Happy TravellerWelcome to Malabo, the capital city of Equatorial Guinea located on the north coast of the island of Bioko. Formerly known as Santa Isabel, Malabo is the oldest city in Equatorial Guinea and has a rich history that dates back to the 16th century. Today, it is a bustling city with a population of approximately 297,000 inhabitants. Spanish is the official language of the city and of the country as well, but Pichinglis is used as a language of wider communication across Bioko island, including Malabo.
History:
Malabo has a fascinating history that dates back to the European discovery and Portuguese occupation in the 16th century. The Portuguese navigator Fernão do Pó discovered the island of Bioko in an attempt to find a new route to India. Later, the island was named after its discoverer, Fernando Pó. With the treaties of San Ildefonso in 1777 and El Pardo in 1778, during the reign of the Spanish King Charles III, the Portuguese gave to the Spanish the islands of Fernando Pó, Annobón, and the right to conduct trade in the mainland. Spain again took control of the island in 1855 and the capital, Port Clarence, was renamed Santa Isabel, in honor of Queen Isabella II. Its present name was given to the town in 1973 as part of the campaign of President Francisco Macías Nguema to replace place names of European origin with African names, in this case honoring Malabo Löpèlo Mëlaka, the last Bubi king.
Geography:
Malabo is situated in the north of the island of Bioko, at coordinates 3° 45 7.43 North and 8° 46 25.32 East. The city has a tropical monsoon climate with a pronounced, albeit short, sunnier (but still cloudy) dry season from December through February. January is normally its driest month with 29 millimetres or 1.14 inches of rain falling on average. It also has a very long cloudy wet season that covers the remaining nine months from March to November. Malabo is one of the cloudiest, wettest and most lightning-prone capitals of the world, and experiences much fog and haze even when it’s not raining in the driest months.
Tourism:
The tourism sector is seeing significant expansion in Malabo. Since the discovery of oil, numerous infrastructural developments have been made. The city of Malabo is a focal point for tourism in Equatorial Guinea, due to its direct connections with major tourist attractions on the island of Bioko. Nearby tourist attractions include San Antonio de Ureca, a small town located in the south of the island rich in primates, birds, beaches, and waterfalls, Ilachi or Iladyi Waterfalls, the largest waterfalls in the country with more than 250 meters of fall, and Pico Basilé, the highest mountain in Equatorial Guinea, it belongs to the volcanic shield next to Mount Cameroon and to the great caldera of Luba. The mountain is more than 3,000 metres (9,800 ft) high, and is visible from all over the city of Malabo. The luxury resort of Sipopo, which was first built for the 2011 African Union Summit.
Economy:
Malabo is the commercial and financial center of Equatorial Guinea. Its economy is based on the administration and other services. Trade is also one of the most prominent and important economic activities, especially since the arrival of US companies which exploit oil wells close to the coast. The main industry in the city is fishing.
Whether you’re interested in history, culture, or nature, Malabo has something to offer everyone. Come and explore this hidden gem in Equatorial Guinea and discover why it should be on every traveler’s bucket list.