Southern Beaches of Sao Tome

This is a fun day out, starting with a departure from Omali Lodge around 09h00. Set off with your private guide and private driver on the journey to the remote south coast of the island, in your 4-wheel drive vehicle. As there are some rough roads in the route today, sturdy transportation is essential. 

Stop first at a Mangrove site, where a resident fisherman will take you for a boat excursion. Then continue through countryside which strongly evokes images of the equatorial African mainland with tropical crops such as plantain, yam, cassava and papaya, very much in evidence. Occasionally you may also be slowed down by an 'African roadblock' i.e. herders with their cattle. But any resemblance to mainland tropical Africa go out the window when you first see the insanely steep basalt column Pico Cão Grande, one of Sao Tome's hallmark images, looming in the distance. You'll have the chance to take some obligatory images of this incredible formation. 

Continue further along the road to the lovely Praia Inhame, a white sand beach off which swimming is enjoyable and safe. Here you can also see a turtle hatchery with nest markers: an incredible 5 species of marine turtle come to nest on the beaches of Sao Tome. Turtle fans who wish to see females depositing eggs, should plan trips in November while those wishing to see (and assist) hatchlings making it to the ocean, ought to travel from January to March. Do note though that a night's stay in the very simple Praia Inhame Ecolodge would be needed, because seeing marine turtles laying eggs is done at night, while the hatchlings can be viewed generally in late afternoons, by prior arrangement. 

Praia Inhame Ecolodge has a relaxed restaurant where lunch can be enjoyed - or, we can arrange lunch at the basic Jalé Ecolodge at the next beach, the beautifu Praia Jalé beach, a larger beach where swimming is not recommended however, due to crosscurrents.  In the afternoon, depart on the approximately 2 hour drive back to Omali Lodge.