Climate in Sao Tomé And Principe

On the islands of São Tomé and Príncipe, located in the Gulf of Guinea and near the Equator, the climate is tropical, hot and humid throughout the year, with a slightly warmer period from January to April and a cooler period from June to August. Both islands are covered with impenetrable forests, and in inland areas, there are hills wrapped in mist.
On both islands, there is a dry season, a little shorter in Príncipe (mid-June to mid-September) and longer in São Tomé (June to September), but even in these months, the sky is often cloudy.
On the contrary, owing to the two zenith passages of the sun, the rainiest periods are April-May and October-November.
Rainfall is abundant on the island of Príncipe, around 2,000 millimeters (79 inches) per year in the main town of Santo António. In the southern part of the island of São Tomé, rainfall is even more abundant, in fact, 5,000 mm (195 in) of rain fall per year on the south-facing slopes. On the contrary, precipitation is scarcer in the northern part of the island, where the capital is located. This is due to the fact that the capital is located in the "rain shadow" of the prevailing south-western currents, which deposit much of the moisture as rainfall over the southern slopes of Pico de São Tomé, the highest mountain in the country with its 2,024 meters (6,640 feet).

The climate in detail

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• Temperature and rain - Sao Tomé
• Sea temperature
• When to go
• What to pack

Temperature and rain

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São Tomé

In Sao Tomé, the capital, daytime temperatures are around 30 °C (86 °F) from February to April, while they drop to around 27.5 °C (81.5 °F) in July and August.

In São Tomé, about 900 mm (35 in) of rain fall per year. As mentioned, the city is located on the north coast of the island, and therefore does not receive abundant rainfall. However, both because of high humidity and the constant presence of clouds, the vegetation is lush even in São Tomé.

As mentioned, in São Tomé, the sun doesn't shine often, in fact, with 1,675 hours a year, it's more or less on par with London and Paris.

Sea temperature

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The temperature of the sea is high enough for swimming all year round; in São Tomé, it reaches a minimum of 26 °C (79 °F) from June to September.

When to go

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The best time to visit São Tomé runs from June to September, while in Príncipe, it runs from mid-June to mid-September, since it is the driest period, when it rarely rains. However, it should be remembered that the sky is often cloudy even in this season.

What to pack

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Throughout the year, bring tropics-friendly, loose-fitting clothing, light shirts and pants of natural fibers (cotton, linen) or synthetics that breathe, and possibly a light sweatshirt for the evening; a light raincoat or umbrella for the rain showers. From June to September, you can add a light jacket for the evening.
To climb Pico de São Tomé, bring a sweater, a jacket, a raincoat, and hiking shoes.

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