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Tourist Places to Visit in Luba, Equatorial Guinea, Central Africa, Africa

Tourist Places to Visit in Luba, Equatorial Guinea, Central Africa, Africa

Luba, earlier called San Carlos, is a town situated on the Bioko Island belonging to the Central African country, Equatorial Guinea. It is the 2^nd largest town on the island, after the national capital, Malabo, which is around 50 km northeast of Luba. Luba is one of the top tourist destinations in the country, housing many excellent beaches, a colonial hospital, affluent Luba Crater Scientific Reserve, cafes and entertainment centres.

Luba holds a port, mainly used for the logging industry. Luba is geographically positioned between 3°27′ N latitude and 8°33′ E longitude, at an elevation of 180 meters.

Connectivity to Luba:

As like the other towns in Bioko Island, Luba is also served by the prime airport of the country, Malabo International Airport. The airport is located around 45 km northeast of the midpoint of Luba, which are connected by regular bus services. For more comfort airport travel, visitors can book a private transfer prior to reaching the city or take airport taxi.

Luba houses some travel agencies, offering rental vehicles like cars and mopeds for local travel, airport travel and sightseeing purposes.

Food and Shopping in Luba:

Luba houses many tourist favor food corners with traditional and other African countries menus. Shops are few, limited to grocery stores.

Things to do in Luba:

Shopping
Village tours
Walking

Places to see in Luba:

Beaches in Luba:

Being a coastal town, Luba houses many striking black sand beaches with opportunities of different water sport activities including swimming. One can also find many modernized restaurants lying on the beach.

Colonial hospital in Luba:

Luba is home to many well preserved colonial buildings of which the most recognized one is hospital building, which gained prominence for its nice construction and surrounding environment.

Luba Crater Scientific Reserve:

The Luba Crater Scientific Reserve or Reserve Scientifique de la Caldera de Luba is situated to the south of the town of Luba, spread up an area of 51,000 hectares. This protected dense rainforest is especially known for endangered primate species. Also one can find turtle species nestled on the beaches like Olive ridley sea turtle, Leatherback sea turtle and Hawksbill sea turtle.

Belebú Balachá:

Belebú Balachá is a village located to the south of Luba, known for its pleasant environment formed by rich vegetation. It can be reached by a rental vehicle from Luba.

Malabo:

Malabo is the capital city of Equatorial Guinea, situated around 50 km northeast of Luba. The city is packed with many colonial buildings, churches and modernized shops and restaurants. It is also home to the national university, the Universidad Nacional de Guinea Ecuatoria.

List of other places of interests in and around Luba include:

Malabo Cathedral
Sofitel Malabo President Palace
Malabo Government Building
Beaches in Malabo
Malabo International Airport
Malabo Court Building
Arena Blanca
Moca Valley
Colegio Nacional Enrique Nvó Okenve
Bioko Biodiversity Protection Program
Ureca
Pico Malabo
The Museum of Biyabiyan
Pico Basil

Best time to visit Luba:

Probably the months of December, January and February are ideal to visit Luba to enjoy its beach beauties.

Accommodation Options in and around Luba:

There are few hotels to stay in Luba but one can find it in nearby city Malabo, where more than 20 hotels are located with all basic and latest facilities and services. Malabo can be reached by bus or rental car from Luba. The major hotels in Malabo (around 50 km from Luba):

Hotel El Castillo
Sofitel Malabo Sipopo Le Golf
Mango Suites
Hilton Malabo
Hotel Candy
Sofitel Malabo
Hotel Impala
Ibis Malabo
Hotel Bahia Malabo
Hotel de Federaciones Malabo
3 de Agosto
Hotel Bantu
Apartahotel Preguis
Hostal Residencia Santa Emilia
Hotel de Federaciones Malabo
Hotel Paraiso

Best Tourist Places to Visit in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, Central Africa, Africa

Best Tourist Places to Visit in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, Central Africa, Africa

Malabo is the capital city of Equatorial Guinea in the Central Africa, situated on the Bioko Island. Holding a population of 187,302 (as of the 2012 census), Malabo is the 2^nd largest city of Equatorial Guinea, following Bata on the mainland Río Muni. The climate of Malabo is tropical wet and dry and the city receives an average of 1,800 mm of rainfall annually. Malabo geographically coordinates with 3°45′7.43″ N latitude and 8°46′25.32″ E longitude.

