Utonde Beach

Utonde is a stretch of beach on the mainland coast south of Bata, pale sand running for kilometres with palms and forest behind it and almost nothing built along it, which on a coast this length is the norm rather than the exception. Turtles nest along the shore and fishing villages sit at intervals. The Atlantic here is open with a considerable swell most of the year. The mainland coast runs for around three hundred kilometres and very little of it is developed, so beaches of this kind are the rule rather than the exception here.

What you actually see

• The empty sand - kilometres of beach with almost nothing on it.
• The palm and forest backing - the vegetation running down to the shore.
• The turtle nesting - the animals using the beach in season.
• The Atlantic swell - open ocean conditions along the coast.

When to go

December to February is the drier season. Turtle nesting runs roughly November to February. The rains make the access tracks difficult.

Honest expectations

There are no facilities of any kind. The surf and currents are strong and swimming needs care. Access tracks are rough after rain.

Nearby

Mbini is north, and Cogo is south.