The Ultimate In Birding Tours

Africa (and its islands)

SÃO TOMÉ & PRÍNCIPE – a feast of little-known endemic birds on two beautiful Atlantic islands

Saturday 18th July – Sunday 26th July 2026

Leaders: János Oláh and local bird guides

9 Days Group Size Limit 8

SÃO TOMÉ & PRÍNCIPE BIRDING TOUR: OVERVIEW

Birdquest’s São Tomé & Príncipe birding tours explore two poorly-known yet remarkably endemic-rich islands off the coast of West Africa. Our São Tomé & Príncipe birding tour has the potential to record all of the islands’ currently widely recognized 28 endemic bird species (an astonishing total for two relatively small islands!), and you can enjoy all this while staying in comfortable accommodations. With the exception of one optional night, no camping is necessary anymore!

Approximately 250 kilometres off the coast of West Africa lie the islands of São Tomé and Príncipe. These two small, remote and almost forgotten islands in the Gulf of Guinea, virtually straddling the equator, are the southern extension of a volcanic ridge that runs from Mount Cameroon in the north to Fernando Po (or Bioko as it is now known) and onwards to Príncipe, São Tomé and Annobon. These ex-Portuguese colonies closed their doors to the Western world in 1975, and very little has been heard of them since, even though their politics have moved on and they have long since opened up again, particularly as a result of oil being discovered offshore.

The once extensive cocoa and coffee plantations on both islands have been neglected for many years and the jungle has reclaimed them, creating secondary growth which harbours a wealth of birds. In the interior, extensive tracts of rainforest, dripping from the constant rain at high altitudes, cover the steep, precipitous, uninhabited slopes of the towering volcanic mountains, which are often obscured from view by the clinging mist and cloud. These two islands are magnets for the moisture-laden monsoon winds, and the annual rainfall here is measured not in millimetres but in metres!

Our visit to the islands will be during one of their short ‘dry seasons’ when birding conditions are at their best. We will be endeavouring to find all of the 28 (more or less, depending on which taxonomic decisions one favours) endemic bird species, many of which are listed in the Red Data Book (a few were even considered to be extinct until recently). With the knowledge we have accumulated over many visits, there is a fair chance that we will succeed in seeing every one of these very special birds.

Our Sáo Tomé & Príncipe birding tour begins on the island of São Tomé, from where we will make a short pelagic into the Gulf of Guinea to look for the yet-to-be-described ‘Gulf of Guinea’ Storm Petrel. Later we will take a flight across the Gulf of Guinea to the neighbouring picturesque island of Príncipe, which is home to eight currently recognized endemic bird species (as well as three shared with São Tomé). Very similar in appearance to its larger sister, with lofty peaks covered in rainforest, we will explore some of the best-remaining forest on the island to give ourselves the best chance of tracking down all of the specialities, which are the recently discovered Principe Scops Owl, Dohrn’s Warbler, the rare Principe Thrush, Principe Speirops, the scarce Principe White-eye, Principe Starling, Principe Sunbird, and Principe Weaver. We will also seek out the shared endemics, namely Sao Tome Spinetail, Island Bronze-naped Pigeon and the local form of Principe Seedeater, and a number of interesting subspecies that may, in the future, be split. These include the Príncipe forms of the Malachite and Blue-breasted Kingfishers and Velvet-mantled Drongo.

Returning to São Tomé, we will embark upon the challenge of finding the remaining 17 currently recognized strict island endemics. In more open habitats, even around our hotel, we can find many of the more widespread endemics including Sao Tome Thrush, Sao Tome Paradise Flycatcher, Sao Tome Prinia, Black-capped (or Sao Tome) Speirops, the São Tomé form of Principe Seedeater, Newton’s Sunbird, Sao Tome Weaver and the extraordinary Giant Weaver. The other endemics are to be found in the remaining areas of more montane rainforest, and we will travel along jungle paths festooned with vines and creepers in order to look for Sao Tome Olive Pigeon, Sao Tome Green Pigeon (both becoming rare due to hunting), the amazing Sao Tome Ibis, the delightful Sao Tome Scops Owl, Sao Tome Oriole, the unusual black, white and yellow, rainforest-inhabiting Sao Tome Fiscal, Sao Tome White-eye, the incredible Giant Sunbird, the unique Sao Tome Short-tail (now classified as a wagtail), and the rare and mysterious Sao Tome Grosbeak, which was only rediscovered in 1991 after a gap of about a century. We will also see a number of other interesting subspecies, including the distinctive Sáo Tomé forms of Lemon Dove and Malachite Kingfisher, and we will also explore the savanna regions for the localized Golden-backed Bishop.

