Sao Tome and Principe - Facts
- This is Africa’s smallest nation, lying in the southern part of the Gulf of Guinea. It comprises of the island of São Tomé, its smaller neighbour, Principe and several tiny, mostly uninhabited islands.
- The population is about 190,000 residents.
- It is located relatively close to the coasts of Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Cameroon and Nigeria.
- As a previous colony of Portugal, Portuguese is the most widely spoken language.
- Formally dependent on sugar plantations, then cocoa for its economy, the country now has hopes that off-shore oil reserves will allow it to become indepentent of foreign aid.
- The diversity of flora and fauna in the tropical forests together with the abundance of fish in clear waters, makes this an interesting cruising area.
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I’ve been cruising from Port Gentil, Gabon, to Principe Island on a 28’ sail boat last november 2019
Somme comments below
Port of entry Santo Antonio, Principe
Very small town, very basic supplies, sometimes even no diesel nor fuel (there was no petrol when we were there)
No services for yatchs,
Gas (butane) coming from Gabon, through Sao Tome, and very expensive (about 35 euros 12 kg bottle)
Formalities quite long, and better if you understand Portuguese.. authorities tend to assimilate yachts to commercial vessels.. even if people is friendly, formalities are long and quite costly.
There are 5 or 6 administration to clear:
• Immigration (no visas requirements for EU citizens), but they invoice clearance of yatch 120 € in business hours and 160 € on week ends. Info on http://www.smf.st/taxas.php
• Port authorities
• Health
• Customs
• Tax police (Policia Fiscal)
Total to pay is about 350 Euros.. seems independant on boat size
The island is very green and beautiful
Security is good, no problems.
One bank , haven’t checked if ATM available
Currency is Dobras, but Euros is widely accepted
Got caugh on a fishing net at night when leaving Principe, fishermen let their several hundres meters lenght net drift and sleep on their pirogues tied to on the net extremity. I would recomend doing approches only by day light.
Have hear about piracy issues near Nigerian waters.. and there was a case of certainly piracy out of Libreville, Gabon, in Decembre.. I would not certainly cruise more north than Principe and would keep clear of all coasts
Juan, on our way North from RSA, we hope to be able to stopover in Sao Tome sometime around mid to late August 2020.
Can you update on situation there (emergency rules ?)
See our http://www.facebook.com/searoms2017
Cheers
I live and sail in Port Gentil Gabon and have been sailing to Sao Tome a few times, happy to provide info if required