Equatorial Guinea

Equatorial Guinea is a small country in West Africa, divided into two parts, the mainland and the islands. A former Spanish colony, it borders Cameroon and Gabon.

Regions

from largest to smallest:

• Río Muni - the mainland.
• Bioko - the largest and most important island.
• Annobón - a smaller island some distance into the Atlantic Ocean.

Cities

• Malabo - the capital, on Bioko

• Acalayong
• Bata - the major city on the mainland
• Ebebiyin - a major access point in the far northeast corner
• Evinayong
• Luba - another town on Bioko
• Mbini
• Mongomo

Culture and History

History

Equatorial Guinea gained independence from Franco's Spain in October 1968. Since then, it has been ruled by two men. Francisco Macías Nguema, the first president, was a brutal dictator who despised intellectuals, killed a large number of the ethnic Bubi minority, banned fishing, and awarded himself a huge number of grandiose titles (including President for Life). He was overthrown by Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo in 1979 and later captured and executed. Obiang's rule has seen less violence, but his regime is still brutally repressive. Political power is centralized in his small mainland clan, and most senior members of the government are related. Despite having one of the highest GDP per capita in the world, much of this income goes into the hands of government elites, with the majority of the people still being extremely poor.

Climate

Equatorial Guinea has two distinctive and very pronounced seasons: rainy and dry seasons. April to October are the wettest months of the year, and December to March are the driest.

People

The major ethnic groups are the Fang of the mainland and the Bubi of Bioko Island.

Holidays

Equatorial Guinea recognizes the major Christian holidays. October 2 is Independence Day.

Travel to Equatorial Guinea - Visa Requirements

Flights and airtickets to Equatorial Guinea

There are two paved airports, one a few miles from Malabo (SSG), and one in Bata (BSG). The country's main airline is Ecuato Guineana de Aviación, which operates national and international flights out of Malabo International Airport. Other airlines flying to Malabo airport include Iberia (from Madrid), JetAir (from Gatwick airport in London), Air France (from Paris) Swiss (from Zurich), and beginning April 1st, Lufthansa flies direct from Frankfurt to Malabo. Delta Air Lines will begin service to Malabo from Atlanta June 16, 2009.

By car

Major towns are scattered among islands or on the western coast of the mainland, so it is not convenient to access these areas by car.

Buses to Equatorial Guinea

By boat

Tours and Getting around Equatorial Guinea

Talk

The colonial language is Spanish, and the country is also a member of La Francophonie. There is an Anglophone population in Bioko that is historically linked to British commerce on the island.

Equatorial Guinea souvenirs and shopping

Costs

Everything is extremely expensive in Equatorial Guinea. A decent room with very limited amenities (bring all the necessary stuff like towel, soap, shampoo, etc as the hotel may not have any) will be at the range of $75 to $300. A simple lunch will cost at least $20 (without drinks like wine or beer or softdrinks) in a clean and aircondition restaurant.

Equatorial Guinea Restaurants: cheap, moderate and expensive

There are several good places to go to eat particularly in Malabo. The coffee shop at Hotel Sofitel (located just across the Cathedral along the north coast) offers French cuisine. Hotel Bahia's main restaurant is also a favorite destination for both local and expats. If you like pizza and pasta, the Pizza Place is the best place in town. For Asian cuisine, Restaurante Bantu offers authentic Chinese cuisine. For Morrocan and other European food, try La Luna. Try An Equatorial Guinean Cuisine such a Smoked Beef with a black pepper also a roast duck with cheese and onion leaf.

Equatorial Guinea nightlife, bars, clubs and pubs

Ebebiyin is known for its large number of bars. They drink a lot of wine.

Equatorial Guinea cheap and luxurious hotels, youth hostels and lodging

Due to the influx of foreign workers and foreign investment in Malabo as well as in the continent, there is an ample choice of hotels.

Learn

Work

Stay safe

Don't involve yourself in local politics.

Photos: Taking photos of any government properties is strictly prohibited without permission. Don't photograph airports, government buildings, or anything of military or strategic value. Local folks including children are generally averse to foreigners taking their picture. As a general rule, it is not advisable to bring a camera while walking around town as this can cause real trouble with the police.

Clothing: Equatorial Guinea has tropical weather and is normally very hot. It is best to wear lightweight clothing. Avoid wearing dark colors due to mosquito concerns.

Stay healthy

Food/Water: There are no 'potable' or clean water sources in Equatorial Guinea. Travelers should drink only bottled water. Take care when consuming any fruits or vegetables that may have been washed or drinks that may contain ice cubes or 'water' additives such as coffee, tea, lemonade, etc.

Wear Shoes: Beaches in Malabo and Bata are beautiful however, due to discarded trash and unsafe sand bugs it is a good idea to always wear shoes. This applies to walking on carpeted areas as well.

Malaria Medicine: Malaria is a leading cause of death in this country. It is advised that visitors consult their doctor for malaria tablets.

Contact

Destinations in Equatorial Guinea:

• Annobón
• Bioko
• Río Muni

This page was last edited by Anonymous user(s) of Wikitravel. Based on work by David, Mike Sharp, Elvie Grace Ganchero, Jani Patokallio and Todd VerBeek, Wikitravel user(s) AHeneen, Valtteri and Pashley, Anonymous user(s) of Wikitravel and others. - Content on this page is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 1.0 license