Oil industry is the backbone of Malabo’s economy and is followed by the tourism industry, which features the historical buildings, beaches and churches, especially the Malabo Cathedral.

History of Malabo:

The history of Malabo begins with its foundation as a naval station with name Port Clarence, made by the British in the year 1827. It was renamed Santa Isabel when it came under the Spanish rule in 1926 and it was selected as the capital of Equatorial Guinea replacing Bata in 1969. The city got its current name in 1973 under the name changing campaign of the President Francisco Macías Nguema.

Connectivity to Malabo:

Malabo hosts the most important airport of Equatorial Guinea, the Malabo International Airport, is located around 9 km away from the heart of the city. The airport covers many prime global destinations like Douala, Paris, Cotonou, Abidjan, Accra, Bata, Brazzaville, Mongomeyen, Port Harcourt, Frankfurt, Madrid, and Lisbon.

Taxis are the convenient options to get around Malabo city, which costs around 500 cfa. Buses are also commonly available.

Food and Shopping in Malabo:

Malabo is home to National University of Equatorial Guinea and Colegio Nacional Enrique Nvó Okenve.

Those who want to purchase traditional clothes and wood carvings can head towards traditional market in the city centre.

List of the famous food corners in Malabo include:

ICEF Malabo Restaurant
Hotel ibis Malabo
Candy Irish Pub
Cafe Kristania

Things to do in Malabo:

Exploring beaches
Shopping
Hiking

What to see in Malabo?

Malabo Cathedral:

The Malabo Cathedral is a landmark historic structure with a water fountain in front of the facade. The cathedral is located on the west side of the Plaza de Independencia, renowned as one of the identities of Malabo.

Malabo Government Building:

Official residence of the President of Equatorial Guinea, the Malabo Government Building was constructed in the year 1965 and its distinct construction and pleasant location have made it as one of the top tourist attractions of Malabo.

Sofitel Malabo President Palace:

The Sofitel Malabo President Palace is a 5-star hotel in Malabo, housed in the Spanish colonial palace dating from the 18th century. This elegant hotel is situated in the Plaza de la Independencia near the Malabo Government Building.

Beaches in Malabo:

Beaches are the focal point of Malabo’s tourism, attracting groups of tourists from the mainland Río Muni and other parts of Africa. Restaurants and cafes are also abundant on the beach line with a variety of modern features.

Universidad Nacional de Guinea Ecuatorial:

The Universidad Nacional de Guinea Ecuatorial is the national university of Equatorial Guinea, housed in the Spanish colonial building. The university building is surrounded by eye-catching landscapes and palm trees.

Other places of interest in and around Malabo are as follows:

Malabo International Airport
Malabo Court Building
Colegio Nacional Enrique Nvó Okenve
Bioko Biodiversity Protection Program
Arena Blanca
The Museum of Biyabiyan
Pico Basil
Moca Valley
Evinayong
Ureca
Pico Malabo

Best time to visit Malabo:

Malabo generally experiences nine months of wet season annually expect from December to February, while dry season runs, which would be the ideal time to travel Malabo.

