During Macías Nguema’s rule in the 1970s, he reportedly banned Christmas celebrations, claiming they were too “Western.” Churches were shut, priests expelled, and Christian names swapped for African ones. Macías even called himself a god! This anti-Christmas crusade in a mostly Catholic country was as bizarre as it sounds. Imagine waking up on December 25 to a dictator yelling, “No Santa, only me!” Thankfully, the ban didn’t stick.

Equatorial Guinea is building a new capital, Ciudad de la Paz, deep in the mainland rainforest, because why not move from an island to a jungle? Construction began in 2017 and is one of the world’s newest capitals, aiming to fully replace Malabo. It’s still a work in progress, with funding hiccups slowing the dream of a modern utopia. Imagine a city rising from the wilderness like something for a futuristic science fiction film.

Equatorial Guinea is home to the Goliath frog, the world’s largest, which can grow to 35cm and weigh more than a new born child, up to 3.5kgs! Found in the rainforests of Río Muni and Cameroon, these monster amphibians can jump 3 metres. They feed on insects, small mammals, and even other frogs.