Guinea

Quick Overview on Guinea
To understand this country, you would first have to understand the jungle as it is a country with a past as tangled as its wild jungles. In Guinea you can trek through beautiful highland scenery and track wildlife in the jungles of the southeast. But the country still reels from a regime that turned its back on liberté , égalité and fraternité and embraced Maoist ideology in the 1950s.

All foreign nationals must have a passport. Passports must be valid for at least 6 months beyond the intended departure date. Visas are required by all visitors with the exception of the nationals of Algeria, Benin, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, Cuba, Egypt, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Nigeria, Romania, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo, and Tunisia. On visa application you may be asked to show you have sufficient funds to support your stay and an onward ticket. If you are traveling overland be sure to state this on your application. As visa requirements change fairly regularly, it is advisable to check with your Consulate or Embassy. Listing of Guinea Embassies, Consulates and/or Tourist offices located around the world

When to go
The best time to visit is November and December, after the rains but before the dusty harmattan winds (December to March) spoil the views. The rains sometimes make minor roads impassable, though there's something to be said for visiting the Fouta Djalon when it's wet. The rains, which generally don't last very long, make the waterfalls more explosive and the countryside more verdant while the clouds lower the daytime temperatures.

Travel Insurance
If you need medical care during your visit to Guinea, it is quite likely that medical providers may not accept payment through your insurance company. In these circumstances, you should be prepared to pay in full after your treatment, and then file a claim with your insurance company for reimbursement. Make sure you have access to cash for payment, either from a credit card or by wire transfer. If you need assistance contact the country's local embassy or representative. You also need to remember that in order to be compensated from your insurance company, you must be treated by licensed medical personnel and provide your insurance company with proper documentation and receipts. I recommend that all travelers have a comprehensive travel insurance policy which covers you for repatriation to your home country. Check the Getting Away Insurance pages for information on how to obtain the proper insurance and medical coverages you might need. Click on Health and Safety Tips For Travelers for additional information.

Languages Spoken
The official language of Guinea is French. I have found that it helps to know at least a little bit of the language as I travel in other countries. You do not have to be able to be a fluent speaker, but knowing a few things will help. I have found that, although almost everywhere I go I can find someone who speaks English, that if I can communicate a little bit, it still helps. And, it lets others know I am at least interested in their language. The Getting Away Language Learning Center page contains places where you can get help in learning another language, or how to purchase books, dictionaries, electronic translators, software and more.

Click here for language helps, dictionaries, electronic translators, language software and other helps for learning a foreign language. Being able to speak at least some of the language in the country you are visiting will help you have a better time and enjoy your trip more. Jim.

Currency
The currency of Guinea is the Guinea Franc (Code: GNF - Symbol: GFr). Visitors will find that there are very few banks. It is suggested that you arrive in country with enough of the local currency to meet your needs. Current Exchange Rate: Check Today's Exchange Rate

Electrical Information
The electrical current in Guinea is 220V running at 50Hz. The Plug types used include: A round pin attachment plug - view; a "Schuko" plug and receptacle with side grounding contacts - view and round pins with spade grounding pin - view. You will need adapters for your electrical appliances. It is not recommended that you plug your laptop into the local current. Find the converter you will need in the Getting Away Travel Store. Additionally, you will find just about anything and everything you will need when you travel. Across the state, country, or to a destination on the other side of the world, you'll find what you need in the Getting Away Travel Store!

Weather
Coastal Guinea's postal service has their work cut out for them when the rain starts coming down in buckets between May and October. Hot and humid is a day-to-day occurrence, with temperatures mostly around 25-29°C (77-84°F). Further inland things get hotter and drier, with a moderate wet season between June and October. Rainfall along the coast averages 4300mm a year, half of which falls in July and August, while the central mountainous region receives about 2000mm, more evenly distributed between May and October.

Time Zone - Country Dialing Code - Weights & Measures
The time zone in Guinea is GMT/UTC 0. The country dialing code is +224. Guinea is on the metric system.

Travel Warnings
While the situation is now relatively calm, recent political demonstrations in Guinea have become violent and there is the possibility of further unrest. Travellers should exercise caution, especially in Conakry, avoid any large gatherings and monitor news sources carefully. Security circumstances in areas bordering Sierra Leone, Liberia and Cote d'Ivoire are still very unstable and any travel to these regions should be reconsidered.

Travel Warnings are issued to describe long-term, protracted conditions that make a country dangerous or unstable. A Travel Warning is also issued when the U.S. Government's ability to assist American citizens is constrained due to the closure of an embassy or consulate or because of a drawdown of its staff. The countries listed below meet those criteria. Additionally, the State Department issues Country Specific Information for every country of the world with information on such matters as the health conditions, crime, unusual currency or entry requirements, any areas of instability, and the location of the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate in the subject country. Check with the U.S. State Department for Travel Warnings, Consular Information Sheets & Public Announcements.

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Getting There
Air France (Paris) and SN Brussels Airlines fly direct to Guinea. Air Ivoire and Air Senegal International also connect to Europe through their hubs. There are no direct flights from the USA. Within west Africa, Conakry is connected by air to the capitals of all neighbouring countries plus Accra, Banjul and Praia by the aforementioned airlines plus Bellview Airlines, Slok Air and Weasua Air Transport.

