Oque Pipi Waterfall

Oque Pipi drops into a pool in the forest of São Tomé's interior, reached on a walk from where the track ends through dense secondary growth with stream crossings on the way, and the pool at the base is deep enough to swim in. The forest here is thick and the path is muddy in almost all conditions. A guide is worth taking because the route is unmarked and changes with the growth.

What you actually see

• The fall - the drop into the pool at the head of the walk.
• The forest route - the path through dense growth with stream crossings.
• The plunge pool - the basin at the base, cold and swimmable.
• The interior setting - the wet forest of São Tomé's centre.

When to go

June to September is the drier gravana season, when the path is most manageable. Rain raises the stream and closes the crossings. The forest is wet year round.

Honest expectations

The path is muddy and unmarked and a guide is effectively required. Stream crossings become difficult after rain. There are no facilities anywhere on the route.

Nearby

Bombaim is west, and São Tomé town is northeast.