São Tomé and Príncipe birding tour

Day 1: Arrival in São Tomé.
Upon arrival at São Tomé International Airport, you will be met by a company representative. After completing immigration formalities, collecting your luggage, and passing through customs, you will proceed to the main arrival hall, where we will be waiting to welcome you.

Once you have boarded your vehicle, you will be transferred to your accommodation. After check-in, your guide will provide a briefing on the following day’s activities and be available to answer any questions. Depending on your arrival time, you may enjoy an early evening meal in this stunning setting, allowing you to acclimate to the charm of West Africa at a relaxed pace.

Day 2-3: Birding in Monte Carmo.
Over the next two days, we will have early starts as we focus on locating some of the most elusive island endemics in the renowned Monte Carmo Forest. A hearty breakfast is essential before we set off, ensuring we are well-fueled for the demanding hike ahead. The trails can be slippery and challenging as we ascend Monte Carmo, requiring careful navigation.

To maximize our birding opportunities, our team will arrange packed lunches, allowing us to remain in the field throughout the day. We will return to our vehicles just before nightfall, ensuring we dedicate the most crucial hours to observing the remarkable endemic species that thrive in this protected forest.

Since some of the island’s most sought-after and elusive species are found in this area, we prioritize visiting Monte Carmo Forest early in the itinerary. This allows flexibility should we need to return before your departure.

We dedicate two full days to birding in this remote forest, covering both the lowland and higher elevations of Monte Carmo. Our primary focus will be on endemic species, including the São Tomé (Dwarf) Olive Ibis, São Tomé Short-tail (Bocage’s Longbill), Giant Sunbird, São Tomé Grosbeak, and São Tomé (Newton’s) Fiscal. Other species we hope to encounter include the São Tomé Weaver, São Tomé Oriole, São Tomé Paradise Flycatcher, Newton’s Sunbird, São Tomé Scops Owl, São Tomé Chestnut-winged Starling, Lemon (Forest) Dove, São Tomé Prinia, Red-headed Lovebird, São Tomé Speirops, Giant Weaver, and São Tomé Seedeater. Birding in São Tomé’s forests can be slow at times, but the reward of seeing these rare and endemic species in their natural habitat makes the effort worthwhile.

After two challenging yet rewarding days of birding, we return to our guesthouse, owned by São Tomé’s most renowned chef—so as you might expect, the cuisine is nothing short of exceptional.

Day 4: Flight to Príncipe and Island birding.
After an early breakfast, we transfer to the airport for our flight to the breathtaking island of Príncipe, where we will be staying for the next three nights. On the way, we make a stop at Rio Grande, where we hope to spot the São Tomé Kingfisher, Giant Sunbird, Common Moorhen, Little Egret, Striated Heron, and other species.

The flight to Príncipe has a luggage allowance of 15kg per person, with any additional weight charged a fee, due to the small aircraft size. If needed, we can arrange secure storage for any extra bags you wish to leave behind in São Tomé.

Príncipe, the smaller of the two main islands, has a population of approximately 8,000 people and is home to the stunning, untouched forests of Obo Natural Park. The island’s main town, Santo António, is the heart of local life. Upon arrival, we transfer to our accommodation, check in, and enjoy a relaxing lunch before setting out for an afternoon of birding.

This afternoon, we will explore the areas surrounding our hotel, as well as nearby bushland and forest edges, in search of our first endemic species on the island. As the day winds down, we return to our beautiful accommodation, enjoy a delicious evening meal, and reflect on the day’s sightings while preparing for the adventures ahead.

Day 5: Príncipe Island birding excursion.
We begin the day with an early breakfast before embarking on a boat trip to a remote part of Obo National Park, venturing deep into this pristine forest habitat in search of Príncipe’s endemic bird species. Our primary targets include the Príncipe Drongo, Príncipe Kingfisher, Príncipe Speirops, Príncipe Golden Weaver, Príncipe Sunbird, Príncipe Glossy Starling, Dohrn’s Thrush Babbler, and São Tomé Spinetail.

In addition to these sought-after endemics, we may also encounter other fascinating species such as the Gray Parrot, Blue-Breasted Kingfisher, African Green Pigeon, Western Olive Sunbird, Western Reef Heron, Yellow-billed Kite, African Palm Swift, and Little Swift. With a full day dedicated to exploring this rich habitat, we take a break to enjoy a packed lunch and a brief rest before continuing our afternoon birding.

