Bird Watching in Sao Tome
As a bird watching destination, the islands of Sao Tome and Principe are still relatively unknown.
This is surprising, considering the islands have 176 species of birds and 28 endemic species, including the world’s largest weaver bird, largest sunbird, and smallest ibis.
Of the island’s 28 endemic species, 17 can be found on Sao Tome and 11 on Principe, making the islands a great place to go bird watching. From spotting birds from your balcony, to spending full days in the rainforest, time spent searching for the island’s tropical birds is unforgettable.
Best time to go
The tropical Islands of Sao Tome and Principe can be enjoyed during any month of the year. The most optimum months to visit are perhaps during the short dry season, between December and February, because this is a good time to see the turtles coming to shore to nest. The long dry season, between June and September, is the most settled. During the dry seasons the weather is usually warm and predominantly dry, but you can get some short downpours, and high humidity does mean that the skies are often overcast.
If you enjoy the intensity of short tropical downpours followed by clear blue skies, and an abundance of tropical foliage, then visit during the wetter months: October and November, and March to May.
Turtle nesting season runs from mid-November through to early February, with hatching generally occurring during March. October through to March are the optimum months for bird watching enthusiasts and there are a range of bird watching walks and excursions on offer. Humpback whale watching season is between late July and October, most of which falls in the long dry season, with the exception of October which is the wettest month on Sao Tome and Principe.
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