Home Tours Equatorial Guinea Independence Day Tour

Equatorial Guinea Independence Day Tour

Start
Oct 7, 2026
Malabo
End
Oct 14, 2026
Malabo
Duration
8 days
Price
EUR2195.00



TOUR OVERVIEW



Come and celebrate Equatorial Guinea's Independence Day with us! Often noted for being one of the least visited countries in Africa, largely due to its authoritarian regime and strict travel restrictions, there is no better way to experience this elusive nation than to take part of their Independence Day festivities.

As well as taking in everything that Independence Day itself has to offer, we'll also venture into most corners of the country on this tour, with an extensive itinerary of both the island of Bioko and the mainland. We'll go up and down both the eastern and western coasts of Bioko, visiting black and white sand beaches, a biodiversity centre, partially abandoned towns and buildings, and a chocolate plantation. We'll also explore the capital, Malabo, and drive to the highest point in the country, Mount Basila.

We'll fly to Bata on the mainland, the part of Equatorial Guinea that makes Malabo seem like a normal tourist destination. And here we'll visit Cuidad de la Paz, an absolute haven for those of us who love absurd, failed, monolithic building projects, and we'll have a night in a super luxurious 5-star resort hotel. We'll also take a peek at Mongomo, where the president's from, and catch a boat to the pristine island of Corisco.

View the full itinerary


Plaza de la Libertad, Liberty Square, Bata, Equatorial Guinea
Independence Day dancing, Equatorial Guinea



If you like the look of this tour but the dates don't work for you, or you'd like to do part of the tour, please get in touch and let us know. All our tours are able to be split into smaller sections, we're always scheduling new tours and your dates might work for one of them, or we can always organise an independent tour.


INCLUSIONS:

✓

Accommodation in twin share at roughly 3 star hotels, breakfast included, except when other accommodation is mentioned in itinerary

✓

Transport as per itinerary, including internal flight Malabo-Bata-Malabo

✓

Entrance fees to most sites (as per itinerary)

✓

Western and local guides


SINGLE SUPPLEMENT: EUR 350


EXCLUSIONS:

⨯

Visa fee (everyone is eligible for an evisa)

⨯

Meals other than breakfast

⨯

Transport to and from Malabo at the start and end of tour

⨯

Personal expenses such as souvenirs or any optional activities

⨯

Any COVID related expenses


Torre de la Libertad, Libterty Tower, Bata, Equatorial Guinea
Alena Beach, Bioko Island, Equatorial Guinea


TOUR HIGHLIGHTS


Celebrate Independence Day like a local

Visit Ciudad de la Paz , the dystopian, purpose-built, but unfinished new capital

Explore in-depth both the island of Bioko and the mainland , getting a glimpse into life in all parts of this elusive nation


