Located in West Africa, Guinea is a small country full of surprises. Although it is a developing country, it has a gold and jewel industry. As it is on the Atlantic coast, there are white sand beaches nearly devoid of sun worshippers, but great for tanning and swimming nonetheless. There are acres upon acres of tropical forest, both dry forest and rainforest where you can hike and look for wildlife. A former French colony, the official language of Guinea is French, but many ethnic languages are spoken as well. It is rare to find English speakers in Guinea.

There is some civil unrest in Guinea, but much less than in some neighboring countries like Mali. The political situation is fluid and there are demonstrations, which sometimes turn violent. Travelers should go prepared to see violence and with a plan to stay safe if something occurs, even though there’s a good chance you won’t need it.

Conakry, the capital of Guinea, has a vibrant arts and culture scene. Some of the best musical performances in West Africa are held here. Many bars and clubs offer live music, plus there are many formal performances of West African music. Many performances feature the kora, a type of West African harp, and many excellent kora players live and play in Conakry.

The French-Guinean Cultural Center offers (in addition to musical performances) ballets, conferences, and movie showings. It is a popular place for expats to socialize. Many local artists and musicians also congregate there. You can go for a show or stop in during the day to gather a bit of information on what performances will be going on during your stay.

Minimal infrastructure and many small towns bordered by expanses of untouched landscapes provide boundless opportunities for adventure travelers to dig into all that Guinea has to offer. The archipelago of Tristao is an extremely isolated locale, which can be reached by boat from Kamsar once or twice a week. On the islands, you’ll find a people whose culture has had little influence from the outside world. Animism, a religion based on the idea that all natural occurrences from sand to people have souls, is still practiced here. Locals are usually friendly to the few travelers who venture here and will teach you about their lives. You’ll also spot wildlife like sea turtles.

There are many opportunities for trekking in Guinea, particularly in the Foutah Djallon. Waterfalls litter the lush green landscape of the Foutah Djallon plateau where you’ll find the sources of three major rivers: the Niger, Gambia, and Senegal. For a good view of the region, hike to its highest point atop Mount Loura.

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