After a rewarding and productive day immersed in nature, we return by boat to our accommodation. In the evening, we venture to a different part of the island, where we have previously recorded sightings of the recently discovered Príncipe Scops Owl. We will dedicate quality time to searching for this elusive nocturnal species before returning for a well-earned rest.

Day 6: Príncipe Island birding excursion.
We begin the day with an early breakfast before setting off on a boat trip to a different part of the archipelago, where we will visit one of the most significant seabird colonies in this region of Africa—Bone de Jokey and Tinhosas. Here, we will search for additional island endemics, as well as a variety of seabird species, including Storm Petrel, White-tailed Tropicbird, Brown Booby, Bar-tailed Godwit, Ruddy Turnstone, Common Tern, Bridled Tern, Sooty Tern, Black Noddy, and Common Noddy, among many others.

A stop at Bone de Jokey offers the opportunity to observe the (Bone) Príncipe Seedeater, which features a heavier, longer, and broader bill compared to its counterpart on the Príncipe mainland.

After an enriching morning and early afternoon of birding, we return to Príncipe. If we were unsuccessful in spotting the Príncipe Scops Owl the previous evening, we will dedicate this night to another search in the island’s forest before heading back to our accommodation to relax and enjoy a well-deserved dinner.

Day 7: Flight to São Tomé and Birding North of the Island.
We begin the morning with an hour of birding in the surrounding habitat, giving us a final opportunity to locate any species we may want better views of or to capture in photographs. We then return to our hotel for breakfast before reorganizing our bags and transferring to the airport for our morning flight back to São Tomé.

Upon arrival on the main island, we head to the northern region, known for its hotter and drier climate. Here, we focus on spotting more seabirds, including Curlew Sandpiper, Whimbrel, and Little Egret. In the bush and forested areas, we search for species such as Harlequin Quail, Fire-crowned Bishop, Golden-backed Bishop, White-winged Widowbird, and some of the more common endemics.

After another rewarding day of birding, we transfer to Monte Café, which will serve as our base for the final part of the tour. Our accommodation offers breathtaking views from the hills across to the capital, São Tomé, and is surrounded by secondary forest habitat, providing excellent birding opportunities right on our doorstep. We conclude the day with a delicious evening meal at the hotel’s excellent restaurant, reflecting on the day’s discoveries and looking forward to the adventures ahead.

Day 8: Macambrara, Botanical Gardens and Obo National Park.
Staying close to our next birding location allows for a more relaxed morning, with less travel time to the birding sites. After breakfast, we set out to explore Macambrara, the most productive birding area around Bom Sucesso and Obo National Park.

Our main targets here include the São Tomé Scops Owl, Southern Masked Weaver, São Tomé Paradise Flycatcher, São Tomé Oriole, São Tomé Speirops, Newton’s Sunbird, Common Waxbill, São Tomé Green Pigeon, Gulf of Guinea Thrush, São Tomé Spinetail, São Tomé Seedeater, and Bronzed Mannikin, among other species.

Following a rewarding morning of birding, we take a short excursion to one of São Tomé’s stunning waterfalls before returning to our guesthouse for lunch. In the afternoon and early evening, we continue our birding excursions to the Botanical Gardens and Obo National Park, ensuring we have the best chances of seeing all our target endemic species.

As the day winds down, we relax at our guesthouse’s excellent restaurant and bar, enjoying the breathtaking views and delicious cuisine. We take this time to reflect on the day’s sightings, update our checklist, and prepare for the final days of our adventure.

Day 9: Macambrara, Botanical Gardens, Obo National Park and Departure.
On our final day of birding in São Tomé, we enjoy breakfast with one of the best island views as our backdrop. This morning’s birding is flexible, focusing on any species we may still need to see more clearly or photograph. After a full morning of birding, we return to our guesthouse for lunch, freshen up, and reorganize our bags in preparation for your evening flight home.

A late check-out will be arranged, and we’ll head into town for a final checklist and meal. Afterward, we transfer you to the airport, marking the end of a wonderful São Tomé and Príncipe Birding and Nature Tour.