Itinerary
Day 1Wed Oct 7
Malabo
  • Today we'll explore Malabo, Equatorial Guinea's capital city.
  • We'll walk through the centre of the city, along Independence Road, with stops at the Guinean Culture Centre, which is a lively hub for local art and culture, Independence Square, Santa Isabel Cathedral, the National Library and the Green House.
  • We'll also visit the famous "I love Equatorial Guinea" and "I love Malabo" signs of course, and the National Park. It's called the Malabo National Park, however it's really a botanical gardens, and the main points of interest for us there are a statue of the president, and Totem Square.
  • Used for events and concerts, Totem Square is exactly what it sounds like - a square surrounded by totems, and it's a great place to learn about the tribes of Equatorial Guinea.
  • We will also visit Sipopo today. Mostly known as a beach destination just outside of Malabo, our main reason to go there is to see the African Union Village.
  • We'll visit the central market, a great place to buy some funky clothes, including an Equatorial Guinean tracksuit if you're that way inclined, and like with most markets, it's just a cool place to mingle with locals.
read more read less
Day 2Thu Oct 8
Fly to Bata
  • This morning we will catch a flight to Bata, the largest city on the mainland. If you thought Malabo and the island of Bioko felt weird and a bit removed from the rest of the world, just wait til we get to the mainland! Bata makes Malabo look touristy.
  • After checking into our hotel, we’ll head straight out to explore Bata. We’ll start at Plaza de la Libertad, which is the central square of the city. Here there is a statue commemorating the coup in 1979 where the current president overthrew his uncle, who had previously been the president.
  • From here we’ll descend into the subterranean and visit the underground library.
  • We’ll take a stroll down the road towards the waterfront to the I love Bata sign.
  • We’ll then meander along the promenade to Torre de la Libertad, or Liberty Tower, a pretty cool tripod building with a revolving restaurant at the top, the décor of which would suggest it’s been set up for a wedding in the 1980s. Take in the views of the coastline and the city, enjoy the architecture, and we’ll continue on our way.
  • We’ll stop for some lunch somewhere, then take a drive by the old stadium and visit Bata Cathedral.
  • Overnight in Bata.
  • This morning we will catch a flight to Bata, the largest city on the mainland. If you thought Malabo and the island of Bioko felt weird and a bit removed from the rest of the world, just wait til we get to the mainland! Bata makes Malabo look touristy.
  • After checking into our hotel, we’ll head straight out to explore Bata. We’ll start at Plaza de la Libertad, which is the central square of the city. Here there is a statue commemorating the coup in 1979 where the current president overthrew his uncle, who had previously been the president.
  • From here we’ll descend into the subterranean and visit the underground library.
  • We’ll take a stroll down the road towards the waterfront to the I love Bata sign.
  • We’ll then meander along the promenade to Torre de la Libertad, or Liberty Tower, a pretty cool tripod building with a revolving restaurant at the top, the décor of which would suggest it’s been set up for a wedding in the 1980s. Take in the views of the coastline and the city, enjoy the architecture, and we’ll continue on our way.
  • We’ll stop for some lunch somewhere, then take a drive by the old stadium and visit Bata Cathedral.
  • Overnight in Bata.
read more read less
Day 3Fri Oct 9
Mongomo, Ciudad de la Paz, Djibloho
  • Today is going to be a highlight for most people, with several of our favourite places/things all on this day.
  • We’ll start off by driving across the entire width of the mainland of Equatorial Guinea, to Mongomo, covering a bit over 200km in around two hours. Yes, the roads are amazing – two lanes in each direct, dual carriageway the whole time, and barely another car to be found.
  • Mostly famous for the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, which is the second largest church in Africa, and we will of course visit, our main reasons to visit are that this is the hometown of both the current president and the previous president. The previous president of course being this one’s uncle, who he overthrew in 1979. The whole town is an odd juxtaposition of extreme wealth and luxury, with a golf course and gated mansions, amidst wooden shacks and dilapidated concrete shops and houses.
  • We’ll have some lunch in Mongomo and then take a walk around the centre of the town where we can see the residence of the former president and several monuments to the family.
  • We can also drive right up to the Gabonese border, just because we love a land border, and why not.
  • From here we’ll drive to Ciudad de la Paz – a highlight for those who love dystopian cities. Ciudad de la Paz is the planned city that serves as the political capital of Equatorial Guinea. This city was purpose-built to house the government and was designed to have a unique blend of modern and traditional architecture. However, with construction starting in 2015, and 2017 being the original deadline for all government departments to move there, it is still barely a ghost town. It makes Avaza in Turkmenistan look like the Costa Del Sol.
  • We will drive on the very wide, completely empty, roads, exploring every road in the entire city. There are a handful of completed buildings, but other than a university and a luxury hotel, it’s basically just empty. Of course we will stop at the tribune designed for viewing military parades, one of the few completed structures, and take lots of photos of empty roads and half-finished buildings.
  • And we’ll also swing by the original village of Oyala, so you can see the contrast!
  • And then we’ll make our way to our accommodation for the night. Yes, it’s the one luxury hotel in town! And surprisingly, it actually is properly luxurious. We’ll aim to arrive in the middle of the afternoon so you’ll have plenty of time to enjoy the spa, sauna, swimming pools (yes, multiple of them), jacuzzis, get a massage if you like, have a bath in your room, check out the shops, explore the grounds, eat and/or drink in one of the bars/restaurants, and just generally enjoy your surrounds.
read more read less
Day 4Sat Oct 10
Cogo, boat ride to Corsico, Bata
  • After breakfast we’ll farewell our luxurious surrounds and continue our journey, this time heading to the south of the country, where we will also be right at the Gabonese border.
  • We’ll get some lunch in Cogo, known for its decaying Spanish Colonial architecture, nestled in the jungles of southern Equatorial Guinea, and from here we’ll get a boat ride to Corisco.
  • And for those of you into this type of thing, keep an eye on your map while we’re on the boat, as we might actually go into Gabonese waters!
  • Known for its beautiful beaches and rich biodiversity, we’ll disembark our boat on the white sand and spend some time exploring the island.
  • We’ll return to the mainland and drive back to Bata, where we’ll spend the night.
read more read less
Day 5Sun Oct 11
Fly to Malabo, chocolate plantation, Batete church, Luba, Alena beach
  • We’ll catch the morning flight back to Malabo and spend the day exploring the island of Bioko.
  • Our first stop will be a small chocolate plantation where we can see the cocoa plants, how and where the chocolate is produced, and of course have some tasters. The chocolate they make here is completely natural and actually quite different to most chocolates you get, made only with the cocoa beans and honey. After a taster or two, you might even want to buy some.
  • Continuing our journey south along the western coast of Bioko, our next stop will be Batete church. Theoretically a functioning church, it hasn’t actually been used for a decade or so, but the parishioners still lock it up and “take care of it”. However, other than needing someone to unlock the front door, this is an urbex adventure for us.
  • The wooden walls and ceiling are visibly sagging, there is bird poo everywhere, and the sun seeps through the gaps in the wood in creepy rays, leaving most of the building in darkness.
  • When we’ve got our fill of the abandoned church, we’ll start heading back in the direction of Malabo, stopping in the town of Luba, where we will take a stroll around the town.
  • Regularly not having electricity for months on end, with no restaurants and barely a convenience store, Luba really feels like a forgotten town. We’ll wander through the run-down but definitely not lifeless streets and visit the statue to Maximillian Jones, Equatorial Guinea’s first multi-millionaire. An interesting story, though not an inspiring one, he was a freed slave who then became a slave-trader. But he’s Luba’s claim to fame.
  • We’ll get back on the road and our final stop for the day will be at Alena beach, a relaxing way to end our day. Anyone who wants to swim in the sea can, but we’ll also get some barbequed meat from the local vendors for lunch, and find a shady spot to set up for anyone who just wants to sit with a beer or a soft drink and chill. There are little shops and food stands lining the beach, and you can explore them as much or as little as you please.
  • Returning to Malabo, we’ll check into our hotel and spend the night there.
read more read less
Day 6Mon Oct 12
Independence Day
  • Happy Independence Day!
  • Celebrating their independence from colonial Spain, which happened in 1968, today is one of the most important dates on the Equatorial Guinean calendar.
  • Every year the location of the events move, however, wherever it's being held, it'll be a great way to celebrate with locals.
  • There will be concerts, award ceremonies, spontaneous dancing and singing, and lots of general frivolity.
read more read less
Day 7Tue Oct 13
Basila Mountain, Conservation Biodiversity Centre, Malabo
  • Our last day in this elusive African country, we’ll start off with a drive up to the top of Basila Mountain, or Pico Basile. With an elevation of 3,011m, rising almost directly from the ocean, it is quite an impressive peak, and assuming the sky is clear, we will get spectacular views out over the entire island of Bioko and even across to the mainland and Cameroon.
  • Descending back down towards sea level, we’ll visit the Conservation Biodiversity Centre of Bioko, located on the eastern side of the island. Here we’ll learn about the various types of wildlife and the different conservation programs that are in place.
  • We’ll return to Malabo for our last night together.
read more read less
Day 8Wed Oct 14
Malabo, End of Tour
  • Today you’ll have free time in Malabo, and head to the airport as per your departure times. If you’d like us to arrange an airport transfer or organise any other activities for you, of course please let us know.
read more read less

