Bom bom island gets first african biosphere award

The Island resort in the Gulf of New Guinea, is the first hotel in Africa to earn the Biosphere Responsible Tourism certification

Located on Principe Island, Bom Bom Island Resort was recently recognised by UNESCO as a World Biosphere Reserve due to its outstanding biodiversity. This prestigious certification from Biosphere Tourism took a period of over one and half years to obtain.

The process involved assessing all aspects of the environmental management of the resort from the use of water, energy and waste to the preservation and promotion of nature, heritage, architecture and local culture.

Bom Bom Island Resort is one of the most beautiful hideaways in Africa, at just 12 miles long, with pristine rainforest, historic plantations and beautiful secluded beaches on an untouched volcanic coastline. The resort was recently re-launched under the ownership of businessman Mark Shuttleworth, an entrepreneur and space tourist who became the first African to venture into space.

Philippe Moreau, from Bom Bom Island Resort, commented: ‘We are delighted that Bom Bom has been recognized as a Biosphere resort, the first in Africa. Our mission is to manage the incredible environmental, social and cultural legacy of Pri­ncipe Island and we are thrilled to have been recognized as a model for responsible tourism’.

From 1st July 2014, it will be even easier to access as TAP is to more than double the number of seats it flies to Sao Tomé Airport. TAP will offer 400 seats each week from Lisbon to Sao Tomé ensuring easier and more frequent access for European guests.

Bom Bom Island Resort has 20 air-conditioned bungalows with spacious verandas and en-suite bathrooms, a restaurant and bar with open-deck, swimming pool and internet access. The bungalows, with sea, garden or pool views, are simply-furnished with white linens while also flooded with natural light.

Visitors will be able to easily see why the resort is now designated a world-renowned UNESCO Biosphere Reserve as they spot whales on their migration routes in the crystal clear waters and search for the island’s unique birdlife. Guests are able to hike through diverse eco-systems and explore spectacular scenery in one of the most remote parts of the world.

November to March is the season to witness Leather, Loggerhead and Green turtles nesting. These sea turtles migrate long distances between feeding grounds and hatching beaches.

Between mid-July and September, Humpback whales visit Bom Bom island as they move from their summer feeding grounds in low latitudes to more tropical mating and calving areas. Gamefish species include Atlantic Blue Marlin, Sailfish, Yellowfin tuna, Wahoo and Dorado.

The abundance of bird and animal life in the dense rainforest includes Mona Monkeys, African Grey Parrots and endemic species to Principe including Principian Falcons, Dohrn’s Thrush Babbler, Principe Speirops, Principe White-eye, Principe Glossy-Starling, Principe Sunbird, Malachite Kingfisher, Brown Booby and Brown Noddy.

From Bom Bom, guests can also explore the cultural heritage evident across the island including Sundy, a colonial farm that was once home to the Portuguese Royal Family. Sundy is where, in 1919, Sir Arthur Eddington proved Einstein’s Theory of Relativity during a total eclipse.

Visitors can search for the beautiful old ruins of Ribeira Izé, the first community built in Principe when the Portuguese arrived in 1471. Or spend a day climbing Pico Papagaio, 680 metres high, in the centre of the island and take-in the breathtaking views around Principe before discovering the cocoa, coffee and vanilla plantations.

They can also visit the old Portuguese town of San Antonio, the smallest city in the world, by bike or electric car.

There are also guided forest hikes, ornithological tours, mountain-biking, tag-and-release deep sea fishing, canoe expeditions with local fishermen and 4-wheel drive safaris.

Valere Tjolle

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