Accommodation Options in Malabo:

Malabo is home to more than 20 standard hotels including star rated options like Sofitel Malabo President Palace, Hotel Bahia, Hotel Impala and Hotel Ureka. Most hotels in Malabo offer advance booking facility for visitors’ convenience. The prominent hotels in Malabo are listed below:

Sofitel Malabo
Hotel Impala
ibis Malabo
Hotel Bahia Malabo
Hotel El Castillo
Hotel Ureca
Sofitel Malabo Sipopo Le Golf
Mango Suites
Hilton Malabo
Hotel Candy
Hotel de Federaciones Malabo
Hotel Yoli
3 de Agosto
Hotel Bantu
Apartahotel Preguis

Bata Tourist Places to Visit in Bata, Equatorial Guinea, Central Africa, Africa

Bata Tourist Places to Visit in Bata, Equatorial Guinea, Central Africa, Africa

Bata is the largest city of the Central African country, Equatorial Guinea, lying on the coast line of the country, between 1°51′ N latitude and 9°45′ E longitude. Former capital of Equatorial Guinea, Bata holds the important port of the country and is also recognized for its large traditional market and nightlife.

Bata is home to the campus of Colegio Nacional Enrique Nvó Okenve and also an international airport. Bata is the capital city of the province of Littoral, comprising 27 administrative units.

History of Bata:

Bata served as the capital of Equatorial Guinea in the past and it incurred loss of population considerably following the anti-Spanish revolts in the year 1969 and since the emergence of the oil industry in the late 1980s in the country, Bata has been headed towards development.

How to reach Bata?

Although having an international airport, Bata is connected by flight to only few African cities like Douala, Libreville, Cotonou and Malabo. It would be better if one choose either Malabo Airport within the country or the Douala Airport in Cameroon.

The city of Bata is served by bus services, which run to all around the city and also the city hosts some travel agencies, from which one can hire car or bikes for local travel and airport travel and sightseeing purposes.

Culture, Food and Shopping in Bata:

Bata is a colorful city holding affluent nightlife with dozens of disco clubs, restaurants and cafes with all modern features.

Traditional markets in the city are also one of the parts of the city’s culture, selling locally produced handicraft products, ornaments and traditional clothes.

Restaurants are abundant in the city, spread up all around with both traditional and international menus. Some nice tourist favor food corners in Bata are as follows:

Restaurant La Ferme
Bar Central
La Corisquena
Nang Afang
Golfo de Guinea

Things to do in Bata:

Beach exploration
Shopping
City tours
Walking

Places to see in Bata:

Beaches in Bata:

One of the highlights of the city, the beaches in Bata lies along the road connecting city to the airport. Beaches are quite pleasant, visitors can also have a quiet walk on the beaches, which surly gives an extremely relaxing experience.

Nightlife in Bata:

Bata boasts an emerging nightlife, formed by plenty of restaurants, cafes, discos and pubs of which the most are located on the beach line. Freedom tower along the coast under light, is great to watch.

Traditional markets:

One can find many well equipped traditional markets in Bata with a wide selection of handicraft products, jewels, attires as well as fresh fruits. Credit cards are rarely accepted, so keep local currency.

Bata Airport:

The Bata Airport is a modern upgraded airport, situated around 7 km northeast of the city centre. It can be reached by bus or rental vehicle from the city centre while travelling one can enjoy the beauty of beaches.

List of other places of interests in and around Bata include:

Colegio Nacional Enrique Nvó Okenve
Pico Basilé
The Museum of Biyabiyan
Arena Blanca
Monte Alén National Park
Santa Isabel Catholic Cathedral
Pico Malabo
Bioko Biodiversity Protection Program
Evinayong
Ureca
Universidad Nacional de Guinea Ecuatorial
Moca Valley

Best time to visit Bata:

Best time to visit Bata depends on visitor’ interest, although the most popular time to travel Bata is from December to February.

Accommodation Options in and around Bata:

Being a tourist favor city, Bata houses many modernized accommodation centres including hotels, vacation rentals, BB and inns with a wide range of upgraded facilities and services. Some leading accommodation options in Bata are listed below:

Elik Melen
Ibis Bata
Panafrica Hotel
Les Pagaies
Aparthotel Plaza
Hotel Gabriel
Hotel Yessika

Best Tourist Places to Visit in Equatorial Guinea, Central Africa, Africa

Best Tourist Places to Visit in Equatorial Guinea, Central Africa, Africa

Equatorial Guinea is a Central African country, made up of island and mainland regions, covering a total area of 28,000 square kilometers, making it one of the smallest countries in Africa. Its southern and eastern border is bordered by Gabon while Cameroon shares its northern border thoroughly and its western border faces towards the Gulf of Guinea. In terms of population, Equatorial Guinea is the 150^th largest country in the world, with around 736,296 people, as of the 2012 estimate.