image/svg+xml Turkmenistan Uzbekistan Afghanistan Kazakhstan
Other Tours
Turkmenistan Independence Day Whirlwind Tour
For those who want to see the coolest Independence Day in the world, but only have a couple of days to do it in.
Sept. 26, 2026
4 days
US$1095.00
VIEW DETAILS
Turkmenistan Independence Day Whirlwind Tour
The Original Turkmenistan Independence Day Tour
We were the very first to ever have foreigners attend the Independence Day events in Ashgabat, and we're still super excited by it every year!
Sept. 26, 2026
8 days
US$1595.00
VIEW DETAILS
The Original Turkmenistan Independence Day Tour
Turkmenistan Independence Day Mega Tour
Exclusive access to the epic Independence Day events, plus all the must-sees such as the Gates of Hell and Yangykala Canyon. But that's not all! This mega version of the tour also ventures into the far east to some of the least visited parts of the world.
Sept. 26, 2026
12 days
US$2295.00
VIEW DETAILS
Turkmenistan Independence Day Mega Tour
Nomad Games Tour Kyrgyzstan 2026
The 6th edition of this fabulous, unique and totally charming event! We'll be there for the Opening Ceremony, along with a variety of the games and of course a few other things that we think make any good tour of Kyrgyzstan.
Sept. 7, 2026
7 days
US$1000.00
VIEW DETAILS
Nomad Games Tour Kyrgyzstan 2026
send subscription request

SAIGA Tours. Straight to Your Inbox.

ABOUT US
TOURS
DESTINATION GUIDES
OTHER
Email address: [email protected]
© SAIGA Tours

Filter

Type