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Sao Tome and Principe Weather - A Complete Guide

Learn all about the weather in this equatorial paradise

Alistair
Alistair
Managing Director
Published on
14 May 2019
Updated on
25 Apr 2025
Principe Island Bom Bom Resort

When to go summary

Sao Tome & Principe is a place that can be visited at any time of year and the best time of year to visit depends on what you are looking to do.

Peak season tends to be Dec - Feb and June - Aug (the dry months).

Here is a summary of when it is best for what.

Dec - March - Scuba Diving with best visibility.

Jan - Feb - Good for bird watching as the birds are showing off their mating plumage.

August - Oct - Humpback Whales.

Mid Nov - Early Feb - Turtle Nesting & Hatching 45 days later. If this is of interest, take a look at our turtle watching and conservation trip.

Principe Beach1

Spend 10 days in Sao Tome and Principe from £2,865 on this island escape.

- exceptional, unspoilt beaches

- incredible snorkelling and whale watching

- endemic birds

- hike through forests to waterfalls

- watch turtles laying eggs and hatching

We caught up with Lídia Nicolau from HBD, the company behind some of our favourite Sao Tome & Principe lodges (including Bom Bom Island Resort & Sundy Praia), to put together this weather guide and to find out more about the unpredictable nature of tropical weather & to discover what it's really like out on the islands. All quotes in this article are the words of Lídia.

The seasons in São Tomé and Príncipe

The temperature in Sao Tome & Principe fluctuates very little throughout the year, hovering between about 25 - 30°C. So it's really the rain that you need to consider, and how it might affect your activity plans.

There are four seasons here, two wet and two dry.

I must say that in a tropical destination the weather is unpredictable. The main dry season, called "Gravana", is from June to September. And the short dry season "Gravanita" runs from December to April. - Lídia

June - August/September - the Main Dry Season

This season, known as the 'Gravana', is the longest period of dry weather on Sao Tome & Principe. Yet the skies are grey and cloudy rather than clear.

From June to August there’s no rain but no blue skies either.

The lack of rain means this is a perfect time to enjoy hiking in the lush rainforests, relax on the beautiful sandy beaches & take a dip in the crystal-clear waters surrounding the islands. This is also the hottest time of year, although the cloud cover does shield you from the intensity of the sun's rays.

The bonus of visiting around the end of August through until October are the Humpback whales, Killer Whales and dolphins which you'll be able to spot migrating along the northeastern coastlines.

August is also known for it's saints' feast days and cultural events, where streets come alive with open air food stalls, music and entertainment.

BEST TIME FOR: hiking, swimming, beaches, whales, bird watching.

Forest Hike
Trek deep into the isles rainforests
Roca Belo Monte Principe Whale Watching
Whale watching on Principe

October - November - the Short Wet Season

The short wet season is all about short bursts of rain

September & October are kind of a mix. November has grey skies & rain (the worst scenario), and in recent years November has been the most rainy month and not April.

Whale & dolphin watching is possible during October from the northeast shores.

However, if you’re looking to travel in November for the start of this nesting season, be warned, grey skies and rain are abundant.

BEST TIME FOR: Whale & dolphin watching, bird nesting.

Newtons Sunbird In Sao Tome And Principe
Newtons Sunbird in Sao Tome and Principe
Principe Beach And People
Principe Beach

December - February - the Short Dry Season

Traditionally the 'Gravanita', or short dry season, runs from January to February. Travelling to Sao Tome & Principe at this time is perfect for travellers wanting to explore Obo National Park (on Sao Tome), which is fantastic for birding, and seeing the bright breeding plumage. If you're lucky you might spot one of the endemic birds, like the Sao Tome Fiscal or Newton's Sunbird, so keep your eyes peeled.

If you’re a keen photographer, then contrary to belief you will want to experience some rain because it clears the way for brilliant blue skies, meaning months December through until May will create incredible photographic opportunities. Another bonus of travelling in the ‘wet season’ is the abundance of nesting turtles from mid-November to early February & witnessing the hatchlings making their way to the waters edge.

BEST TIME FOR: scuba diving, photography, turtles nesting & turtle hatching.

Turtle Baby Principe
Baby turtle on Principe
Principe Snorkelling
Snorkelling on Principe

March - May - the Long Wet Season

This period is characterised by long spells of heavy precipitation & intense humidity.

From December to May the weather could be rainy but also has blue skies. Imagine the rain cleans the sky. Rainy season days can be a mixed bag - with a few hours of rain, which then clears the air, bringing beautiful fresh afternoons, then a cloudy evening with showers. Sometimes it only rains during afternoons.

At the moment, the dry season is lasting until April, which is actually a great month to visit as it isn't as hot as December & January, and the skies aren't cloudy and grey like in June and July. April will see some showers, followed by bright sunshine & blue skies.

BEST TIME FOR: orchid spotting.

Michael Principe – View Towards Praia Abade
A wet Principe
Rainforest And Peak  Sao  Tome  Principe
Sao Tome rainforest

Although the weather on a tropical islet is unpredictable, that is what makes the unspoiled Atlantic islands so intriguing… every month has something different to offer making it a great treasure waiting to be discovered and explored.

Call us today on 01768 605 715 or click the link below to start planning your island escape..

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Wondering when to visit? Take a look at this guide on the best time to visit Sao Tome and Principe.

Looking for some more inspiration? Take a look at our best safari holidays ideas, our favourite family safaris, our big five safari guide or our top African safari honeymoon suggestions.

Call us today on 01768 603 715 to find out more and start planning your dream holiday.

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Had an absolutely amazing 3 weeks in Chile and Argentina! We were a group of 8 friends - 4 couples. The vans used for our private excursions were very good and spacious. All the ground arrangements were as planned … the guides were very good - their English and knowledge was amazing. They made sure we had a good time. The picnic lunches were served in great locations with fabulous views and setup with tables and table cloths! Highly recommend Far & Wild! Looking to book another trip with them next year!

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Alistair took time to understand what we were after and came up with an unforgettable Kenyan safari and beach holiday which we will all remember for a very long time. Real memory making trip with our 10 and 12 year old boys. Exactly what we hoped for and more!

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Otti organised a superb holiday to Kenya and Seychelles for my husband and I and our 2 adult daughters. It was our first safari and we only had a vague idea about where to start. Otti made the process so simple for us, suggesting an itinerary which she tweaked following discussions about the camps and hotels, and was really quick responding to my many queries; she was friendly, helpful and gave me complete confidence we were in excellent hands throughout. Far and Wild clearly have knowledge about the places they are recommending and work as team to provide the best service - definitely a 10 out of 10 for customer service and organising an amazing holiday for us.

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Arnhild Schia

We had a wonderful trip to São Tomé and Príncipe - a small island nation in the Gulf of Guinea with paradise (almost empty) beaches and jungle forest. It was all well organised by Far and Wild and we stayed at a great combination of different types of resorts/hotels. We really recommend this for those who want to experience a pristine destination with few other tourists and friendly and welcoming people. The islands also feel very safe. At Principe, there are no dangerous animals, snakes or whatever, and it was great to be able to hike in the jungle without being very conscious of where to put your hands and feet. Go before everyone else does!

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Back home again, basking in the joys of a superb safari. Every aspect you arranged for us, including linking up with Mack Air and Wild Horizons locally to transport us. The choice of camps was ideally situated, comfortable, in good surroundings, and with excellent wildlife on the doorstep and throughout the wider country. The service staff in each looked after us very well, catering was excellent, and the game guides were professional, knowledgeable and helpful. You made us happy, and we recommend you to similar safari enthusiasts with confidence.

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