The nation of Guinea, which gained independence from France in 1958, is situated in West Africa, and has a population of about nine million people. The capital city of Conakry
is home to just over a million of the nation’s residents. Other popular towns include, Ratouma, Ile de Los, Ile de Kassa, Ile de Roume, Pita, Dalaba, Labe, Kissidougou, Boke, Kankan,
Koundarg, Mamou, and Siguiri.
The official language is French and there are a few local ones spoken as well. Guinea enjoys a tropical climate which makes it a bit humid. The rainy season lasts from June until
November and the dry season is from December until May. Guinea’s countryside is basically undisturbed and features some excellent scenery as it’s filled with mountains, plains,
mangrove swamps, savannah, forests, and the Senegal, Niger, and Gambia Rivers.
The capital city of Conakry is situated on an island named Tumbo and it’s linked with the Kaloum Peninsula by a pier. It has a bustling music scene with the songs of the Kindia
people being quite popular. The local cathedral was erected in the 1930s and is definitely worth checking out
as is the National Museum. If you head to the suburb of Ratoma, you can visit the
Kakimbon Caves, which have spawned many legends.
The Iles de Los are just off of the Kaloum Peninsula and are a good area for travelers to visit. You can also find some nice beaches at Ile de Kassa and Ile de Roume. Other scenic
areas include le Voile de la Mariee, the River Sabende, Pita, the Kinkon Falls, the Fouta Djalon highlands, the Nimba Range, and the Guinee Forestiere. There are numerous historic
sites in these locations.
There aren’t any national parks in the country, but you can still view some amazing wildlife in the northeast savannahs region between the Mali border and Tinkisso River. Other good
spots for animal lovers include the southeast region and the Fouta Djalon highlands.
If you head to Guinea by air you’ll land at the main airport in Conakry, and you can get a taxi into town. You can also reach the country by ferry from Mali. There are roadways to
Ivory Coast, Mali, and Senegal which you can reach by bus. Once you’re inside Guinea, you can travel by plane to most of the major cities. There isn’t any rail service at the moment,
but you can catch a bus or taxi to most cities. There isn’t any public transport in the cities themselves, but you might be able to catch a ride in a local van. However, there are
taxis and buses in Conakry.
Most of the restaurants specialize in local cuisine, but you can get international dishes in the capital and in most hotels. Some of the best local dishes are jollof rice, chicken
stuffed with groundnuts, fish, maize, yams, Cassava, and maize soup. Local beers and fresh fruit juices are popular drinks. Most of the hotels are located in the capital and other
large cities and they are quite inexpensive.
The country has cinemas, nightclubs, and theaters, but locals prefer to converge in the streets and entertain themselves by dancing, singing and playing traditional and home-made
musical instruments.
Guinea has only been open to tourism for about 25 years and it’s just begging to be explored. It’s got plenty of history, scenery, wildlife and culture to keep everybody busy during
their trip.
About Guinea