Guinea-Bissau - West Africa - page 481

Orango Islands National Park
Ilha de Orango (Bijagós Archipelago; boat to Eticoga village from Bubaque) is the heart of Orango Islands
National Park. The island is home to rare saltwater hippos, and is also the burial site of the
Bijagós kings and queens. Pretty Orango Parque Hotel ( 6615127; [e-mail]; r
incl full board CFA30,000) is run in association with the local community, and guides can take
you hippo spotting (around CFA150,000) . You can reach Orango by speedboat transfer from Ilha
de Kere or by scheduled pirogue from Bubaque. For the latter, you'll need to have time
and tides on your side.
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Other Islands
The islands of Kere and Rubane are home to luxury fishing lodges. The latter's Ponta An-
chaca ( 6056032, 6394352; www.pontaanchaca.com ; r per day with half board from €100) is divine, with a
pool, spa, masseuse and gorgeous wooden huts bedecked with four-poster beds and
Jacuzzis under the stars. You can travel by speedboat from Bissau (€460 per boatload) or
board a private plane from Senegal's Cap Skirring for €530. On Kere ( http://bijagos-kere.fr )
prices are slightly cheaper for a similar experience. Contact Manuel ( 5909531), the
booking agent in Bissau, for more information. Trips can be arranged from there to
Biombo and other islands.
On the idyllic island of João Vieira lies João Viera e Poilão National Marine Park , a nesting
area for endangered sea turtles. The owner of the guesthouse Chez Claude can arrange
speedboat pick-up from Bubaque (CFA200,000 per boatload). Close to Bubaque, the large
island Canhabaque (one hour by pirogue ) is a good place to experience village life in the
Bijagós.