Sao Tome and Principe - São Tomé e Príncipe

Sao Tome and Principe is a country made up of two main islands and several small islets located in the Gulf of Guinea, about 300 km off the west coast of Africa.

Understand

History

Pedro Escobar and João de Santarém found the islands of São Tomé and Príncipe in 1470. The occupation was not immediate, beginning around 1493, when the first settlers began to settle. sugar cane plantations, responsible for the importation of thousands of slaves from the African continent. It was also in the 19th century that cocoa and coffee were grown, with cocoa quickly supplanting all others. The abolition of slavery in 1869 did not end slave labor, and it was only around 1973, during a great revolution, which resulted in the slaughter of around 1000 people, that history changed. nineteenth century, was the unequal distribution of land. On the one hand, lucrative tracts of land and, on the other, subsistence mini-land agriculture. This model ended up, obviously, becoming unsustainable. After independence proclaimed in 1975, a one-party system was installed, at which time the gardens were nationalized, leading to the departure of around 4,000 Portuguese. In 1990 a multi-party constitution was approved, however, the country experienced a series of political instabilities that conditioned its economic backwardness. Since then, the country has been trying to recover economically with international support.

A little more about this country in the digital newspaper STP-PRESS.

Climate

There are two seasons throughout the year: the rainy season, between October and May, with the highest temperatures of the year, and the dry season, known as strap, with milder temperatures and little or no rain. Due to the tropical climate conditions, the country has become one of the main producers of coffee, sugarcane and cocoa in the world.

geography

The Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe consists of the main island of São Tomé (860 km2), the island of Príncipe (104 km2) and some small rocky islands. They are islands of volcanic origin, with uneven terrain (hills, peaks, etc.). The very intense erosion gave rise to the volcanic chimneys big dog and Small dog.

Parties

• King Amateur Day - January 4th.
• Feast of Santo Amaro - January 15th.
• Discovering the Island of Príncipe - January 17th.
• Freedom Martyrs' Day - February 3rd.
• Autonomy Party - April 29th.
• Feast of the Holy Trinity - May 26th.
• Saint Anthony's Feast - June 13th.
• Independence Party - July 12th.
• National Heroes Day - September 6th.
• Roças Nationalization Day - September 30th.
• People's Power Day - December 21.
• São Tomé Island Discovery Day - December 21.

Counties

• large water
• weevil
• lemba
• Cantagalo
• Me-Zochi
• Caué
• Pay

Cities

• Guadeloupe - 1 734 Inhabitants
• large water
• snows - 7 392 inhabitants
• Santa Catarina - 971 inhabitants
• Santana - 7 000 Inhabitants
• Saint Anthony - 1 156 inhabitants
• São João dos Angolares - 6 626 Inhabitants
• Saint Thomas - 56 116 Inhabitants
• Trinity - 14 500 Inhabitants

To arrive

To enter the country it is necessary to request a visa at the São Tomé Embassy, ​​at least 7 working days before departure.

By airplane

In Lisbon, a TAP has a direct flight to São Tomé. TAAG connects the country to Luanda, in Angola, and the salt, in Cape Green. As of August 18, 2008, the STP AIRWAYS has a weekly flight from Lisbon to São Tomé that returns on Mondays, operated by euroAtlantic Airways. STP AIRWAYS also operates direct flights from Libreville (Gabon). Recently, the line to Nigeria was opened with Air Nigeria.

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By car

The main roads in the country are navigable and have traffic signs according to international standards. There is not yet a ring road that allows you to go around the island of São Tomé completely. Traffic in city or village centers it is relatively quiet, even with some non-compliance with the highway code. As traffic is light, traveling slowly is an essential safety condition. The driver must have an International Driving Permit. If you have a Portuguese driving license it is not necessary to have this License. Sufficient fuel stations to cover the entire national territory; The price per liter is always indicated, it does not vary from place to place or from brand to brand. In the villages people ask for a lift, as public transport is insufficient. This is a nice way to interact with the locals. There are no orientation difficulties, as most roads have direction signs. A compass and road map can be useful as distances are short. There is a custom of moving slowly in villages and close to people walking on the road. The company Netu Service Rent-a-Car, rent cars. There is a square of taxis next to the market in the heart of the city.

By bus/bus

Traveling by public transport is a possible way to interact with the inhabitants. Cars sometimes carry 12 to 15 people and luggage.

By train/train

There is currently no railway in the country.

