São Tomé and Príncipe
officially the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe is a Portuguese-speaking island nation in the Gulf of Guinea off the western equatorial coast of Central Afrika. It consists of two archipelagos around the two main islands São Tomé and Príncipe , located about 140 kilometers (87 miles) apart and about 250 and 225 kilometers (155 and 140 miles), respectively, off the northwestern coast of Gabon. The equator runs right through one of the islands wich makes its climate very tropical but humid and covered with rainforest. A lot of birds from the mainland of Africa breed on the islands and this is why some call the islands the Galapagos of Africa. The islands are also known as the chocolate islands. In the colonial days São Tomé and Príncipe was once the biggest chocolate producing country in the world. Times have changed and the old plantations are turned into ruins. The Islands still produces one of the best quality chocolate but on a very small scale. The waters around São Tomé and Príncipe are very rich with sea life. In season wales migrate along the coasts of the islands. In short São Tomé and Príncipe are a paradise and well worth a visit.