Bioko Island

Bioko, the volcanic island off the coast of Cameroon that is home to Equatorial Guinea's capital, is a lush and dramatic tropical jewel, dominated by the peaks of dormant volcanoes cloaked in dense, misty rainforest. Rising to Pico Basile, the country's highest point, the island's jungle-covered interior and remote south shelter an extraordinary richness of wildlife, especially its endemic and rare monkeys, from drills to colourful guenons, making it a globally important biodiversity hotspot. The island's wild, hard-to-reach southern beaches, around Ureca, are among the most important nesting sites in Africa for several species of sea turtle, including the giant leatherback, a spectacular natural highlight of a little-visited nation.

What you actually see

• The rainforest and Pico Basile - the volcanic peaks and jungle.
• The rare monkeys - the endemic drills and colourful guenons.
• The turtle beaches - the remote nesting beaches of the south.
• The wild coast - the dramatic, hard-to-reach southern shore.

When to go

November to February, the drier season, for the most manageable travel, though Bioko is one of the wettest places in Africa and rain is frequent; sea-turtle nesting on the southern beaches peaks roughly November to January. The remote south is reached only by arduous journeys or on organised trips, and wildlife takes guides, effort and luck to encounter.

Honest expectations

Equatorial Guinea is one of Africa's most difficult countries to visit, with a reputation for strict controls, difficult visas, restrictions and an authoritarian government despite its oil wealth, so independent travel is challenging and heavily regulated; Bioko's remote south is genuinely hard to reach. For those able to visit, though, Bioko's lush volcanic rainforest, rare monkeys and globally important turtle beaches make it a wild and fascinating island in one of the world's least-visited nations.

Nearby

The capital Malabo and the mainland region of Río Muni are within reach.