Is São Tomé and Principe Safe for Solo Female Travelers

Arriving in Sao Tome alone

I decided to embark on a solo travel journey to São Tomé and Principe. Despite having visited over 11 countries solo at that point, this visit felt different. I was in a secluded country that none of my family and friends had ever heard of. I was also going to a nation where English isn’t the primary or even secondary language. It was a country physically isolated from neighboring countries, one without its own dedicated US Embassy. It was a destination where half or more of the population still lived without reliable indoor plumbing and on-demand electricity. 

When I landed in São Tomé airport, the reality of my decision rested squarely on my shoulders. The high that I had from the anticipation seemed to wear off as soon as I stepped foot on the tarmac and realized I was truly alone. Sure, there were people around me from the flight, but I had no friends or family nearby. 

Setting realistic expectations for Sao Tome solo travel

I’ll tell you upfront, throughout my time in São Tomé I felt relatively safe and would definitely visit again. I use the word “relatively” here because there are a few disclaimers I’d like to outline to avoid overselling the idea of solo traveling here and give you the reality of what you may experience. 

Before I decided to visit a São Tomé solo, I determined the safety of the country using four criteria: government travel advisory, news about living conditions and political elections, sentiment from other women travelers, and social media perceptions. 

Evaluating safety with travel advisories

I refer to global travel advisory ratings as a formal government advisory on how safe a country is. The United States travel advisory board claims that its top priority is to describe risks and recommend precautions for US citizens traveling abroad. The advisory board uses a number of cases like crime, civil unrest, kidnapping, hostage situations and health outbreaks to determine levels. The worst level is Level 4 (do not travel), followed by Level 3 (reconsider travel level), Level 2 (exercise increased precautions), and Level 1 (exercise normal precautions). 

During the Fall of 2025 when I was planning my trip to São Tomé, the US travel advisory was Level 2. If you’d like diverse perspectives when considering a nation’s safety, I also found Canada to be a great resource for travel advisories.

Staying informed through local news

Another great way to determine where to solo travel safely is to read recent news articles. Typically, local news outlets report on major topics, whether that involves fuel shortages, crime reports, or political unrest. I didn’t find any concerning news about São Tomé during my research that deterred my visit. Still, it’s good to develop an understanding of local living conditions and major infrastructure developments.

Finding solo tips from female travelers

Because I knew I’d be traveling to Sao Tome as a solo woman, it was vital to find accounts written by women who completed similar trips. The website Gabriela Here and There was a great resource that gave me confidence. This writer noted “… but I have to say that there is absolutely nothing to worry about in São Tomé and Príncipe!”. Hearing firsthand experiences that echo safety is always comforting. 

Similarly, I reached out to Instagram creator Casey (@casefaaace) to inquire about her solo travel to Sao Tome and Principe with tour guide Luís. She shared “Yes I did go with Luís and I highly recommend him. He was lovely and professional.” This was music to my ears since I planned to use a tour guide for a portion of my travel but couldn’t find reliable Google reviews for local guides. I am much more likely to trust a personal recommendation over generic reviews online. Men experience the world differently, so receiving a woman’s perspective provides crucial insights that news reports or male travelers might overlook.

Social media versus Sao Tome  realities

Overall, the perception about Sao Tome on Instagram and TikTok are sparse but positive. I found no reports of overt theft, violence, or hate crimes against tourists. While that doesn’t mean crime never happens, I concluded that basic traveling tips like staying aware of my surroundings, leaving behind valuable jewelry, and keeping cash hidden, would keep me safe.

Managing unsafe situations while walking

While I felt safe during the majority of my solo trip to Sao Tome, there were two instances that made me uneasy and more on guard. During my stay at Sweet’s Guesthouse, I decided to explore the center by foot. Naturally, I would do so in broad daylight (before sunset at 5pm) so I didn’t anticipate experiencing any issues. However, during my walk back to the guesthouse, I noticed a man was following closely behind me along avenida agua grande. I crossed the street to ensure that I wasn’t mistaken, surely enough, he crossed the street and continued to follow me. 

I stopped walking, looked him in the face, and let him walk ahead so I could track his movement and prevent him from following me to the hotel. I recorded the interaction on my phone for safety and paced behind him, hoping to lose him at an upcoming intersection. I attempted to ask a passing motorcyclist for assistance, but the language barrier made communication difficult (despite using Google translate). Eventually, the stalker lost track of me and I returned safely to my hotel. After this incident, I increased caution and relied more on motorcycle taxis to get around.

Navigating street harassment abroad

On a second occasion, I had the brilliant idea to take a self-guided walking tour of the neighborhood next to my hotel. There really wasn’t much to see beyond local residences, but small pockets of men along the street repeatedly tried to get my attention. Although I didn’t speak Portuguese, their body language made it clear they were catcalling. This behavior isn’t unique to Sao Tome, but rather something women encounter globally. I quickly returned to my hotel and vowed not to wander down quiet, unfamiliar side streets again.

Final advice

My past experiences with solo travel prepared me well for Sao Tome. Combining confidence with thorough research ensured I had a successful trip. Despite being followed on one occasion, I felt safe overall and would gladly return to Sao Tome. Before deciding where to travel solo, always cross reference official embassy reports, news updates, and personal accounts from other travelers.