Birdquest has operated São Tomé & Príncipe birding tours since 1995.

São Tomé without the need for camping: Recent changes to both ornithological knowledge and available accommodations mean that there is no longer a need to camp in order to have a fair chance of seeing all the endemic birds. However, one night of camping on São Tomé will maximize our chances of seeing all the more difficult endemics. Walking in and out to the highest areas of the forest for two consecutive days is too physically demanding for most participants, but if you wish to skip the camping night, walk into the area for one day and then spend the night in the hotel (birding or relaxing in the hotel ground the second day), please let us know. This can easily be arranged, but we would need to know at the time of booking.

Important: Please note that the running order of the itinerary may alter according to the inter-island flight schedules, so the timing of the visit to Príncipe may vary from that indicated here.

Accommodation & Road Transport: The hotels are of good quality on both islands. Road transport is mostly by small coach. Road conditions vary from good to poor. There will be one optional night of simple camping.

Walking: The walking effort during our São Tomé & Príncipe birding tour is sometimes easy, but with a number of moderate walks. The uphill slippery sections in places make some of the walking quite demanding.

Climate: The weather will be hot and humid, with dry and sunny weather interspersed with overcast and rainy spells.

Bird Photography: Opportunities during our São Tomé & Príncipe birding tour are worthwhile.

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

  • Exploring the ‘Galapagos of Africa’ with no fewer than 28 endemic birds, most of which are easy to see.
  • Other-worldly ‘paradise islands' with some amazing scenery.
  • Seeing the recently-described Principe Scops Owl and the rare Principe Thrush and Principe White-eye.
  • The unique Dohrn’s Thrush Babbler is unlike any other African species.
  • Diminutive Sao Tome Scops Owls can often be seen during the day.
  • The maximum chance for the trickiest endemics; Sao Tome (Dwarf) Ibis, Sao Tome Fiscal and the hulking Sao Tome Grosbeak.
  • Sao Tome Speirops and Principe Speirops are Zosterops with a difference!
  • The amazing Giant Weaver that lives up to its name and which has nests as big as footballs!
  • Watching the odd little Sao Tome Short-tail which is now thought to be an aberrant pipit.
  • The extrovert antics of the Sao Tome Prinia.

OUTLINE ITINERARY

  • Day 1: Evening tour start at São Tomé airport.
  • Day 2: Pelagic off São Tomé, then flight to Príncipe.
  • Days 3-4: Exploring Príncipe.
  • Day 5: Príncipe, then flight to São Tomé.
  • Days 6-8: Exploring São Tomé.
  • Day 9: São Tomé, then afternoon tour end.

To see a larger map, click on the square-like ‘enlarge’ icon in the upper right of the map box.

To see (or hide) the ‘map legend’, click on the icon with an arrow in the upper left of the map box.

To change to a satellite view, which is great for seeing the physical terrain (and for seeing really fine details by repetitive use of the + button), click on the square ‘map view’ icon in the lower left corner of the ‘map legend’.

PRICE INFORMATION

Birdquest Inclusions: Our tour prices include surface transportation, accommodations, meals and entrance fees.

We also include all tipping for local guides, drivers, boatmen and accommodation/restaurant staff.

We also include these flights: São Tomé-Príncipe-São Tomé.

Deposit: 20% of the total tour price. Our office will let you know what deposit amount is due, in order to confirm your booking, following receipt of your online booking form.

TO BOOK THIS TOUR: Click here (you will need the tour dates)


2026: provisional prices £3590, $4550, €4340, AUD7230. São Tomé/São Tomé.

Single Supplement: 2026: £360, $460, €430, AUD730.

The single supplement will not apply if you indicate on booking that you prefer to share a room and there is a room-mate of the same sex available.

This tour is priced in US Dollars. Amounts shown in other currencies are indicative.

Air Travel To & From The Tour: Our in-house IATA ticket agency will be pleased to arrange your air travel on request, or you may arrange this yourself if you prefer.

SÃO TOMÉ & PRÍNCIPE BIRDING TOUR: DETAILED ITINERARY

São Tomé & Príncipe: Day 1  Our São Tomé & Príncipe birding tour begins this evening at São Tomé airport. We will spend the night in a nearby hotel.

