The Moka Highlands

At 1,400 metres in Bioko's southern highlands, Moka trades the coast's steam for sweater mornings: a green bowl of pastures and giant ferns where the island's walking gathers - trails to the Biao crater lake in its forest ring, the Iladyi cascades' triple drop into a jungle gorge, and ridge paths where drills, monkeys and Bioko's endemic birds work the canopy. The village hosts a research station's legacy of primate study, guides organise the lake and cascade days, and the highland light - mist rolling the pastures, volcano slopes above - makes the valley the island's most companionable base.

The landscape

• Lake Biao - the crater lake in its forest ring.
• The Iladyi cascades - the triple falls into the gorge.
• The drill forests - Bioko's rare primates on the ridge trails.
• The highland pastures - mist, ferns and volcano light.

When to go

November to February for the driest trails and clearest ridges; mornings everywhere - the mist owns afternoons. The cascades run fullest just after the rains taper.

Good to know

Trails are guided arrangements with village fees - the system that keeps them open; distances and mud are honest, and the lake day is a full one. Accommodation is simple lodge-and-guesthouse. Permits and current arrangements are best confirmed in Malabo before the drive.

Nearby

Ureca's coast beyond the ridge, Luba and Malabo.