Climate - Equatorial Guinea

Index

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• Introduction
• Bioko - Malabo
• Rio Muni - Bata
• Annobón
• When to go
• What to pack

Introduction

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In Equatorial Guinea, a small African country located just north of the Equator, the climate is tropical, hot and humid all year round, with a slightly cooler period from June to September, when the south-west currents prevail.

The country is composed of a continental part, called Rio Muni, an island, called Bioko, and a smaller island, called Annobón.

The temperatures are higher from January to May and lower from July to September, when they drop to around 27/28 °C (81/82 °F) in the continental part and remain slightly higher on the islands.

The rains are plentiful, but the rainfall pattern in the mainland is the opposite to that of the island of Bioko.

Bioko

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Bioko Island is located at 3 degrees north latitude, near the coast of Cameroon.

Malabo

Here are the average temperatures of the capital, Malabo, located on the island of Bioko.

On the island of Bioko, precipitation is below 2,000 mm (80 in) per year in Malabo, while it exceeds 3,000 mm (120 in) per year in the rest of the island.
Here, the dry season runs from December to February, although it's more pronounced in the northern part, where Malabo is located, while the rainiest period is from May to October.
At no great distance from Malabo, there is the highest peak of Equatorial Guinea, Pico Basilé, 3,011 meters (9,879 feet) high. The slopes of the volcano are very rainy, but they protect the capital, which is located on the north coast of the island, in the period from July to October, when it rains more than in the capital also in the eastern and southern coasts of the island.
Here is the average precipitation in Malabo.

In the winter months, a hot, dry wind from the mainland can blow. The sky is often cloudy, especially from June to August. With just 1,000 hours of sunshine a year, Malabo is one of the dullest capitals in the world, in fact, it is usually cloudy, and also foggy. It follows that the vegetation is lush. Here are the average sunshine hours per day.

The sea in Equatorial Guinea is warm all year round, as you can see in the following table.

Rio Muni

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The continental part, known as Rio Muni, extends from 1 to 2 degrees north latitude. Here, precipitation is above 2,000 millimeters (80 inches) per year. Owing to the zenith passages of the sun (that is, when it shines directly overhead in the sky at mid-day), there are two rainy peaks, from March to May and from September to November, however, the rains are quite abundant even from December to February, especially along the coast, so the only moderately dry period is from June to August.

Bata

Here is the average precipitation in Bata, the largest city of the coast.

Along the coast of Rio Muni, it is hot all year round, but here too, the temperature decreases slightly from July to September, as can be seen from the temperatures of Bata.

The amount of sunshine in the continental part is not very good, and it is quite scarce even in the driest months (although, as previously mentioned, it is even worse in the insular part).

The interior is occupied by hills, at an altitude varying from 400 to 700 meters (1,300 to 2,300 feet). At the highest altitudes, the temperature decreases slightly, and in July and August (but also during the rain showers of the rest of the year), it can be quite cool, as can be seen from the temperatures of Evinayong, located at 650 meters (2,100 feet) above sea level.

Annobón

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In addition to the main island, we find a smaller island, Annobón, located south of the equator, southwest of the state of São Tomé and Príncipe. Here, the rainfall pattern is similar to that of the mainland, with a dry season from June to September.
Here, too, the sky is often cloudy. The sea temperature is slightly lower in the cool period, and reaches 24 °C (75 °F) in July and August.

When to go

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The best time to visit the continental part of Equatorial Guinea (Rio Muni) is from June to August (while it's from June to September on the island of Annobón, where there is a similar rainfall pattern).
On the other hand, the best period goes from December to February on the island of Bioko.

What to pack

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For the islands of Bioko and Annobón, bring tropics-friendly, loose-fitting clothing, and possibly a light sweatshirt for the evening; during the rainy season, an umbrella or a light raincoat. To climb Pico Basilé, a sweater, a jacket, and hiking boots.
For Rio Muni, bring tropics-friendly, loose-fitting clothing; during the rainy season, an umbrella or a light raincoat, and possibly a light sweatshirt for the evening. For the hilly inland areas, where the national parks are found, you can add a sweatshirt and a light jacket.

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