Guinea Travel Guide

Full Name

Republic of Guinea

Former Name

French Guinea

Capital City

Conakry

Government Type

republic

Area Size

At 94,919 square miles (245,857 km²), Guinea is roughly the size of the United Kingdom and slightly smaller than the US states of Michigan or Oregon.

Time Zone

No UTC/GMT offset

Climate

Generally hot and humid; monsoonal-type rainy season (June to November) with southwesterly winds; dry season (December to May) with northeasterly harmattan winds. Guinea is one of the wettest countries in West Africa.

Geography

Guinea is a nation in West Africa, formerly known as French Guinea. Guinea's territory has a curved shape, with its base at the Atlantic ocean, inland to the east, and turning south. The base borders Guinea-Bissau and Senegal to the north, and Mali to the north and north-east; the inland part borders Côte d'Ivoire to the south-east, Liberia to the south, and Sierra Leone to the west of the southern tip. It encompasses the water source of the Niger, Senegal, and Gambia rivers. The name Guinea is used for the region of most of Africa's west coast south of the Sahara desert and north of the Gulf of Guinea.

Languages

French (official), each ethnic group has its own language

Culture

Like other West African countries, Guinea has a rich musical tradition. Conakry,in particular, is a dynamic centre for music. The singing of the Kindia people is especially renowned. One dish visitors are likely to be offered is hot maize soup, served from calabashes.

History

Guinea has had only two presidents since gaining its independence from France in 1958. Lansana CONTE came to power in 1984, when the military seized the government after the death of the first president, Sekou TOURE. Guinea did not hold democratic elections until 1993 when Gen. CONTE (head of the military government) was elected president of the civilian government. He was reelected in 1998 and again in 2003. Unrest in Sierra Leone and Liberia has spilled over into Guinea on several occasions over the past decade, threatening stability and creating humanitarian emergencies.

Travel Information

Conakry (CKY)Airport is 15km (10 miles) southwest of the city. Taxis are available to the city. Air France flies regularly from London to Conakry, via Paris. KLM and Brussels Airlines also fly direct from Europe. Air Afrique operates from New York to Dakar, from where connecting flights to Guinea are available. There is a ferry to Mali which operates when the river is high enough. There are road links with Danané (Côte d’Ivoire), Bamako (Mali) and Tambacounda (Senegal). Bus services are available to the neighbouring countries, but services can be unreliable and timetables may be purely theoretical.

Accommodation

There are a few expensive hotels in Conakry of a very good standard. But the city centre also offers a number of good-value hotels, with more basic facilities. Outside the city there are very few accommodation options. Visitors are advised to book in advance and obtain written confirmation.

Visa Requirements

Visa is required for citizens of the EU, Australia, Canada and USA. Passports valid for a minimum of six months beyond date of departure required by all nationals above. Return ticket or sufficient funds equal to airfare, and 'Certificate d'Hébergement' required by all nationals referred to above.Nationals not referred to above are advised to contact the embassy to check visa requirements. Visa is not required for those continuing their journey within 24 hours to a third country, provided holding tickets with confirmed onward reservations and not leaving the airport. Passports must be left with Immigration during transit time. Apply to the Consulate.

Getting Around

Guinee Airlines operates internal services to some of the main towns.Schedules are erratic. Guinea has no public transport but there are local vans which pick people up along many routes. Buses and taxis operate cheaply within Conakry,but are poorly maintained and tend to be overcrowded.Taxis are available, although fares should be negotiated in advance. Bush taxis usually cover smaller distances than buses and can take up to seven passengers. The government bus company, SOGETRAG, operates services from Conakry to most other towns. Traffic drives on the right. The roads between Conakry (via Kindia) and Kissidougou and from Boké to Kamsar are both paved. However, many roads are in poor condition and the minor roads are often overgrown with bush. Livestock and pedestrians create road hazards, so extra caution is to be taken while driving at night. Travel by road is often impossible in the rainy season (June to November). In an effort to counter urban crime, the Guinean government maintains roadblocks from 2200-0600.

Health & Safety

Travellers are adviced to take special precautions for; Diphtheria, Hepatitis A, Malaria, Rabies, Tetanus, Typhoid and Yellow Fever. A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from travellers over one year of age coming from infected areas. All water should be regarded as being potentially contaminated. Water used for drinking, brushing teeth or making ice should have first been boiled or otherwise sterilised. Only eat well-cooked meat and fish. Vegetables should be cooked and fruit peeled. Diarrhoeal diseases are common. Bilharzia is present; avoid swimming and paddling in fresh water. Hepatitis C and E are widespread. Hepatitis B is hyperendemic. Epidemics of meningococcal disease may occur, particularly in the savannah areas and during the dry season. Dengue fever and tuberculosis both occur. Rabies is present. For those at high risk, vaccination before arrival should be considered. Health insurance is essential. Medical facilities are poorly equipped and extremely limited. Some private facilities providea better range of treatment options, but are still well below global standards. There are no ambulance or rescue emergency services available. Doctors and hospitals expect immediate cash payment for health services.

National Holidays

1 Jan - New Year’s Day. 31 Mar - Mouloud (Birth of the Prophet). 9 Apr - Easter Monday. 1 May - Labour Day. 15 Aug - Assumption. 2 Oct - Independence Day. 13 Oct - Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan). 1 Nov - All Saints' Day. 20 Dec - Feast of Sacrifice. 25 Dec - Christmas Day.

Currency

Guinea Franc (GNF)

Electricity

220V

Working Hours

Office hours: Mon-Thurs 0800-1630, Fri 0800-1300. Shopping hours: Mon-Sat 0900-1800.