Equatorial Guinea is a pint-sized nation of virgin forests, remarkable wilds and traditional villages, and a Spanish-influenced island full of expats mining the bountiful oil reserves.

This mostly unexplored nation-in-miniature is composed of two separate landmasses plus a series of even smaller islands off the coast. Rio Muni has lush forests that are full of wildlife, as well as stretches of white beaches and, to the south a series of rivers and estuaries. Bioko Island, which is actually closer to Cameroon, is of volcanic origin, with a steep rocky coast and a mountainous, wooded interior. It is always hot and humid and is often rainy, even the dry season.

The wilds of Equatorial Guinea are still wild enough to shelter gorillas, elephants, monkeys, sea turtles, leopards, manatees, tropical birds, snakes, crocodiles and a host of plant species, many still undiscovered.