Equatorial Guinea should top any list of obscure countries that deserve a visit.
Inveterate bicycle tourist Lorenzo Rojo shares his reasons for what makes this minuscule Spanish-speaking country plopped down in the heart of Africa worth a detour.
#5 Adventure and Discovery
One of the absolute least-visited, least-cycled countries in the world.
Honestly, how many people have even heard of Equatorial Guinea?
#4 A taste of Latin America on the African Continent
Have already cycled in Latinamerica? Liked it?
This small piece of Africa will make feel you, in some aspects, like you’re back on that continent. Equatorial Guinea is a former Spanish colony and that language is still widely spoken in this tiny West African nation.
Communication will be one of your biggest challenges. But if you know a little Spanish–or one of the local languages– you’ll be able to get by.
If you spaek some Spanish, it will come in handy in this little-visited corner of Africa.
#3 A Paradoxal Place
Like paradoxes? You will be in one of the richest and poorest countries of the world, governed by a corrupt dictatorship but with very good relations with the big “democratic”" countries.
The reason? The usual one…
Big cities see plenty of investment with prestige projects while the rest of the country languishes in poverty.
#2 It’s not as bad as you think!
Things are not as bad as some travel guides say (or used to say…).
Bata is a nice and quiet place, roads are improving, checkpoints are not as tough as they used to be.
Still you will need patience and tenacity (to get the visa, for example).
At least the locals are friendly!
#1 An awesome way to enter the country
The estuary of the Muni river is one of the most beautiful of Africa (or, the world for that matter).
And you have to navigate it either to enter the country if coming from Gabon (Cocobeach-Kogo) or to exit it if going on the opposite direction. A really beautiful and adventurous introduction to Equatorial Guinea.
About the author
Lorenzo Rojo hails from the Basque Country, Spain.
Until 1997, he was a high school teacher of Basque language and literature.
That year he left his job and embarked on a much awaited and very little planned bicycle trip.
He was 35 at the time. Now–almost 14 years late– he is still on the road, not something that he was expecting when he set off!
So far, he’s biked across five continents, pedaling more that 150,000 kilometers through 80 countries.
He travels with an old bicycle, little money, but lots of motivation.
At present, he is cycling the Americas.
Follow along at: www.munduanbarrena.blogspot.com
World Biking
Hi, I'm Amaya. Together with my husband, Eric, we make up the World Biking Team. We're two ordinary people on a quest to cycle every country on the planet. I tackle the blogging, fix the food and attempt to inspire others to give bicycle touring a try. Eric's in charge of the tough stuff like navigation, flat fixing and finding us a safe place to sleep.
Follow Me:
