Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone Expedition

Good to Know

Travel Information

Safety, Passport, Visa and Health Information

We strongly recommend that you check your government’s travel advisory for up-to-date information and advice about your destination: safety and security, entry requirements, health, local laws and customs. For UK citizens, check the latest advice for Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.

All British nationals need a visa for Guinea (apply via the Embassy of the Republic of Guinea or the Guinea Online Visa Portal – entry has been refused without the correct visa), a visa for Liberia (from the Embassy of the Republic of Liberia in London), and a visa for Sierra Leone (available on arrival for $80 cash, or apply in advance for an e-visa). Your passport should be valid for at least 6 months for Guinea and Sierra Leone, and for the proposed duration of your stay for Liberia. A yellow fever certificate is required for entry.

Don't become involved with drugs of any kind in any of the three countries – penalties are severe, with heavy sentences and harsh local prison conditions, including for gem or diamond smuggling. In Guinea, precious stones require an export licence, and photography of bridges, military sites, police installations or government buildings is forbidden – carry certified photocopies of your passport rather than the original. Homosexuality is illegal in Liberia and Sierra Leone. Carry photographic ID with you at all times in Liberia.

At least 8 weeks before your trip, check the latest country-specific health advice from the National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) on the TravelHealthPro website for each country. Medical facilities are poor across all three countries – in Guinea, only private clinics can be contacted by phone and equipment is often not sterile; Liberian hospitals are poorly equipped with no effective emergency or ambulance service; malaria, typhoid, Lassa fever and cholera are all present in the region. Serious medical treatment is likely to require evacuation to Europe – make sure you have adequate travel health insurance and accessible funds. Drink or use only boiled or bottled water and avoid ice in drinks.

What to Bring

Lightweight, casual, non-synthetic clothing (cotton and natural fibres are best) that appropriately covers the body when in the company of local communities – it doesn't need to be fancy, but it needs to be respectful. Walking shoes or boots plus sandals are the ideal footwear.

Please allow yourself one main piece of luggage and a day-sack – you're expected to carry your own baggage, so don't overload yourself; a soft wheely bag may be easier to manage than a suitcase. We also recommend a sunhat, sun cream, a torch, insect repellent, a reusable water bottle, a small medical kit for scrapes and cuts, and a power adapter for phones and laptops.

While You're There

The local currency is the Guinean Franc in Guinea, the Liberian dollar in Liberia, and the Leone in Sierra Leone – it's best to bring Euros for exchange, as local currency is difficult to obtain outside the region, and your guide can help exchange money at banks or hotels. ATMs are increasingly available in larger towns but shouldn't be relied on as your main source of cash, and credit cards are only commonly accepted in larger hotels in Conakry and Freetown. Exchanging currency on the street or via unofficial changers is illegal, including at the airport, and has led to arrests even for small amounts.

The region has a dry season (October-April) and wet season (May-September) – most visitors travel in the dry season, though the wet season is feasible too, with short, sharp rain bursts rather than all-day downpours (though some roads can be difficult to pass). To use your mobile phone, contact your provider in advance for international roaming, or purchase a local registered SIM card – many hotels also offer wifi via wireless hotspots.