Bush taxi, bus and minibus cross into all neighbouring countries, but forget about Côte d'Ivoire, and make sure you get an update on Liberia. You can also reach Mali by river boat when the Niger River is high enough, and a fast and luxurious hydrofoil service is scheduled to start operating again between Conakry and Freetown soon, but once the last stretch of road is paved in Sierra Leone, it will be quicker to take the highway. Boats also go from Kamsar to Bissau, stopping in Cacine and Kamkhonde on the way, but the schedule is erratic.

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Getting Around
Domestic air services come and go. When available, flights from Conakry usually go to Kankan, Siguiri, Labé and N'zérékoré. Most travel is by bush taxis, which are usually impressively overcrowded. Private buses operate between large towns and are more comfortable and cheaper than bush taxis, but are also slow and constantly breaking down. Although minibuses are cheaper than bush taxis, they are just as overcrowded and usually take longer. Post buses, which deliver the mail and passengers, run between Conakry and Dabola, Kankan, Faranah and Kissidougou, and are the most comfortable option, but seats must be reserved well in advance. Passenger trains no longer run anywhere in the country. You can, however, often find accommodation at the hotel-buffet at old stations. There is a limited and slow rail service between Conakry, Kindia and Kankan. Roads are generally in poor condition and impassable during the rains. Traffic drives on the right and an International Driving Licence is required

Conakry
I don’t believe that Conakry will ever be a real tourist destination. Most of the visitors here come on business. There are less than 2000 hotel rooms in the whole country, and very few good ones in Conakry. Photography is almost virtually prohibited, although new regulations allowing to take photographs were announced in 1992. Visitors need to really be cautious when they travel outside of the city as in the countryside there are so many corrupt police controls that travelers will easily be discouraged by their greed. After midnight, when all restaurants and night clubs are teeming, police controls seem to spring up everywhere, turning Conakry's nightlife into a nightmare. If the government does not solve these serious obstacles, traveling around the country will hardly be worth the pain.

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Bossou
This sleepy village on the Liberian border is one of the best places in west Africa to see chimpanzees. Guides from the research centre track the chimps daily, so face-to-faces are nearly guaranteed, and the hikes through the remaining patch of primary forest covering the surrounding hills are scenic regardless of who you meet along the way. There are several small hills that are protected for religious reasons, situated within a primarily agricultural region of small villages and fields. The chimpanzees are not completely isolated and it is quite likely that you will see some of them. The nearest neighboring population is in the Nimba Mountains, about 7 miles away.

Cape Verga
Cape Verga, just a few hours from Conakry, has some of the best beaches in Guinea. Bel Air beach, once a great place to chill in beach huts is now dominated by President Conté's flash hotel. Thankfully, nearby Sobané beach has comfy bungalows and options for al fresco sleep outs. The deserted stretch of sand between Bel Air and Sobané is ideal for exploration. Except for the fishing families who live here, Cape Verga is deserted for most of the week, but comes alive at weekends with expatriates from the capital and the bauxite mines inland. Getting there without your own wheels is difficult because few vehicles travel this way, even though it is one of the best roads in the country.

Mt Nimba
Mount Nimba, Guinea's highest peak at 1752m (5748ft), is part of the mountain range straddling Guinea, Côte d'Ivoire and Liberia. The summit, best reached from the village of Gbakoré, 18km (11mi) southeast of Lola, offers phenomenal views of surrounding peaks in all three countries. It's a steep, winding four-hour trek to the top, a guide is mandatory and a permit is required. There are several good guides for hire in Gbakoré and you should let your guide get your permit for you because this can be a real pain. The Nimba mountains host a rich variety of plant and animal life, in particular some notable amphibians such as the goliath frogs, which can weigh as much as three kilograms, and the Nimba toads, which bear live young.

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Suggestions for Dining in Guinea
Local cooking often includes roast meat and cous-cous with a vegetable sauce. Much of the food, although perhaps a little different from what you may be used to, is very good. I would recommend you always have bottled water on hand.

Coming Soon. In the mean time, if you have something you think should be added to this page of Getting Away, please contact Jim at Getting Away. mailto: jimbruner@gettingaway.com

Some Favorites in Guinea
As I have never been to Guinea I do not have any "favorite things." Therefore the favorites listed here are favorites of others.

Coming Soon. In the mean time, if you have something you think should be added to this section of Getting Away, please contact Jim at Getting Away. mailto: jimbruner@gettingaway.com

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Click here for language helps, dictionaries, electronic translators, language software and other helps for learning a foreign language. Being able to speak at least some of the language in the country you are visiting will help you have a better time and enjoy your trip more. Jim.

Time Zone - Country Dialing Code - Weights & Measures The time zone in Guinea is GMT/UTC 0. The country dialing code is +224. Guinea is on the metric system.

Time Zone - Country Dialing Code - Weights & Measures
The time zone in Guinea is GMT/UTC 0. The country dialing code is +224. Guinea is on the metric system.