São Tomé and Príncipe Trips & Tours

Getting there You’ll most likely catch a connecting flight from Cape Town or Johannesburg in South Africa, which will land at São Tomé International Airport (TMS), which is just a 15-minute drive from the capital city. If you are travelling on to Príncipe, flights run six days a week and you will land at Principe Airport, after 35 minutes in the air.

Health & Safety Please consult your personal physician and/or a travel clinic preferably 6 weeks prior to your departure. Vaccine requirements vary based on your country of origin and your travel itinerary and your previous vaccination history. It is best to consult with your physician or the CDC website for guidelines. Important vaccinations to consider and which may either be required or recommended are: Hepatitis A & B and yellow fever. Please always carry your ‘International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICVP)’ or ‘Yellow Card’ with you. A number of mosquito-borne illnesses are present in São Tomé and Príncipe so wearing insect repellent and taking other precautions is necessary. Malaria We advise that you consult a medical practitioner at least six weeks prior to travel. Malaria is present in São Tomé and Príncipe, and it is strongly advisable to take malaria prophylactics before, during and after your visit. Please consult a medical professional regarding which prophylactics will be suitable for you. In addition to the recommendations of your travel clinic or physician, you may also consider the following proactive preventative measures: ● Apply insect repellent to exposed skin. Recommended repellents contain 20-35% DEET but it is a very virulent repellent, and should be used cautiously. ● Wear long-sleeved clothing and long pants at dawn and dusk, as well as closed shoes. ● Use a mosquito net if your tent or room isn't screened or air-conditioned; and spray insecticide or burn a mosquito coil before going to bed. If you come down with flu-like symptoms either during or within four to six weeks after your visit to a malaria area, seek a doctor's advice immediately and let him/her know that you have been in a malaria area. You can also visit www.malaria.org.za for more information. Communication Country code: +239 Calling overseas from São Tomé and Príncipe: From a landline dial 00 followed by the country code plus area code and number. e.g. USA: 00 1 910 795 1048 When calling from a cell phone dial + prefix followed by the country code plus area code and number. e.g. USA: + 1 910 795 1048

Money The Dobra is the official currency of São Tomé and Príncipe, and is represented by the symbol Db. You can convert money to Dobra at a bank or Forex Bureau, or withdraw from an ATM, which can be accessed in São Tomé’s capital. Please check with your bank for charges and advice when using international ATMs. Credit cards are accepted in a limited number of places, but VISA and Mastercard are the most widely accepted. American Express has limited to no coverage. It is advisable to have some cash for smaller shops and tipping. IMPORTANT: When bringing foreign currency (e.g. USD, GBP, EUR) into the country, be sure to have the new format with no damage or marks. Gratuities We must stress that tipping is not compulsory or expected; rather it is an extra reward for excellent service. If you are pleased with the service you receive you are more than welcome to tip your guide or the staff. Tipping is usually done at the end of your trip, and you may tip the staff individually, place a tip for all the staff in the box or do both. Tips can be made in Dobra or US Dollars. Gratuities suggestions: Lead guide: $15 - $20 per guest per day Transfer drivers (e.g. in cities or between airport and hotel/lodge): $5 per guest per transfer Porter: $1 per bag Ranger or any “ancillary” guides on ad-hoc basis for a specific activity: $5 - $10 per guest per activity General lodge staff (put in a central box in each camp’s main area): $10 - $15 per guest per day

Insurance It is a condition of booking that you carry the correct comprehensive travel and medical insurance to cover yourself, as well as any dependents/travelling companions for the duration of your trip. This insurance should include cover in respect of, but not limited to, the following eventualities: Compulsory Insurance: a. Emergency evacuation expenses b. Medical expenses c. Repatriation expenses Recommended Insurance: a. Cancellation or curtailment of trip b. Damage/theft/loss of personal luggage, money and goods

As a general precaution, we recommend you make several copies of your travel-related documents (passport, traveller’s cheques, credit cards, itinerary, airline tickets, insurance cover, visas, etc). Leave one set at home, and bring another set with you, and place it in a location separate from your originals. Those staying less than 15 days in São Tomé and Príncipe can get a visa on arrival at the international airport. If you are staying for longer, apply for a visa before you depart, which you can do online at http://www.smf.st. Passports MUST be valid for at least six months (we recommend nine) from your departure from São Tomé and Príncipe to home. There must be at least TWO consecutive blank VISA pages in the passport (not endorsement pages). Please do contact the embassy or consultant in your home country to reconfirm visa requirements, as they change often. Visa Central is also a good resource for further information.

What to pack Climate Both islands experience a tropical climate with the driest months falling between June and September, as well as December and February. However, São Tomé and Príncipe can be visited all year round with an average temperature of 27° near the coast and 20° in the interiors. There are also periods of cooler but relatively rain-free weather when hiking is especially pleasant. What to pack Light, long trousers and long-sleeve shirts LIght rain coat Hiking shoes and sandals Sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat Swimming costume Toiletries – most lodges will provide shampoo, shower gel and soap Insect repellent Spare batteries, plug adaptors and charging equipment A good pair of Binoculars Books or a fully loaded Kindle / iPad for down time Most lodges will have a small medical and first aid kit, but we recommend bringing your own supply of essentials - cough medicine, plasters, vitamins, aspirin and paracetamol, and anything else you use on a regular basis. Camera Equipment (for the enthusiasts) • A telephoto lens (200/300mm) • Flash and fast film (400 ASA) for night photography • Lots of film (64,100,200,400 ASA) if using an SLR camera • Spare memory cards for digital cameras • Camera cleaning equipment and a good dust proof bag • Bring spare batteries as although you may recharge your batteries at the camps, charging capacity can be limited. Luggage Many international airlines have a baggage allowance of 20 kgs or more per person, but please check this with your individual airline. On the flight from Sao Tome to Principe, the checked luggage is 15kg per person. Electricity São Tomé and Príncipe uses type C and F plugs, the standard voltage is 220 V and the standard frequency is 50 Hz.