The Republic of Equatorial Guinea could be Africa’s hidden gem.
This tiny country has pristine tropical beaches, lush rainforests, breathtaking waterfalls, rare wildlife, reliably warm weather – and a unique, fascinating culture. The country sprawls across five volcanic islands and a small square of continental Africa, called Rio Muni, sandwiched between Cameroon and Gabon.
And yet it is the least visited nation in Africa. According to World Bank data, Equatorial Guinea receives just 6,000 international visitors a year.
Perhaps surprisingly, Equatorial Guinea is one of Africa’s wealthiest countries thanks to an oil boom in the 1990s. However, a succession of attempted and successful coups has widened the gap between rich and poor.
Despite this political upheaval and poverty, Africa’s only Spanish-speaking country is laidback and friendly, according to holiday company Responsible Travel. It says Bioko Island – which is actually closer to the coast of Cameroon – is the main port of call for intrepid tourists visiting Equatorial Guinea.
It’s home to Central Africa’s first city park – the incredible Parque Nacional de Malabo. Next to the airport, it covers an area of 870,000 sq metres – and boasts restaurants, a sports area, activities for children, a lake with jet-skis and boats and an art gallery.
The Spanish-flavoured capital, Malabo, sounds like an African Havana. It has crumbling gothic churches – and a promenade that is popular with rollerskaters.
However, like Cuba’s capital, it is a tropical paradise where a modern society runs under a strict, controlling, and repressive government. Wikivoyage goes as far as describing it as “a police state, akin to Turkmenistan and North Korea, minus the minders and organized persecution of its inhabitants”.
This worldwide travel guide says Equatorial Guinea is infamous for its high prices and hard-to-get visas. Regarding the latter, US passport holders enjoyed visa-free entry to Equatorial Guinea for nearly 30 years – but this was suspended in April 2023 and now they too need a visa.
The U.S. Department of State currently advises travellers to exercise increased caution when in Equatorial Guinea. While the US may have one of the highest rates of gun violence in the world, it expresses concern about violent crimes, such as armed robbery, in Equatorial Guinea.
The department notes that Equatorial Guinea has an unstable political situation and also warns that petty crime, such as pickpocketing, is common in this African nation.
It warns that Westerners travelling without a guide are often targeted for theft and assault. Worryingly, the US also says Equatorial Guinea’s police may not be able to respond effectively to serious crimes.
And the US – which has the worst health outcomes overall of any high-income nation, despite spending more per head on healthcare than any other country – also expressed concerns about Medical services in Equatorial Guinea. The State Department said these are below US standards, and there are no adequate trauma services.
However, the UK Foreign Office paints a different picture. It says the political situation in Equatorial Guinea has been calm in recent years. It says police, military and security forces “respond swiftly to any political protests on the streets”.
However, the Foreign Office also notes there have been reports of robberies and violent assaults on passengers travelling by taxi in Malabo and in Bata, the port city on the mainland. And it also warns that photographing government or military buildings or airports is illegal – and travellers who ignore this law could be arrested and detained.
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