Bioko - a highlight of West African beauty.

One unique aspect of Equatorial Guinea is that its capital is located on an island, but it is not an island nation. Bioko Island (formerly Fernando Pó) is one of the few islands in Africa that has been inhabited since ancient times.

The capital city of Malabo, located on this island, is also the oldest city in Equatorial Guinea. With West Africa increasingly attracting tourists , Bioko has the potential to become a new international tourism hotspot.

A view of the capital city of Malabo.

A tour around Bioko

Malabo National Airport on Bioko Island currently receives direct flights from Madrid (Spain), Paris (France), Berlin and Frankfurt (Germany), and Addis Ababa (Ethiopia). All four cities on Bioko Island – Malabo, Luba, Baney, and Riaba – are connected by a main road. However, since much of Bioko Island is covered in forest, the most convenient way to explore the island is by bicycle.

Malabo National Park, which only opened in 2016, has already become a favorite destination for tourists. Here, visitors have the opportunity to explore the tropical rainforest ecosystem of Equatorial Guinea and discover endemic species such as the red colobus, the bushy-tailed porcupine, and the West African linsang. Bioko Island was once connected to the African mainland by a land bridge, but this bridge was submerged due to rising sea levels. Many plant and animal species were isolated on the island and evolved in ways quite different from their relatives on the mainland. This is why Bioko Island has so many endemic species.

Bioko Island was formed by the lava flows of three volcanoes, the highest of which is Pico Basilé Peak (3,011m). Pico Basilé Peak is also a very beautiful mountain. Visitors should dedicate a full day to climbing Pico Basilé, starting by trekking through the dense forest at the foot of the mountain, ascending to the summit, and then descending into the volcanic caldera.

Mount Moka, the second highest volcano on the island, is famous for the picturesque Lake Biao in its caldera. The scenery of Lake Biao alone is so beautiful that it makes visitors forget the fatigue of the 2-3 hour trek through the forest and up the mountain. Don't forget to rent a boat and paddle out onto the lake yourself. On the slopes of Mount Moka lies a small town of the same name. Many tourists choose to stay overnight in Moka town in a homestay.

Bioko Island boasts three beautiful beaches: Riaba, Sibobo, and Ureca. Ureca Beach is renowned as one of the wettest places on Earth, with an annual rainfall of up to 10.45 meters. The dry season in Bioko lasts from November to March, and this is the best time for visitors to explore the island's beaches. Besides enjoying the Atlantic waves, visitors also have the opportunity to observe two species of sea turtles, the hawksbill turtle and the olive ridley turtle, nesting on the beaches.

Old Malabo

Malabo, the capital of Equatorial Guinea, was founded by the British as an outpost for their West African colonies. However, Portuguese migrants had already settled in the Malabo area. After the city was established, the British brought in many Black slaves from Sierra Leone, Gabon, Liberia, Nigeria, Ghana, Ivory Coast, and other countries. This blend of diverse ethnicities shaped Malabo's unique architectural and cultural identity.

The most famous building in the capital city of Malabo is the Santa Isabel Cathedral on Independencia Avenue. Construction began in 1897 and was completed in 1916. The Santa Isabel Cathedral is a prime example of the Gothic Revival architectural trend prevalent in the 19th century. The cathedral's two 40-meter-high bell towers skillfully combine Gothic lines with decorative motifs commonly found in contemporary African colonies. The cathedral is open to everyone, but visitors must ask permission to climb the bell towers and enjoy panoramic views of the city from above.

Over the past four decades, Malabo in particular and Equatorial Guinea in general have achieved remarkable economic development thanks to the oil industry. However, visitors strolling through the streets of Malabo will still find many old houses built in the colonial architectural style from the 17th to 20th centuries. Visitors will surely feel a touch of Hanoi during the French colonial period in Malabo, for example, the Finca Sampaka villa. This building belonged to a family who owned a cocoa plantation. Currently, both the villa and the plantation are open to visitors. After visiting the wooden villa, visitors will have the opportunity to take a tour of the more than 1,000-hectare farm, including the cocoa gardens and the cocoa bean processing area.

If visitors are looking for an open space, they should take a 35-minute bike ride from the center of Malabo to Ilachi Falls. Ilachi Falls is 250 meters high and is the tallest waterfall in Equatorial Guinea. The white waterfall against the backdrop of gray mountains and lush green forests creates a unique and breathtaking scene.

Most of the restaurants, nightclubs, and shopping and entertainment centers in Malabo are concentrated on the beach. Sitting on the beach in the evening, holding a pint of beer or a cup of cocoa, and listening to the music of street artists harmonizing with the sound of the waves is an experience visitors shouldn't miss when coming to Malabo.

Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/bioko-diem-nhan-ve-dep-tay-phi-672629.html