Country 9/196 was Guinea-Bissau, but due to our health issues, we only spent a night there. It was an awesome road-trip night, but sadly, we don’t have any photos to show. Hopefully, we’ll find the time to visit Guinea-Bissau again.
Country 10/196: Guinea
Destination: Conakry
Since it was the middle of the rainy season in Guinea, it was raining during our entire stay, which made it difficult to explore Conakry, but we did our best. Our initial plan was to visit Îles de Los – the well-known island group close to the capital, but due to the heavy rain, it was impossible to do so. We took a tour of the city and visited some of its most popular sites. We appreciated the city’s diversity, the colorful market, the Grand Mosque of Conakry, and the lush nature surrounding the city. The people are very friendly, however, we’ve noticed, that some people don’t like it if you take photos of the city (not even of the buildings), as they believe that taking photos takes away the city’s spirit, which may hinder the growth of tourism, and that is a shame since the country has a lot to offer.
Things to see and things to do
Conakry is a lively city surrounded by the ocean on one side and lush nature on the other. The city’s most notable sight include:
- Grand Mosque of Conakry
- Cathedrale Sante Marie
- National Museum of Guinea
- Central Market
- Port de Conakry
Where to stay
We were staying at the lovely Le Beau Village, a cozy hotel with a park, a pool, and a great restaurant, where they serve delicious food.
Are you planning a trip to Conakry? Here you can get a room with a 10% discount!
Budget
The average daily cost is around 500000GFr (50 USD/43 EUR). Accommodation prices in Conakry range from 10 USD/9 EUR to 200 USD/170 EUR. By eating and traveling like a local you will save a lot of money.
Best time to visit
The best time to visit Guinea is during the first half of the country’s dry season (in November and December), as during the second half of the dry season there are lots of sandstorms and dusty harmattan winds. However, the Fouta Djallon is at its greenest during the rainy season (April to October).
Environmental issues
Some of the most urgent environmental problems in Guinea-Bissau include deforestation caused by wildfires, soil erosion caused by drought and erosion, overgrazing, and overfishing.
In Guinea, deforestation is a major concern. Forests were replaced by savanna woodlands and grasslands due to slash-and-burn agriculture. Soil erosion and desertification are caused by mining, the expansion of hydroelectric facilities, and pollution. There are inadequate supplies of potable water and water pollution resulting in waterborne diseases is also an urgent issue. Guinea’s wildlife is threatened by human encroachment and hunting, as well as overfishing.
Romance and adventure
For a little extra romance or adventure make sure to visit some of the most notable places outside the city, such as the Soumba cascade and Mount Kakoulima on the northeastern side of Conakry or the iconic Îles de Los (Los Islands) lying off the shore of Conakry.
196xLOVE
Found lots of LOVE in Guinea. 😉 ♥
Honeymoon rating of the visited destinations: ♥♥♥♥♡♡♡♡♡♡
* Note: This is NOT a general rating of the country, it is merely our personal opinion of the mentioned site(s) as honeymoon destinations, based on the level of tourism development, the number and quality of romantic and adventurous activities and sites it offers, and safety. We strongly believe that every country is beautiful in its own way, they may simply be more or less honeymoon oriented/friendly.
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