Before guiding which hiking trails are open in Equatorial Guinea, let's firstly know this country. Where is Equatorial Guinea? Equatorial Guinea is a country on Africa's west coast. It comprises Ro Muni on the mainland and five islands: Bioko, Corisco, Great Elobey, Little Elobey, and Annobon. Bata is the mainland's administrative Equatorial Guinea capital. Previously known as Spanish Guinea, the country gained independence from Spain on October 12, 1968. Malabo, on the island of Bioko, is Equatorial Guinea capital. Equatorial Guinea is a roughly rectangular territory bordered on Cameroon's north and east and south by Gabon. The small islands of Corisco and Great and Little Elobey are located near the coast. Bioko, by far the largest of the islands, is located in the Bight of Biafra, off the coast of Cameroon. Annobon, a volcanic island located south of the Equator and nearly 640 kilometres southwest of Bioko, is a popular tourist destination for hiking in Equatorial Guinea. Hoots and howls echo amidst the largely untrodden heights of the great Monte Alén peaks as chimps swing and gorillas gallop through the wild, mist-topped backcountry, and we will come to the topic about how to find hiking trails in Equatorial Guinea. Meanwhile, elephants saunter through the dense forests of Altos de Nsork, primaeval woods tickle along the Cameroonian and Gabonese borderlands, gushing waterfalls cascade, and the sylvan hills conceal giant toads and otherworldly amphibians you've never seen before. Then, the Fang's old tribal lands give way to the beach people's territory in the west. Untrodden and undeveloped sands emerge from the emerald mangroves. Fishing boats and the odour of new oil money pulsate through cities like Bata. Malabo, the capital, is located on Bioko Island, with its energetic residents still in awe of the adjacent vast calderas and turtle-peppered beaches. This land on the haunch of West Africa, no stranger to upheaval (EQ has seen coups and economic strife aplenty), promises intrepid adventure and wildlife to shatter the bucket list in half! So, we almost gathered all the relevant information about this beautiful country. It is time to find which hiking trails are open in Equatorial Guinea with the guidance of Pickvisa.
Why do people stack rocks on hiking trails?
After finding where is Equatorial Guinea on the map, in this part of article, we will give a specific location for hike lovers. Let's start hiking in Equatorial Guinea with Malabo.
Malabo, The Oldest city in Equatorial Guinea
A fascinating blend of colonial traditions meets between the age-stained, salt-washed architectural components that sprinkle Malabo's centre. They provide witness to the city's long history and deep-rooted European heritage in Equatorial Guinea's soon-to-be-replaced capital. Visitors can cruise the streets to admire the Cathedral of Santa Isabel's beautiful neo-Gothic spires, as well as attractive tiny Spanish-style casas along the neighborhood roads. There's also a university and a Cultural Center, surrounded by a sprinkling of clubs and fried-plantain curry restaurants, all of which cascade down to the clifftops above the Atlantic.
Monte Alen National Park
Copyright: @afrikadayashaIf you are in this country and ask about hiking trails near me, Pickvisa will help you! Monte Alen National Park is another destination which Pickvisa suggested you traveled to when you get your Equatorial Guinea visa. Ah, the Monte Alén National Park's immense wildernesses: possibly the most important place of remarkable natural beauty in West Africa that you've never heard of. And while the Uoro River's steamy rainforests and rushing courses remain an off-the-beaten-path alternative, those who do visit reap the benefits: empty trekking routes, personalized safari packages, and an unadulterated taste of the African wilds, to name a few! How to find hiking trails? You have already found it. There are miles and miles of well-kept hiking trails here, as well as more fauna than an Equatorial peanut-butter chicken dish can contain.
Moca, Best Place to Visit in Equatorial Guinea
Copyright: @tembeliaWhen you travel to Equatorial Guinea you should add Moca to your journey list. The eponymous hamlet of Moca is a picturesque vision of untamed Equatorial Guinea, clinging to the rocky volcanic slopes of the Moca Valley on the southern outskirts of Bioko. It is home to the Buki tribe and sits virtually in harmony with the surrounding big cloud-topped peaks. And, since we're on the subject of peaks, they're also the reason why most people pass through this area. They come to walk the jagged, monkey-infested reaches of the Moca Cascades, or to see the glittering blues of lakes Biao and Loreta, which culminate in the highlands' old volcanic calderas.
San Antonio de Ureca
If you are in the capital of Equatorial Guinea and searching for hiking trails near me, here is another miserable option for you. No one knows why San Antonio de Ureca hasn't yet experienced a surge in ecotourism. After all, in the late 1990s, Spanish conservationists took against the illegal trafficking in endangered turtle eggs for the first time and won! The same villagers monitor the dunes and gravel beaches surrounding the small community today, helping conserve the endangered sea turtles who call the Atlantic waters home. But that's not all: this small village of low-rise shacks and mud roads lies in the huge San Carlos Caldera's shadow and is surrounded by various hiking trails.
