Highlights
- Lavish interiors and designs.
- Private island, beach, and pool.
- Onsite world-class 18 hole golf course.
- Fine dining restaurants.
Background
Sipopo is a newly created city constructed for the African Union summit in 2011 and then used to host the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations. With new developments come luxury hotels and thus the Sofitel Malabo Sipopo le Golf was born. This 5 star establishment lives up to the Sofitel name and also provides the first 18 hole golf course in the Equatorial Guinea.
With mostly business guests, I was excited to be one of the first tourists to stay!
Experience
Just 20 minutes away from the international airport, I was picked up by the complementary shuttle and soon arrived at the hotel. The lobby was impressive with high ceilings and lavish detailing. Check in was swift and a staff member soon introduced me to my accommodation.
I stayed in a Prestige Suite which was very impressive. The bedroom had a queen bed and a flatscreen TV with large ceiling-to-floor windows facing the sea. A separate room served as a common area with a couch, desk, and another television. Coffee and tea making facilities were on the desk. The common room had its own guest bathroom. The main bathroom was very glamorous with marble clad floors, a soaking bath, sink, stand alone shower, and toilet. The Hermes toiletries was a nice touch.
The best part of the suite was the large terrace with seating and views over the pool and private island. On a clear day Mount Cameroon can be seen in the distance. The views for all 200 rooms/suites in the hotel must be splendid, whether of the sea or the rolling green of the golf course. The hotel also offers a Club Lounge for Club Millesime or Club Sofitel rooms.
The property also has a excellent selection of fine dining. Le 19, stands for the “19th hole” of the golf course and serves international cuisine in a brasserie style environment. Le Voyageur serves French cuisine with a dash of Equatorial Guinean flavor in an elegant setting. L Equateur offers breakfast as well as lunch and dinner, combining the best of international cuisine such as fresh seafood with local flavors.
This resort environment would not be complete without some bars and expert bartenders to craft an evening of fun. Le Cacaoyer is the classy lounge bar with great cocktails. Horacio is the bar by the pool and Le 19 has its own bar.
With “golf” in its name, the resort is famed for its sport. Play the course or get guided lessons from trainers. They have many options for different levels of golfers.
The pool is a great place to relax and get a tan. A Fitness Center and Spa are available for guests. The spa has a variety of treatments, two saunas and jacuzzis. If nature is more to your liking, head down to the private beach covered in untouched seashells. Further down the beach is the long wooden walkway leading to the hotel’s private island. A self guided tour of the Botanical Gardens awaits you. Discover the tropical environment while birds and even fish are visible in their natural habitat.
If visiting on business as most guests are, the state of the art meeting and conference rooms would be ideal to host events for up to 300 people.
I should also mention that the service was most excellent with multilingual staff from around the world anticipating my needs and helping in every way possible. I really enjoyed the tour of Malabo they organized!
The Sofitel Malabo Sipopo le Golf is simply a private oasis in an otherwise challenging environment. Their facilities are unmatched in the country with the largest golf course, a private island, beach and pool. Add the luxurious rooms and world class restaurants and you have the complete package for a great stay.
Contact
Sofitel Malabo Sipopo le Golf
Address: Zona Sipopo PO Box 209 00209 Malabo, Equatorial Guinea
Telephone: (+240)35/0091010
Website: http://www.sofitel.com/gb/hotel-8212-sofitel-malabo-sipopo-le-golf/index.shtml
Email: H8212@SOFITEL.COM