Officially name: Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe
Capital: São Tomé
Largest city: São Tomé
Official language: Portuguese
Government: Democratic semi-presidential Republic
At sea level, the climate is tropical—hot and humid with average yearly temperatures of about 27 °C (80.6 °F) and little daily variation. At the interior's higher altitudes, the average yearly temperature is 20 °C (68 °F), and nights are generally cool. Annual rainfall varies from 5,000 mm (196.9 in) on the southwestern slopes to 1,000 mm (39.4 in) in the northern lowlands. The rainy season runs from October to May.
Although São Tomé has a rich and diverse culture, there are not many festivals to this effect. However, there are many public holidays which travelers should take note of, such as Independence Day, which celebrates the nation’s hard-fought sovereignty, and Labor Day, which commemorates all of the workers who have made the country great. On these days, the country generally shuts down and public amenities are closed.