Equatorial Guinea Independence Day Tour

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YPT are very excited to be expanding our Africa tours into one of the hardest to get to and most interesting of Central African countries, Equatorial Guinea.

This country is divided into a mainland part and some islands located quite some way from the mainland. We will be visiting both Bioko island and the capital city of the country, Malabo, as well as the mainland cities of Bata, Oyala, and Mongomo, giving you an extensive look into this secretive nation.

We will also be in Malabo for the independence day celebrations with the expectation of a military parade as well as other festivities. As it will be the 50^th anniversary of independence we are expecting the Equatoguineans to put on a show that could rival North Korea, Turkmenistan, and Transnistria!

Spaces are limited for this tour and we expect it to sell out quickly, so get in touch to book your place for our first ever tour there in 2018!

ITINERARY

Thursday October 11^th – Arrival

Arrival in Malabo International Airtport and transfer to our hotel, the Hotel Yoli
Meet your YPT guide and fellow travellers at 4pm at the entrance to the hotel
Go for dinner in Malabo old town for our first orientation and exploration of the capital
Drinks and overnight at our hotel in Malabo

Friday October 12^th

Early rise because after breakfast we will go for a guided walking tour of Old Malabo. As one of the only former Spanish colonies in Africa the mix of classical Spanish architecture and modern buildings built since independence make Malabo quite a unique city
View the Presidential Palace and the Palace of Justice, the Cathedral of Santa Isabel and the main sights around Independence Square. If you’re used to the “No Photo” instructions from North Korea, you might unfortunately find the same here, though our guides will talk us through what we can and can’t snap
TRIP HIGHLIGHT – After lunch we will be settling in for the expected military parade and taking part in any other independence day celebrations happening in the city. As it will be the 50^th anniversary of independence we expect the military parade to be big!
Head for a walking tour of the new part of the city to see how the discovery of oil is rapidly changing the island
Dinner at a local restaurant, we recommend the fried plantain and chicken!
Go for drinks at the boat-shaped casino El Barco, there’s free drinks for anyone brave enough to have a go, or you can sample a bit of local ambiance while remaining at the bar!
Overnight in Malabo

Saturday October 13^th

No rest for the wicked as we get up to head out on the famed Bioko Loop
TRIP HIGHLIGHT – Our first stop is Bioko Sur, a protected jungle area in the south of the island. We visit local villages and hear about the biodiversity protection program, as well as the local Bubi culture.
On the way we’ll cross the Puente Cope bridge, which rises out of the jungle terrain, with a chance of photo opportunities
Drop by the village of Batete famous for it’s remaining wooden religious buildings as well as its cocao production, which we can see in its various stages
Dinner in Luba on the west of the island, the first point at which the Spanish landed and Bioko’s second city
Drive back to Malabo
Overnight in Malabo

Sunday October 14^th

After breakfast we will head to the airport for our domestic flight to Bata, the main city on the mainland and the biggest in the country
Originally suffering economically in the years after independence, this city has bounced back on the wave of oil production and is now famed for its nightlife
City tour taking in the Atlantic Ocean harbour and local markets
Dinner and drinks in Bata where we see if the city’s nightlife can live up to its hype
Overnight in Bata

Monday October 15^th

Rise relatively early and head off on a drive to Oyala. Oyala is a new city, planned to take over from Malabo as the capital of the country, though these plans don’t seem to be making huge headway
Designed to house 200,000 people as well as the seat of government, Oyala is a project in the middle of the undeveloped jungle interior, and aims to be the first capital city in the world entirely dependent on renewable and sustainable energy. North Korean workers are of course involved and we will hear a little more about the links between the two countries
We’ll tour the new city and see what state it is in with a projected completion date of 2020!
Dinner and overnight in Oyala

Tuesday October 16^th

After breakfast we continue our drive to the interior and head to Mongomo, right on the border with Gabon
Walking tour of the city and the Cathedral of Immaculate Conception
Visit the Monte Temelon Nature Reserve
Settle in for the drive back to Bata
Dinner and overnight in Bata

Wednesday October 17^th

Head back to the airport for a morning flight back to Malabo
Head to the beach and relax for our last afternoon in Equatorial Guinea
Dinner at Betty’s BBQ, or Casa Teoderita, where the lack of proper restaurant facilities is more than made up for by the ribs!
Take advantage of our last night in Malabo to check out Bahia Sound, a nightclub with views of the sea and a great place to mix with locals and expats alike
Overnight in Malabo

Thursday October 18^th