Príncipe Natural Park

Príncipe Island, São Tomé and Príncipe

A UNESCO Biosphere Reserve rainforest offering guided excursions to waterfalls and endemic bird life.

Places in Príncipe Natural Park

Organic garden dining Dishes drawing on fruits, herbs and vegetables grown in HBD's organic garden near the natural park.

Best time to visit: June to September (dry season), for the best conditions to explore Príncipe Natural Park's rainforests and enjoy the on-site dive centre.
Getting around: Guests typically fly into São Tomé, then take a short connecting flight to Príncipe Island; once there, a short transfer connects to Bom Bom Islet Resort, with guided excursions and the on-site dive centre providing access to Príncipe Natural Park and surrounding reefs.
Currency: São Tomé and Príncipe Dobra (Db), pegged to the euro
Language: Portuguese (official); Forro and Principense creoles are spoken locally.
Timezone: GMT (UTC+0)
Current trends: Príncipe Island's Bom Bom Resort continues to position itself as a model of community-benefiting eco-luxury following its full 2025 renovation under French designer Didier Lefort, with HBD Príncipe's organic garden and locally grown ingredients anchoring a distinctly African fine-dining identity; the resort's guided Príncipe Natural Park excursions and sea turtle conservation work reflect a broader movement toward conservation-integrated luxury tourism on Africa's Gulf of Guinea islands.

Bom Bom hillside bungalows — Thatched bungalows nestled into lush tropical gardens on the hillside.
Bom Bom beachfront bungalows — Beachfront bungalows redesigned under French architect Didier Lefort's supervision.