By bike

It's possible rent bicycles of mountain in the city of São Tomé, in the market in front of the church. Several guys offer this service. Two bikes for a week cost less than €100 (2006). From the city of São Tomé to Santana, it can take 45 minutes, and from Santana to São João, around 3 to 4 hours.

By motorcycle

It's possible rent motorcycles in the city of São Tomé, in the market in front of the Church. Pricing should be discussed on site. The bikes are usually between 125 and 250 cc, Japanese in construction, simpler than those on the European market. The state of conservation varies a lot, but it is clear that a motorcycle ride in these islands would make you breathe fresh air and contemplate the landscape of the calm nature of this country. Most people ride motorcycles in their daily lives. There are also bikers who make short distance freights and the price usually varies from place to place, but they are not very expensive.

Buy

THE Currency National is the Dobra (STD) but in some places they accept payments made in Euros. Negotiating is the basis, except in cases of products where the price is already displayed. The price depends a lot on the customer's face and on the participation he is able to give to this cultural habit. The ideal is always to have small value notes to avoid change that sometimes waits.

Payment by credit card is only available at Banco Internacional de São Tomé and some hotels. The amount is converted to Euros or US Dollars, and exchange rates usually vary. It is always good to consult or ask the exchange rate before making any transaction of this nature.

Speak

São Tomé and Príncipe has the Portuguese as an official and national language, spoken by virtually the entire population. Locally developed restructured varieties of Portuguese are also spoken, or Portuguese Creoles, like the lining, O angolar ,O princely it's the Cape Verdean Creole. Portuguese from the Tongas and remnants of languages ​​from the Bantu group are also spoken. Currently, French and English are also widely spoken and understood in the country, usually by young people. There are Tourist Guide Agencies in STP and you can always ask for a guide, or you can even get a guide at English or French language schools.

Look

One of the oldest monuments is the Fort of São Sebastião, built in 1575, and is currently the headquarters of the São Tomé National Museum.

THE mouth of hell of Água-Izé. Along the way, take the opportunity to appreciate the wooden houses, in their typical colors and formats. The "mouth of Hell" is a channel whose erosion by the sea has shaped into an unusual geological accident. The waves erupt from this volcanic formation in true sea foam spectacles.

• waterfalls, St. Nicholas, Bombay, etc.
• Obô Nature Reserve
• Amelia Lagoon
• blue Lagoon

Knife

• barbecues on the beach of fresh fish.
• snorkeling and sport fishing.
• walk on Forest, where there are many endemic species of fish, birds, plants, etc., on the island of Príncipe. There is the possibility of seeing a Mona monkey or one African Gray Parrot.
• When walking through the forest, take photographs of fauna and flora.
• From July to September, boat trips to see humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae).
• See the nesting of sea ​​turtles on the island's beaches from November to March.

Learn

The cultural wealth of this people comes from the cultural mix between the Portuguese, Cape Verdeans, Angolans and Mozambicans. Culture, dances and music from São Tomé and Príncipe. Painting, sculpture and crafts.

dances

• Ússua - ballroom dance where the pairs are led by a master of ceremonies, to the slow rhythm of the drum, flute and cornet;
• Puíta - strongly erotic dance, to the rhythm of the sound of a frantic drum. Men and women form Indian lines and, mixing twirls, stick their bodies together in sexually explicit situations;
• Dexa - Elegant circle dances to the sound of drum and bugle. The lyrics are generally humorous.
• Bligá - It's similar to Capoeira, a mix of dance and fight but no offense, it's just demonstrations.

Work

An employment contract and an extended stay visa are required. There are several organizations that are looking for volunteers who want to work in São Tomé. Most of these organizations are responsible for air travel and providing rooms for volunteers, offering food or subsistence allowances.

With the

This article or section does not conform to our style manual and needs to be edited. Please dive deep, give him some of your attention and help him improve!Suggestions:Items from individual restaurants should be placed in county articles, not here.

THE Miss Tété is known in São Tomé for serving fresh fish on the grill. It is a cozy place with a family atmosphere, with small tables in the garden. The usual procedure is to ask Dona Tété what she advises for the meal. It is necessary to call in advance to make an appointment.

• O Santana Club, is an outdoor bar/restaurant, facing the beach. Wooden tables and floors add a touch of extra comfort. It is about 15 kilometers from the center but it is worth the trip, not only to get to know the area and taste the rodízio, but also for the beautiful typical landscapes and the crossing of the villages.
• O Pirate, on the way out of São Tomé towards Santana, is an open restaurant, directly in front of a long but narrow beach. International cuisine. In the sea in front of the restaurant is a large stranded ship. Decor is modern, with some paintings by local artists.
• O aunt read at the People's Park, for those who want to know Calúlu or Feijoada à Moda da Terra, at affordable prices (about €5 per person).
• O Papafigs, serves hamburgers, pizza, etc.
• O Filomar, serves varied dishes.

