Any Travels

Bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Cameroon and Gabon, lies the Western African country of Equatorial Guinea. The country's tropical climate, coastal planes and volcanic islands are home to some four hundred thousand residents, whose ethnic origins are primarily Spanish, Bioko and Rio Muni.

Spanish is the official language here, but also heard are varieties of pidgin English: Fang, Bubi and Ibo. The predominant religion is Roman Catholicism, although Pagan practices are kept alive as well.

The Government of Equatorial Guinea has established stringent currency restrictions, applied upon arrival and departure from the country. Visitors bearing tourist passports must declare any currency in excess of 50,000 CFA (currently, approximately $85) upon arrival. Although this requirement is not clearly posted, travelers who fail to declare their excess currency risk forfeiture of any amount over 50,000 CFA upon departure.

Further, credit cards and checks are rarely accepted. Cash in local currency is usually the only form of payment accepted throughout the country. Credit card cash advances are not available, and most banks do not cash personal or Traveler's checks.

Agriculture, forestry, and fishing currently account for about half of the nations economical subsistence. While pre-independence Equatorial Guinea also relied on cocoa production for hard currency earnings, the rural economy has successively deteriorated under harsh regimes. Moreover, a number of aid programs have been cut off since 1993, due to governmental mismanagement. By in large, businesses tend to be owned by government officials and their family members.

The principal export crop is cacao, which is grown almost entirely on Bioko. Coffee is grown on the mainland, which also produces tropical hardwood timber, the leading export in value, accounting for 54 percent of earnings in the early 1990s. Cassava and sweet potatoes are the staple foods. Local manufacturing industries include the processing of oil and soap, cocoa, yucca, coffee, and seafood. The currency is the CFA franc (284.6 CFA francs equal U.S.$1; 1993). An exchange rate of 50 CFA francs equal to 1 French franc was enforced from 1948 until 1994, when the CFA franc was devalued by 50 percent.

Under the 1982 constitution, the president was elected by universal suffrage to a seven-year term, and members of the legislature were elected to five-year terms. The Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea was the sole legal political party. A new multiparty constitution was approved in 1991.

Places of Interst:

Malabo
Malabo the capital of Equatorial Guinea is set beautifully between the cloud-capped Pico Malabo on one side and high ocean waves on the other. Unfortunately there are no good beaches nearby, and there are no agencies to arrange a hiking trip in the inland, but the city has quite some tourist potential nevertheless. For the moment it's just potential. The city is pretty rundown and with just a handful of restaurants and hotels worthy of the name, Malabo lacks a lot of infrastructure. It does have numerous bars, however, where you can get a quick shot of booze.

A trip to Luba or even Riaba are absolutely worthwhile. It gives you an impression of the scenery of the island and both have good beaches. On the way to Riba you can see the Moka Valley with its crater lake.

Bata
Capital of the mainland region of Rio Muni and larger than Malabo, Bata is a clean, charming town with wide streets. Lacking the spectacular volcanic views of Malabo, Bata is nonetheless quite lively, with busy markets and lots of restaurants, bars and hotels.

There are few man-made attractions on the mainland, however those wanting a secluded African beach experience are in luck; to the north and south of Bata are some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. Bata is over 200km (125mi) across the Bight of Biafra from Malabo.

Luba
Although there is a general air of neglect around Luba, it is a good launching pad to explore many of the island's natural attractions. Nearby are isolated beaches boasting white sand, including the beautiful Arena Blanca, as well as several small fishing villages and two hiking trails.