(The shortest and easiest way to reach São Tomé is by a flight from Lisbon with TAP Air Portugal, but other flight routings are possible.)

São Tomé & Príncipe: Day 2  This morning, we will take a pelagic out into the waters of the Gulf of Guinea, where our main target will be an as yet undescribed form of Hyrdrobates storm petrel in the ‘Band-rumped Storm Petrel group’. The distinctive form has a very narrow, crescent-shaped, white rump band and is likely to be described as a new endemic: Gulf of Guinea (or São Tomé) Storm Petrel. While looking, we may well see a number of other species, such as White-tailed Tropicbird, Brown Booby, Sooty and Bridled Terns, and Brown and Black Noddies.

In the afternoon, we will take a flight across to the island of Príncipe for a three-night stay. Following our arrival, we will commence our explorations on Príncipe.

São Tomé & Príncipe: Days 3-4  Much of our time on this stunning island will be spent visiting the productive forests of the south, which may only be reached by boat. As we travel south by boat along the coast, providing the weather is clear, we will see the high, impressive and rather tepui-shaped mountains of the interior, formed from eroded volcanic plugs and craters, with their heavily forested slopes.

Once at our destination, we will initially explore the forest close to the shore. Here, we will already be in the thick of the island’s endemic birdlife. The brightly coloured Principe Weaver can be seen nest building in the trees, whilst the Principe Sunbird is fairly common too. The delicate and beautifully marked Principe Speirops is thinly distributed, but we should find them gleaning in the canopy or working the mid-stratum much like their close relatives, the white-eyes. An explosive ringing song will reveal the presence of Dohrn’s Warbler (formerly Dohrn’s Thrush-Babbler, a most unusual bird which is quite unlike any other African passerine and is nowadays thought to belong to the sylviid babblers). Less common is the Principe Starling (which is sometimes out-numbered by the similar Splendid Starling) and the Príncipe form of Velvet-mantled Drongo (a potential split), whilst along the coast itself, we should find the Príncipe form of Malachite Kingfisher (another potential split). The diminutive Principe White-eye can also be a little tricky to find, but we should encounter them in mixed flocks, whilst the toughest of the diurnal endemics is the Principe Thrush, which may require a tough walk to find it. The numbers of this attractive species appear to be very low and perhaps declining, and consequently, it is classified as Critically Endangered. We are also likely to see the shared endemics, namely Sao Tome Spinetail, Island Bronze-naped Pigeon and Principe Seedeater.

We will also make a concerted effort to find the recently discovered Principe Scops Owl. This usually requires a fairly long and moderately demanding hike in order to be in suitable habitat as darkness falls. Once there, we have a good chance of finding this scarce and little-known owl.

Other species that we are likely to find in the island’s forests include African Green Pigeon, Lemon Dove, Blue-breasted Kingfisher (the local form seems to be particularly common and confiding) and Olive Sunbird, whilst in more open areas and along the coast we may find African Palm Swift, Eurasian Whimbrel, Common Sandpiper, Western Reef Heron, Laughing Dove, Yellow-billed Kite, Bronze Mannikin and Common Waxbill. Príncipe also holds a healthy population of African Grey Parrots, which has caused some controversy. A genetic study suggested that the birds on Príncipe are more closely related to Timneh Parrot of the southwestern region of West Africa, and indeed, the IOC includes Príncipe in the species’ range following that study. However, as the birds on Príncipe look almost exactly like African Grey Parrots, and there are African Grey Parrots on the other Gulf of Guinea islands, most authors now consider this endemic subspecies to be part of African Grey Parrot.

São Tomé & Príncipe: Day 5  After some early morning birding, we will catch a flight back to São Tomé airport and begin our exploration of this island in earnest.

In the afternoon we will explore some open country and savanna close to the airport. Yellow-billed Kites are extremely common overhead, and here, in the open grasslands or among the crops, we should encounter the localized Golden-backed Bishop as well as a plethora of mostly introduced species (the exact status (native or introduced) of some species is still questioned). These include Black-winged Red Bishop, White-winged Widowbird, Southern Masked and Village Weavers, Red-headed Quelea, Bronze Mannikin, Pin-tailed Whydah and Yellow-fronted Canary, and we may possibly flush a Harlequin Quail or Red-necked Spurfowl.

