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Warning: Liberia can be a very dangerous country. Check
with your nearest embassy or consulate before attempting to
plan a trip here.
Liberia's on-going civil war means this country is not recommended
for travel. This developing country has suffered continuing
political instability and the immediate future doesn't look
particularly rosy for its inhabitants, due to poverty and
lack of basic facilities.
The capital of the country is Monrovia, and the official
language here is English. The crime in the capital is high,
especially after dark, and foreigners are often targeted and
you'll find the police are able to do very little to assist
you if you become a victim.
Health
You are required to produce a yellow fever vaccination
certificate, along with your passport and visa and you
will need to pay a departure tax on leaving. As with the rest
of the country's facilities, you can expect the hospitals
to be well below Western standards. You may find the supplies
and equipment minimal and in dubious condition. Malaria
is also rife in this region so suitable precautions should
be arranged before departure.
Travel
Public transport and road systems are practically non-existent
here and travelling on the roads can be hazardous, especially
in the north-western counties. Be aware too, of government
convoys passing, drivers are instructed to pull off the road
to let them pass, it is usually advisable to wait about 10
minutes after they have passed to allow for any high speed
stragglers catching up. There are no street lights or traffic
lights in Liberia, so junctions and pedestrians are a serious
hazard.
If travelling overland from neighbouring Sierra Leone, Cote
d'Ivoire and Guinea, government security checkpoints mean
delays occur. You will need to check whether the border you
wish to cross is currently open, since they are often closed
due to war.
Traveller Tips
You will find other services in Liberia are minimal and primitive,
in rural areas; accommodation, telephones, and fuel are non-existent.
In Monrovia, water and electricity is not commercially available,
but the hotels may have some utilities you can use. The poor
state of the telephone system means communications are unreliable
in Liberia, and should you find yourself in difficulty, it
can be tricky to get messages across.
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