life here.
Visit Obo National Park — a protected space consisting of rainforest, swampland, and mangrove forests. It is home to endemic species of birds, reptiles, butterflies, and plants.
Travelers eager to experience ecotourism should venture to the untamed natural playground on Príncipe Island, with 90% of the landmass still cloaked in rainforest.
Príncipe is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and is home to the São Tomé free-tailed bat, the Príncipe scops owl, the Príncipe kingfisher, and the palm forest tree frog.