THE gastronomy Santomense is rich in fruits, vegetables and fish. Jogó is made from various vegetables, palm oil, smoked fish, pre-fried shrimp, etc. It has the appearance of a spread and is served with mashed green banana or banana bread. There are many other dishes, such as Matabala Sôô, cassava flour pirão, fish rice, Angula, Banana cooked with dried fish, Blá-Blá, Cacharamba, Calúlu, Cornmeal, etc.

Fruits from the region, such as cajamanga, banana-apple, breadfruit and sap sap. Breadfruit is usually baked, fried or boiled to accompany almost any type of fish.

go out and drink

In any part of the country there are always restaurants that welcome tourists and prepare meals... There are also the most exquisite restaurants in the capital of São Tomé, In Parque Popular, finally, where you will always find eating and drinking!

sleep

This article or section does not conform to our style manual and needs to be edited. Please dive deep, give him some of your attention and help him improve!Suggestions:These listings should be moved to the articles in the cities where they are located. This section should have a general description of the types of accommodation available in the country. Please do not add more listed here.

There are several options, at different prices. (January, 2013)

eyelash Sao Tome, the only 5 star Hotel on the island. Between €195-413 per night. It has a swimming pool overlooking the sea, terrace, gym, SPA, among other services.

Omali Lodge Luxury Resort, simplistic luxury. Between €110-236 per night. In the future, in the marginal, it will open a new space that will revolutionize the entire existing offer.

Miramar by Pestana Resort, 4-star hotel 10 minutes from the city centre. Between €120-144 per night.

Beach Hotel, 5 minutes from the Airport. Between €90-200 per night.

Hotel Agôsto Neto, in the heart of the Capital city. Between €65-150 per night.

Cocoa Hotel , near the Bay of Ana Chaves. Between €40-60 per night.

Residencial Avenida, located on one of the main avenues. Between €75-105 per night.

Hotel Laprovence, between the airport and the Capital. Between €55-95 per night.

Dona Delfina, on Rua da Caixa, is a very affordable option. €35 per night.

Roça Bombaim, inserted in the tropical forest. €35 per night.

Residential Magni-Bi, family atmosphere. Between €35-45 per night.

Roça Diogo Vaz, a field school that works with young people. €15 per night.

Roça São João dos Angolares, the rooms are simple but pleasant. João Carlos Silva, manager of this farm, is known in Portugal, being a cook and presenter of the TV program "Na Roça com os tachos".

• Noah's Ark Guest House, located on one of the main streets. Between €20-25 per night.
• Residential D&D, the latest tourist complex. Between €50-70 per night.
• Residential Roça Abade, located at the top of the Baía do Abade. Recently retrieved.
• Roça Ponta do Sol, surrounded by vegetation. It is also known as "Casa do João". Between €40-50 per night.

Safety

Security issues with tourists are almost non-existent. The people are very friendly and hospitable and they like foreigners. It is advisable to dress as simply as possible when walking somewhere far from the capital, take as few things as possible and avoid carrying large amounts of money with you. Instead, take whenever you can, sweets and treats to give to the children you meet along the way. In emergencies, call the National Police by dialing 113, or call the civilian fire and first aid corps 112.

Health

The country has a weak public hospital network, however, in addition to the Central hospital located in the country's capital, there are also medical posts in all districts of the country. It is also recommended to have a good health repatriation insurance that will take care of any serious health problem. It is important to mark a "Traveler's Consultation" to vaccinate against yellow fever, typhoid fever, hepatitis B, and malaria prophylaxis. In this consultation there is the opportunity to learn how to avoid some unnecessary risks. Consult your family doctor to find out which SOS medications to take in your suitcase. travel (diarrhoea, fever, etc.) can be useful. Use mosquito repellents, especially at night. clothes (most of the body covered), despite the heat, will help to avoid some unpleasantness.

respect

Taking photographs of locations without your permission can be considered abusive.

keep in touch

There is connection to wireless networks in the city of São Tomé, which is difficult to access. International calls via satellite. International calling available at hotels. Cell phones and cards available at the store of the São Toméan company, CST. Internet connection points in hotels.

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