A sizeable part of the archipelago is taken up by the 'Ôbo' park, a natural preserve occupying roughly one third of the country's surface area, about 300 km².
Ôbo mean 'wild, impenetrable woods'. It is the result of an environmental preservation program begun in 1992. The goal is to rationally protect and preserve forest ecosystems. This project is incorporated into the Ecofac program, which is of great relevance to central Africa.
The Ôbo consists of two areas: one in the island of São Tomé with a 235 km² surface and another on Principe island, with a 65 km² surface area (nearly half the island). Through ecotourism, the forest can be adequately valued and enjoyed, no small thanks to its corps of forest rangers. Several people have been trained as guides, who can now accompany tourists along forest trails. There are several preestablished hikes (local travel agencies can inform you about this). Most trails leave from Bom Sucesso, which you can easily get to on foot from Boa Vista inn, which sits on Mount Café. You will discover dense vegetation, a few farms, waterfalls. And, how could we fail to mention the Amélia Lagoon, the crater of a dead volcano: a guide will accompany you around the crater, where you can walk on an extremely dense, spongy plant growth. The views of the island, when there are clear skies, are superb. For fit walkers, climbing the 2024 meters of the Pico a 2024 shouldn't take more than a day. The peak itself is shrouded in mist, but the north of the island will provide an exceptional view.
During the hikes you will be able to see orchids, many of them native to the island of São Tomé, several native birds and small monkeys.
For more information on the Ôbo park you can look it up at http://www.ecofac.org and download the available guide.