The coastline of the island is dotted with small fishing villages surrounded by coconut palm plantations, and as we drive south, we should also find Reed Cormorant, Western Cattle Egret, Striated Heron, Common Greenshank and Common Moorhen, and at a river we will pause to look for the São Tomé form of the Malachite Kingfisher (sometimes split as Sao Tome Kingfisher). Overhead groups of African Palm and Little Swifts forage and are joined by the occasional fluttering Sao Tome Spinetail.

Most of the low-lying areas and coastal perimeter of the island have been settled except for the inaccessible southwest. Consequently, for our remaining time on São Tomé, we shall be concentrating our efforts in the central highlands and in the southeastern portion of the island, in order to find as many as possible of the endemic birds.

We will make our way to São João dos Angalares, in the south of the island, for an overnight stay.

São Tomé & Príncipe: Day 6  Early this morning, we will begin our forest adventure as we head to Monte Carmo, the bird endemic hotspot in the south of the island. We will drive through the oil palm plantations to the trailhead and make our way into the forest, covering a few kilometres of undulating trail to our campsite, where we will stay overnight (unless you have opted to stay overnight at the hotel and have a day trip into the area – see the Overview page).

Initially, in the open forest and old plantations, we’ll find our first endemics, which are likely to include Sao Tome Prinia (with its strange clicking display flight), the attractive Newton’s Sunbird and Black-capped (or Sao Tome) Speirops. The old overgrown cocoa plantations and lush forests covering deep valleys are cut through by rushing streams and are accessible along narrow tracks. It is along these paths, in a mysterious habitat that is so often wreathed in mist, that we shall look for the São Tomé form of Lemon Dove, Sao Tome Thrush, Sao Tome Oriole, Sao Tome Paradise Flycatcher, and Principe Seedeater. (The job of creating names for all these fabulous endemic birds must have proved no great task for the early ornithologists!). In the denser tangles, we should find small groups of Sao Tome Weavers as they cling, woodpecker-fashion, to the moss-covered trunks. Examining any flowering tree, especially the beautiful wild yellow hibiscus or red Erythrina, should reward us with views of the rare Giant Sunbird. To see this huge sunbird as it probes its long, decurved bill into a flower is a truly incredible experience.

Our main reason for visiting this remote area, however, is to give ourselves a very good chance of seeing all four of the hardest São Tomé endemics to find: the shy Sao Tome (or Dwarf Olive) Ibis that forages on the forest floor, the bizarre Sao Tome Short-tail that favours rocky stream beds and is now classified as an aberrant wagtail, the Sao Tome Fiscal (no other fiscal in Africa is black, white and yellow or lives inside the rainforest) and the rare Sao Tome Grosbeak (rediscovered in 1991 after a gap of 100 years and since then only seen by a small number of people, including participants on recent Birdquest tours). We will also have our first chance to look for the endemic Sao Tome Scops Owl.

São Tomé & Príncipe: Day 7  We will have most of today to look for any species that we have not yet seen before retracing our steps and making our way back out of the forest and returning to São João dos Angalares for an overnight stay.

Late in the afternoon, we will explore some old-growth cocoa plantations and more open stretches of rainforest, where Red-headed Lovebirds are often to be seen, and where we will look for Island Bronze-naped Pigeon and Sao Tome Green Pigeon feeding in the fruiting trees or perching high in the canopy. This is also the realm of the Giant Weaver, and we will look for their often well-concealed football-sized nests, which are twice the size of any other African weaver! We may also come across the attractive African Emerald Cuckoo here.

In the evening we will make a concerted effort to see the small, dark and distinctive local race of Western Barn Owl, another potential split!

São Tomé & Príncipe: Day 8  Today, we will set off early and drive to the central highlands, where we will be based at Monte Café for an overnight stay. Although we may have already seen them, this area is often the best place to find the smart little Sao Tome White-eye, and the increasingly rare, through hunting, Sao Tome Olive Pigeon. Also, in this area, we are often able to find the tiny and exquisite Sao Tome Scops Owl by day, which is always a treat! Here we will also have another chance to find the impressive Giant Sunbird, and other possibilities include the São Tomé form of Chestnut-winged Starling (another potential split) and more impressive Giant Weavers.

São Tomé & Príncipe: Day 9  After a final morning in the highlands, looking for any remaining birds we have not yet seen, we will make the short drive to São Tomé airport, where our São Tomé & Príncipe birding tour ends this afternoon.

SÃO TOMÉ & PRÍNCIPE TOUR REPORT 2018

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SÃO TOMÉ & PRÍNCIPE TOUR REPORT 2024

by Pete Morris

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