Guinea

It is bounded on the north by Guinea-Bissau, Senegal, and Mali; on the east by the Côte d’Ivoire; on the south by Sierra Leone and Liberia; and on the west by the Atlantic Ocean. Conakry is the capital and chief city while French is the official language of Guinea. The country, which lies mostly between latitudes 7° and 13°N, and longitudes 7° and 15°W (a small area is west of 15°) achieved independence on 2 October 1958. The official currency is the Guinean franc.

Guinea’s 10 million people belong to twenty-four ethnic groups. The largest and most prominent groups are the Fula (40%), Mandinka; also known as Mandingo or Malinké (30%) and Susu (20%). Smaller ethnic groups make up the remaining 10% of the population, including Kpelle, Kissi, Zialo, Toma and others.

Notable Places to Visit

MOUNT NIMBA

A major attraction in the country. With a height of more than 5,700 feet it is the highest peak throughout Guinea. This geographically unique area with more than 200 endemic species is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in both Guinea and Côte d’Ivoire that has multiple types of duikers, big cats, civets, Chimpanzees, and several types of viviparous toads.

FOUTA DJALLON

It combines rolling grasslands, high peaks, thick sandstone formations, canyons, and valleys with its diverse landscape guaranteeing a myriad of activities for tourists. A simple hike up the mountain opens opportunities for sightseeing. In addition to all the sceneries, waterfalls and stunning cliffs are encountered while trekking Fouta. Being a part of the Guinea Highlands, the Fouta Djallon is source of the longest river in West Africa, River Niger as well as rivers Senegal and Gambia.

CAPE VERGA

This tourist attraction is a beach lover’s paradise. It’s just a few hours away from the city of Conakry. Cape Verga has some of the best beaches in Guinea with Bel Air and Sobane as two of the most popular. Bel Air Beach has ample tourist facilities but lacks the isolation and ruggedness that some travellers look forward to. Sobane Beach has accommodations that are cheaper and not as invasive. The most isolated beaches in Cape Verga are in between Sobane and Bel Air Beach. The only way to reach Cape Verga would be to hire a vehicle from Conakry.

VINE BRIDGES OF RIVER OULÉ

Along River Oulé, Forested Guinea, you can find many interesting examples of indigenous bridge engineering. In the village of Koladou 30kms from Kissidigou there is one of the longest and most beautiful vine bridges in Africa. In the hamlet of Koya you can also admire one of this wonderful vine bridges (Pont de Liane).

Notable Events

• Kini Afrika (Festival des Arts de Conte)
• Macao Arts Festival
• Festival International Kora et Cordes de Conakry