Equatorial Guinea is a great destination for seeing wildlife because of its rich biodiversity and diverse ecosystems. The country is home to a variety of unique and rare species, including primates, birds, reptiles, and marine life.
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Equatorial Guinea
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Backpacking Equatorial Guinea in 2025
A complete guide for backpacking in Equatorial Guinea with best places to go, best time to visit, what to bring and safety advice.
Visit Equatorial Guinea
Embark on a unique adventure in Equatorial Guinea, where lush rainforests, diverse cultures, and vibrant markets await the intrepid backpacker. Pros? Explore untouched landscapes, encounter rich cultural diversity, and enjoy a sense of exclusivity due to limited tourism. However, limited infrastructure and higher costs can pose challenges. For the bold explorer seeking an off-the-beaten-path destination, Equatorial Guinea offers a rare opportunity to delve into Africa's lesser-explored corners, promising a distinctive journey filled with cultural richness and natural wonders.
Why to go?Why backpacking in Equatorial Guinea
Wildlife
Uniqueness
Exploring Equatorial Guinea is a unique and off the beaten track experience due to its relative obscurity as a travel destination. Located on the west coast of Central Africa, this small country is often overlooked by tourists in favor of its more …
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💡 HighlightsTop-5 things to do in Equatorial Guinea
- Visit Malabo: The capital city of Equatorial Guinea is a must-visit destination. Explore the beautiful colonial architecture, visit the Presidential Palace, and enjoy the vibrant local markets.
- Explore Bioko Island: This island offers stunning natural beauty with its lush rainforests, volcanic peaks, and pristine beaches. Take a hike through the Pico Basile National Park or relax on the black sand beaches.
- Discover the Monte Alen National Park: This national park is a biodiversity hotspot, home to a wide variety of plant and animal species. Explore the dense rainforests, spot rare birds and primates, and take a refreshing dip in the park’s waterfalls.
- Visit the Bata Cathedral: Located in the city of Bata, this cathedral is a symbol of Equatorial Guinea’s strong Catholic heritage. Admire the stunning architecture and learn about the country’s religious history.
- Experience the local culture: Immerse yourself in the vibrant culture of Equatorial Guinea by attending traditional dance performances, visiting local villages, and trying the delicious local cuisine.
But Equatorial Guinea offers more...
🌤️ When to go?Best time to go backpacking Equatorial Guinea
The best time to visit Equatorial Guinea for backpacking is during the dry season, which runs from December to February. During this time, the weather is relatively cooler and there is less rainfall, making it more comfortable for outdoor activities and exploration. However, it is important to note that Equatorial Guinea experiences a tropical climate with high humidity and temperatures throughout the year. Therefore, it is advisable to pack lightweight and breathable clothing, as well as sun protection, regardless of the season.
Risk level: medium (50%)Safety advice for Equatorial Guinea
Safety has impact on the way you can travel. Always check the safety of the country you go to and adjust the way you travel to the advice.
Equatorial GuineaMy tips to get you on the way!Does Equatorial Guinea sound like your next backpacking destination? Use these steps to get you on the way.
Get inspiration 📚
While guidebooks used to be the backpacker’s holy grail for finding accomodation, nowadays that’s more conveniently accomplished online. However, guidebooks remain an excellent resource for familiarizing oneself with the country, gaining inspiration, and discovering itineraries. I enjoy reading them before my travels and then leaving them behind at home when I embark on my journey.
While guidebooks used to be the backpacker’s holy grail for finding accomodation, nowadays that’s more conveniently accomplished online. However, guidebooks remain an excellent resource for familiarizing oneself with the country, gaining inspiration, and discovering itineraries. I enjoy reading them before my travels and then leaving them behind at home when I embark on my journey.
Prepare your trip ✅
Before embarking on your journey, several essential checks are crucial: passport, visa, vaccinations and insurance. Some countries mandate that your passport remains valid for 3 to 6 months post your return. Additionally, it is important to verify the specific visa requirements for Equatorial Guinea. These differ per country of origin. While you can handle visa arrangements independently, online visa services streamline the process as they know exactly what’s needed for each country. Equatorial Guinea may require certain vaccinations. Make sure to timely check which ones you still need. Lastly, if you don’t have a travel insurance yet, Safety Wing is a good choice as they are tailored for backpackers.