The city of Malabo, on Bioko Island, serves as the capital of Equatorial Guinea while Bata is the largest city of Equatorial Guinea. The geographical coordinates of Equatorial Guinea are 1°30′ N 10°00′ E.

History of Equatorial Guinea:

Colonization in Equatorial Guinea began even before the 16^th century by the Portuguese. The Treaty of El Pardo, signed by King Charles III of Spain and Queen Maria I of Portugal in 1778, pushed Equatorial Guinea under the Spanish rule. It was a disputed region for very long time between many European Empires until it came fully under the control of Spanish in 1926, and ultimately, Equatorial Guinea’s independence was declared in 1968.

How to reach Equatorial Guinea?

The Malabo International Airport is the gateway to Equatorial Guinea, located around 9 km away from the centre of the capital city, Malabo. The airport is connected to Douala, Paris, Cotonou, Abidjan, Accra, Bata, Brazzaville, Mongomeyen, Port Harcourt, Frankfurt, Madrid, Lisbon and other prime global destinations.

Bata Airport is another major airport of Equatorial Guinea, situated in the country’s largest city, Bata. This airport covers some African countries including Bata Douala, Libreville and Cotonou.

To get around cities, buses and rental vehicles are commonly used in Equatorial Guinea.

Culture, Food and Shopping in Equatorial Guinea:

Equatorial Guinea is culturally diverse country which is analyzed through its people belonging to different communities and their respective languages, although Spanish and French are used as the official language of Equatorial Guinea.

Equatorial Guinea uses Central African CFA franc as its currency. Generally international tourists prefer to choose traditional handicrafts including wood carvings in Equatorial Guinea. Cuisine is varied from region to region while Succotash is the national food of Equatorial Guinea.

Places of interest in Equatorial Guinea:

Santa Isabel Catholic Cathedral:

The Santa Isabel Catholic Cathedral is an iconic cathedral, situated on the west side of the Plaza de Independencia in Malabo. Also there is a water fountain before the cathedral, making it one of the top tourist attractions in Equatorial Guinea.

Monte Alén National Park:

The Monte Alén National Park covers around 2000 km² of area, in the west central location of the country. This hidden gem features rich vegetation as well as the typical animal species including gorillas and chimpanzees. It was founded in 1990.

Arena Blanca:

A paradise of water sport and nature lovers, the Arena Blanca is an excellent white sandy beach on Bioko Island in Equatorial Guinea. Butterfly watching is also a famous activity here.

The Museum of Biyabiyan:

The Museum of Biyabiyan is a popular cultural attraction, situated around 20 km away from the Ebebiyin town. The museum is noted for its collection of traditional Fang sculptures.

Pico Basilé:

A nature beauty, the Pico Basilé is a mountain, considered as the highest on the Bioko Island with an altitude of 9,878 ft. This symbolic peak is situated in the proximity of Malabo.

Other places of interest in Equatorial Guinea include:

Pico Malabo
Bioko Biodiversity Protection Program
Universidad Nacional de Guinea Ecuatorial
Moca Valley
Evinayong
Ureca

Best time to visit Equatorial Guinea:

Equatorial Guinea experiences a tropical climate and the best and most popular time to visit Equatorial Guinea is from December to February.

Accommodation options in Equatorial Guinea:

As like its size, Equatorial Guinea’s hospitality industry is also small, holding not more than 50 hotels but latest facilities can be get in such hotels. Here are some nice hotels in Malabo in Equatorial Guinea: