Discover Sao Tome wildlife
Discover São Tomé wildlife – whales, turtles and endemic birds
São Tomé is sometimes called the African Galápagos. Sea turtles nest on beaches, whales pass the coast, and birds found nowhere else live in the forest. The scale is small. A few local groups protect turtles, while guides lead visitors carefully into the bush. This is wildlife as it is — close, fragile, and part of daily life.
Humpback Whales
Humpback whales are one of the highlights of São Tomé’s marine life. From July to September, they pass close to the island, surfacing within sight of shore. Local skippers head out to watch these migrations in the Gulf of Guinea. Sightings depend on the season, but whales remain a powerful reminder of how rich the waters around São Tomé still are.
Bottlenose Dolphins
Bottlenose dolphins are part of Sao Tome wildlife, often moving in small groups close to shore. Sao Tome Dophins surface quickly and vanish just as fast, a glimpse of the life that still runs through the Gulf of Guinea. Encounters are never staged — just the sea, the boat, and the animals as they are.
Yellow Billed Kites
Yellow-billed kites are a constant sight, and one of the most common Sao Tome birds, drifting over villages and fields from first light until dusk. They watch for any easy meal, and chickens that wander too far from the houses do so at their peril.
Sea Turtles
Sea turtles are among the most visible parts of Sao Tome wildlife, still coming ashore at night to nest on quiet beaches. Green turtles are the most common, but hawksbill, olive ridley, and even leatherbacks appear, watched over by local community projects.
Endemic Birds
São Tomé is home to a variety of endemic birds, including the São Tomé grosbeak and the São Tomé scops owl. These species, found nowhere else in the world, live in the island’s dense forests and coastal areas. Birdwatchers travel here to see them in their natural habitats, where they are protected by local conservation efforts.
Mona Monkeys
Mona monkeys are Sao Tome monkeys by name only — they were brought here centuries ago and are not native. Living in groups, they keep to forests and plantation edges, moving through the canopy rather than the open.
Conservation Matters
The wildlife of São Tomé is fragile, from nesting turtles to rare birds found nowhere else. Local projects protect these species, and visitors can help by travelling carefully. Respecting the land and sea ensures that future generations will still find São Tomé full of life.