Bata, the Largest City in Equatorial Guinea
In our "where is Equatorial Guinea" section of this article, we did not mention one fact. This onetime capital of Equatorial Guinea is now a routine stop off on the journey through the country, ebbing and flowing with the tide of political inclinations and oil booms. With almost 170,000 residents, it is the largest city in EQ, as seen by the vibrant nightlife scene and the bustling fish and craft markets that converge each day along the port sides. The Bata Cathedral is the principal attraction, with a flavor of Spanish flair in the middle of town and an airport and regular boat connections to Cameroon and Malabo.
Evinayong, the Town Lying Atop A Small Mountain
Copyright: @anathablackartistThe provincial capital of Centro Sur is a good site to see, after getting your Equatorial Guinea visa, the hustle and bustle of daily life that takes place between the jungle-covered hills that dominate much of Rio Muni (the Equatorial mainland). The streets are lined with tin shacks and rain-drenched palms, and a slew of small drinking spots draw groups of chatting locals. A local market is also available, brimming with multi-coloured vegetables, legumes, and fruits gathered straight from the fields. If you want to get some fresh air, the location is also conveniently located between the national parks of Monte Alen and Altos de Nsork!
Luba, The Second-largest Town On Bioko
Luba, which has long been the preferred departure place for the countless tons of logs flowing down the highland routes from the forests that encircle the Caldera de San Carlos in the Bioko highlands above, is slowly evolving into something much more. It's attracting a different type of traveller these days, thanks to its stunning coastline and easy access to up-and-coming ecotourism and adventure attractions like the aforementioned Moca. It's easy to understand why, with the shimmering sands of Arena Blanca – the island's lone white-sand beach – and all the swinging coconut trees and salt-sprayed boulders that come with it.
Djibloho, the heart of the Equatorial Forest
The city of Djibloho, which is slowly transforming from a patchwork of foundation ditches and shabby construction sites to shouldering its way above the verdant swaths of jungle that dominate the hinterlands of Wele-Nzas Province in Equatorial Guinea's heartland, is still just an embryo of what's planned. This perfectly-organized metropolis of crisscrossing grids and brand-new conference centres, also known as Oyala, is envisioned as the country's future capital. It will aim to promote a symbiotic interaction between modern living and its natural environment and heritage once it is completed.
Mbini, lying at the mouth of the Benito River
The ocean-side village of Mbini provides some spectacular views over the estuaries that crash into the Atlantic here. It is the entryway to the coastal region of Rio Muni and the twisting channels of the huge Benito River – the country's longest. It's one of the greatest sites to try Equatorial Guinea's famous seafood, as it's both a marine and river fishing town. There are also a few resort hotels to relax in and a stretch of powdery, sandy beaches with some spectacular broadside views of the rising peaks of Monte Alén in the distance (on clear days!).
Altos de Nsork National Park
Why do people stack rocks on hiking trails? It is the less likely phenomenon for Altos de Nsork National Park. Altos de Nsork is the southernmost and easternmost of Equatorial Guinea's national parks, located deep in the West African wilderness of Rio Muni. The enormous reserve, established in 2000 and covered more than 700 square kilometres of land, contains some of the region's most intact jungle and highland habitats. Few visitors travel to this remote part of the country. Still, those who do can stroll through routes carved out by forest elephants, marvel at the vast biodiversity of plants, spot mandrills and black colobus monkeys in the trees, and even spot rare buffalo in the forests.
Annobon, Volcanic Island in the South Atlantic Ocean
Copyright: @patrimonioguineaThe province of Annobon is hardly what you'd call simple to get to, set out in the waves of the Atlantic Ocean, beyond the off-the-beaten-path isles of little-known Sao Tome and squarely in line with the coast of Gabon. However, it does have an intriguing personality, with a history of Portuguese and Spanish domination to discover and the creole-flavored coastal city of San Antonio de Pale. Humpback whale pods frolic in the swells around the island, uncommon Ojo Blanco birds chirp on the cliffs, and baobabs hide lizards in the backcountry, giving wildlife enthusiasts enough to shout about.
Monte Temelon Natural Reserve
The Monte Temelon Natural Reserve, located between the border with Cameroon and the rising highlands that comprise the heart of Rio Muni, is one of the more ignored regions of the backcountry that is ready for exploration in EQ. It's well recognized for its diverse fauna, covering over 1,200 square kilometres in wide swaths of greenery. Crocodiles hide on the muddy banks of the many rivers, where mist meets the emerald canopy atop the trees. Others will travel here to see the endemic big pangolin. Now, we are here, at the end! When you travel to Equatorial Guinea, consider the aforementioned information which Pickvisa provides. You can also use our visa service through Pickvisa.com. So, visit our site - Pickvisa.com, open your sight to the world!
