Overview

Guinea, also known as the Republic of Guinea, is a place that many people enjoy traveling to. This crescent shaped country's official language is French, its capital is Conakry, and it is approximately 246,000 square kilometers in size. The country has a spectacular landscape and is generally flat along the coast and mountainous in the interior. The highest peak is on Mount Nimba at 5,748 ft (1,752 m). Its four geographic regions include a narrow coastal belt, pastoral highlands, the northern savanna, and the southeastern rain forest. It also has some of the world's few remaining tropical dry forests.

Guinea is sometimes called the Switzerland of Africa because of its lofty mountains, high plateaus, and temperate climate. Above all it is a place that is rich with musical love and talent.

Activities & Attractions

Conakry is an undeniably pulsating place. It is colorful, spontaneous, friendly, musical, a little wild, and always full of contrast. The city's vibrancy and openness come from a very African flavor. The Botanical Garden, Cathédrale Sainte-Marie, and Grande Mosquée are places you can see in the capital, Conarky.

If you wish to understand Guinea's history, you can visit Camp Boiro, a military base and memorial located in the center of the Route de Donka. It is associated with the worst atrocities carried out during Toure's reign of terror. Thousands of prisoners were tortured or killed in this camp from 1960 to 1984. Many prisoners were kept in isolation or in cement holding-pens open to the elements until they died.

If you are a music lover, you will surely love listening to the romantic and captivating Malinke music. It is a rhythmic style that has given inspiration to many West African artists. Dubreka is a place close to Coyah, which is the home of Les Cascades de la Soumba. This town features a spectacular waterfall with facilities for water sports.Mount Kaloulima, Loos Islands, Tortoise Island, and Snake Island are places you should include in your itinerary as you travel across the country.

Lodging

Travelers in Guinea are welcome to a wealth of different accommodations. The Novotel Conakry Hotel and Le Meridien Mariador Palace are popular hotels in the capital city, but there are also bed and breakfasts, inns and places to camp. The Web sites found below in the resources section will help you find more information on accommodations in Guinea.

Transportation

Minibuses and taxis are the main modes of transportation in Guinea. Brousses (usually Peugeot station wagons) are also available to get around the country. Private buses connect Conakry to a few other cities. Boats and barges are other commonly used modes of internal transportation. You can also hire a car and personal driver to travel around the country.