Equatorial Guinea
Belying its troubled political past, Equatorial Guinea is a country of luscious vegetation and much beautiful scenery, including tropical forests and snow-capped volcanoes. The capital, Malabo, located on Bioko Island and overlooked by the striking Pico Malabo volcano, is a small but attractive town, with pleasant Spanish colonial architecture, open plazas and a lively market. Frederick Forsyth wrote his novel The Dogs of War in Malabo. The Spanish Cultural Center is worth a visit.
The smaller town of Luba (one hour’s drive from Malabo) has some lovely deserted, white sand beaches and breathtaking vistas. Bata is the principal town in the mainland and, though not particularly interesting in itself, is close to some beautiful deserted beaches, notably those at Mbini, 50km (32 miles) south of Bata.