Before embarking on your journey, several essential checks are crucial: passport, visa, vaccinations and insurance. Some countries mandate that your passport remains valid for 3 to 6 months post your return. Additionally, it is important to verify the specific visa requirements for Equatorial Guinea. These differ per country of origin. While you can handle visa arrangements independently, online visa services streamline the process as they know exactly what’s needed for each country. Equatorial Guinea may require certain vaccinations. Make sure to timely check which ones you still need. Lastly, if you don’t have a travel insurance yet, Safety Wing is a good choice as they are tailored for backpackers.
Book your flight ✈️
The flight may be the most expensive part of your trip. Therefore it’s worth spending a bit of time finding the right one. Flight search engines like Skyscanner and Kayak are the best to compare all possible options. A good tip is to be flexible with your exact travel dates. Traveling one or two days earlier/later may save you some bucks. Also booking about three months in advance can help making the best deal for you (though I’m not the best one myself to follow this advice as I tend to decide last-minute). A final tip would be to check airports in neighbouring countries. Not necessarily for cost saving but it can be intriguing to journey into Equatorial Guinea, travel overland to one of its neighbours and fly back home from there.
The flight may be the most expensive part of your trip. Therefore it’s worth spending a bit of time finding the right one. Flight search engines like Skyscanner and Kayak are the best to compare all possible options. A good tip is to be flexible with your exact travel dates. Traveling one or two days earlier/later may save you some bucks. Also booking about three months in advance can help making the best deal for you (though I’m not the best one myself to follow this advice as I tend to decide last-minute). A final tip would be to check airports in neighbouring countries. Not necessarily for cost saving but it can be intriguing to journey into Equatorial Guinea, travel overland to one of its neighbours and fly back home from there.
Book your first night(s) 🛌
Depending on your travel style, you can either plan a detailed day-to-day route and pre-book your accommodations, providing peace of mind, or opt to book them spontaneously, offering greater flexibility to adjust your plan. Personally, I am a big fan of the latter approach, but I always ensure to book the first night(s) in advance.
Depending on your travel style, you can either plan a detailed day-to-day route and pre-book your accommodations, providing peace of mind, or opt to book them spontaneously, offering greater flexibility to adjust your plan. Personally, I am a big fan of the latter approach, but I always ensure to book the first night(s) in advance.
My personal packing list 🎒
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Over the years, I’ve learned the importance of packing minimally. It’s so much easier to jump on the back of a truck or squeeze yourself into the last spot of a minibus without that supersized backpack. If you’re headed to a warm destination, leave your winter jacket at home; for colder regions, opt for thin thermal underlayers. Instead of packing your entire wardrobe, bring just three sets of clothes, as laundry facilities are available everywhere.
Money & Documents
Clothing
Electronics
Health
Others
Over the years, I’ve learned the importance of packing minimally. It’s so much easier to jump on the back of a truck or squeeze yourself into the last spot of a minibus without that supersized backpack. If you’re headed to a warm destination, leave your winter jacket at home; for colder regions, opt for thin thermal underlayers. Instead of packing your entire wardrobe, bring just three sets of clothes, as laundry facilities are available everywhere.Money & Documents
Clothing
Electronics
Health
Others
Moneybelt
[Amazon]
“Best way to carry your important documents”
Quick dry pant
[Amazon]
“Nothing beats these quick dry and light pants when traveling”
Light rain jacket
[Amazon]
“Hiking in rainy season? These keep you dry”
Thermo underwear
[Amazon]
“Less weight and volume than bulky sweaters or jackets”
Quick dry towel
[Amazon]
“Normal towels get smelly and heavy when traveling”
Power bank
[Amazon]
“Pick a small and light one, with 10.000mAh or more”
Travel adapter
[Amazon]
“Needed as each country has its own electricity plugs”
Number lock
[Amazon]
“No chance of losing your key; handy for lockers in dormitories”
Packing cubes
[Amazon]
“Keep your wet or dirty clothes separate from the rest”
Travel pillow
[Amazon]
“Light and great for flights and long bus journeys”
last page update: 27 September 2024