Lying in the Gulf of Guinea, Bioko is a mountainous volcanic island still populated by Bubi people, who speak a Bantu language brought over from mainland Africa. Set in tropical rainforest, this boot-shaped island is 70 km long and 32 km off the coast of Cameroon. Bioko has more species of rare monkeys than any other place in Africa; of seven species living on the island, four are among the continent most en dangerous island. Photo by: John & Mel Kots

The Bubi clans still account for most of the human population, but given Bioko’s colourful past this is now mixed with Spaniards, Fernandinos and immigrants from Rio Muni, Nigeria and Cameroon. In colonial times it was known as Fernando Po, and under the Africanization policy of dictator Masie Nguema Biyogo, it was renamed Masie Ngueme Biyogo Island. Photo by: ianmichaelthomas

The capital city of Bioko is Malabo, which sits at the northern end of the island on the rim of a sunken volcano. Despite being a capital of Equatorial Guinea, this is a pretty poorly developed place with limited paved roads. There are few tourist attractions, but on the densly forest slopes a new world awaits. Photo by: John & Mel Kots

When to go: Average temperatures of 25 degrees and annual rainfall of 2,900 mm make this an onerous climate. To avoid the rainy season go between November and April. Population: 130,000. How to get there: Fly to Malabo. Ferries to Malabo from Douala and Bata. Photo by: Podknox