Equatorial Guinea — Travel Tips
Social Conventions
Foreign visitors (especially Europeans) are a comparative rarity in Equatorial Guinea and are liable to be met with curiosity and, possibly, suspicion. Foreign cigarettes are appreciated as gifts. A knowledge of Spanish is useful.
Photography: A permit is required from the Ministry of Information and Tourism. Care should be taken when choosing subjects. Photographing the presidential palace, airports, ports, military bases and other sensitive areas could lead to imprisonment.
International Travel
Getting There By Air
Iberia (IB) (website: www.iberia.com) operates direct flights from Madrid to Malabo. Cameroon Airlines (UY) operates regular flights to Malabo from London, Paris and Rome. Other airlines serving Equatorial Guinea include Air France, Brussels Airlines, British Airways, KLM, Swiss and Spanair.
Departure Tax
None.
Main Airports
There are international airports at Malabo (SSG/FGSL) (Santa Isabel), 7km (4 miles) from the city center and Bata (BSG), 6km (4 miles) from the city center. Facilities: Both airports have basic facilities, including car hire.
Getting There By Water
Main ports:Malabo and Bata. Passenger services operate to Douala (Cameroon).
Getting There By Road
Roads link Equatorial Guinea with Cameroon and Gabon (bush taxis are available), although road surfaces are not always good. Most travelers enter from Douala in Cameroon. Borders are often closed without any notice, so it is recommended to check before traveling.
Duty Free
Overview
The following goods may be imported into Equatorial Guinea without incurring customs duty:
• 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250g of tobacco.
• 1L of wine.
• 1L of alcoholic beverages.
• A reasonable amount of perfume.
Note: Visitors for business and tourism must declare any currency in excess of XAF50,000 (approximately £50) on arrival. Failure to do so could result in a fine on departure.
Internal Travel
Getting Around By Air
There are flights between Malabo and Bata every day except Sunday; it is advisable to book in advance.
Note: It is reported that maintenance procedures used on internal flights are not always properly observed.
Getting Around By Water
There is a ferry between Malabo, Bata and Douala. The trip takes about 12 hours. There are four classes of fare.
Getting Around By Road
Not all roads are paved, although the majority are. On Bioko, the north is generally better served with tarred roads. During the rainy season some roads are only passable in a 4-wheel drive vehicle. Police and military roadblocks are common; travelers may need to show their passport, driving license and/or vehicle registration and explain their reason for traveling. New roads are under construction and repair in Malabo, Bata and a few outlying areas.
Minibuses run from Bata to Mbini and Acalayong on the coastal road. Bush taxis connect Malabo with the island’s two other main towns, Luba and Riaba, and also run from Bata to Mongomo and Ebebiyin; they can be hired hourly or daily. There are some car hire facilities.
