Guinea Travel Guide

Guinea Travel Guide

A diverse and multicultural country, Guinea offers amazing and various landscapes for anyone interested in spending some time on the black continent. From the unspoiled beaches of the Atlantic, to the dry steppes, misty rainfalls hidden in the lush rainforests and in some of the few remaining dry forest, Guinea will surprise any tourist with its beauty.

Guinea Travel Guide – Geography

Due to its natural beauties and location Guinea is a unique vacation destination combining vivid nature, adventure and local hospitality.

The country has a tropical climate and weather conditions vary with elevation, the highest point here being Mont Nimba (1752m), also a starting point for some of the most important rivers of Africa. Waters coming down the high mountains create some gorgeous waterfalls, especially in the rainy season when they are more abundant.

There are also a couple of islands belonging to Guinea: Loos Islands and Tombo Island.

Guinea Travel Guide – Flora and Fauna

The country’s rich flora and fauna can be observed in any of the many natural reserves here like Massif du Ziama, Mount Nimba, Badiar National Park which are all UNESCO natural reserves. There are also wildlife reserves and protected wetlands and islands.

Guinea Travel Guide – Tips for Tourists

Guinea is a spectacular country for visitors, surprisingly wild and genuine, offering decent accommodation.

If you decide for Guinea as your holiday destination you must take into account that a visa is required for every foreign citizen and should be bought before departure. For traveling here you need a valid passport and must also check with you physician about the necessary immunization before leaving.

The official language is French and the regional currency is the Guinean Franc which can be converted in all border cities and in the capital city of Conakry.

Guinea Travel Guide – Transport

Even if the country has important gold and diamond natural resources, it is one of the poorest countries in Africa; as a result the transport infrastructure is underdeveloped in Guinea, making traveling through the country rather difficult. Still, getting here can be made by plane with the few airline companies operating here, by sea or by car. The main port and international airport are in Conakry. For traveling throughout the country you must know that there are no passenger trains or buses here, the most reliable being the transport by car. The cities can be very crowded and for getting around you can use a taxi or rent a car, very inexpensive here. For traveling to one city to another you can choose a “bush taxi.”

Guinea Travel Guide – Resorts

Guinea is a great holiday destination for both adventures and relaxation. The various landscapes offer the perfect place for numerous outdoor activities but there are also nice resorts in the mountains or by the ocean that welcome tourists looking for a relaxing holiday.

A beautiful mountain resort fit for a vacation far from the hustle and bustle of the city is Dalaba. Situated in the Fouta Djallon Mountains, surrounded by deep forests, having a pleasant climate, considered to be even therapeutic, the resort is the perfect place for outdoor activities. Hotel Tangama offers good accommodation here with clean and comfortable rooms, friendly personnel and a nice restaurant.

There is a local tourist office in the resort which can help you organize a hiking, mountain biking or sightseeing trips. Some of the most interesting tourist attractions here are the waterfalls forming small pools where you can swim in, the local traditions and Le Jardins de Professeur Chevallier, a former botanical garden of a French botanist who wanted to prove that European plants can be acclimatized in Africa.

A more exotic atmosphere is offered by the islands situated a few kilometers away offshore. The luxuriant vegetation, pristine beaches and clean waters are the main attractions here. Because of the scarce infrastructure and facilities there are little accommodation opportunities and still on Kassa Island you can find the Magellan Hotel and Soro Hotel, the last one having the name of the most famous beach on the island. Both hotels offer good accommodation and guidance if you want to visit the surroundings. On Room Island there is Le Sogué Hotel, located by the ocean, it offers fourteen bungalows with ventilated rooms and bathrooms, great restaurant, private beach and spectacular view.

A journey to Guinea will impress you with some of the country’s most important treasures: its people and its nature.

Guinea Travel Guide - Cuisine

A land of contrasts, Guinea has a cuisine fit for the multiculturalism of its people. The simple and tasty Guinean dishes have the flavors of Arab, Portuguese and Spanish cuisine. Due to its location by the ocean many dishes are made with fish, but also with chicken, different type of seeds, rice and fruits. Some of the traditional dishes include the Banku and Kenkey which are maize dough staples, Gari which is made of dried grated cassavas, many rice dishes with dried or fermented fish, Suya which is a sort of grilled kebab flavored with spices and peanuts and many more. The traditional beverages are the palm wine and more recently beer.

For everyone willing to enjoy new, unspoiled beaches, impenetrable green forests and rich wildlife, Guinea is the perfect holiday spot, the adventure of a lifetime.