Check the weather city by city, starting with Conakry.
Nicknamed the "water tower of West Africa," Guinea is a country of striking contrasts. Fouta Djallon, a mountainous plateau of spectacular waterfalls and Fulani villages, contrasts with the coastal capital of Conakry and the dense southern forests that shelter chimpanzees and hippos. The UNESCO-listed Nimba Mountains testify to exceptional biodiversity.
Fouta Djallon is a mountainous plateau of grand beauty, crossed by deep gorges, majestic waterfalls and perched Fulani villages. Kinkon Falls, Ditinn Gorges and the Doucki cliffs offer some of the finest hiking scenery in West Africa.
Highlights : Kinkon Falls — 90 metres high, Ditinn Gorges and Fulani villages, Doucki cliffs — spectacular viewpoint, Labé weekly market.
The Nimba Mountains, shared by Guinea, Côte d'Ivoire and Liberia, are a UNESCO World Heritage site for their exceptional biodiversity. They are home to tool-using chimpanzees, pygmy hippos and hundreds of endemic species in this dense, misty forest.
Highlights : Pygmy hippos in the rivers, Summit of Mount Nimba (1752 m), Dense montane forest and morning mist.
Conakry, a capital built on a peninsula, is a lively and musical city. Guinea is the cradle of the djembe and balafon, and evenings of Mandinka music are renowned across the continent. Madina Market, the National Museum and the Los Islands, reached by pirogue, round out the visit.
Highlights : National Museum of Guinea, Madina Market — the largest in West Africa, Los Islands by pirogue (relaxation, snorkelling).
The village of Bossou is home to a community of chimpanzees studied since the 1970s, famous for using stone tools to crack nuts. Ziama Forest, a UNESCO biosphere reserve, is one of the last great forest blocks in West Africa.
Highlights : Bossou chimpanzees and their tool use, Ziama Biosphere Reserve, Forest villages of the N'Zérékoré region, N'Zérékoré market — crossroads of forested West Africa.
Guinea is a budget-friendly destination with tourism infrastructure that is still developing. Mid-range hotels are found mainly in Conakry and a few towns in Fouta Djallon. The Guinean franc is volatile, so euros or US dollars are often preferred.