Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB - Sierra Leone, Guinea

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Sierra Leone, Guinea

Hi there!
I've got a question, hoping someone will be able to answer me.
Do you know if there are any flights between Freetown and Conakry? And, furthermore, what about Conakry - Banjul flights?
Is it possible to cross the Sierra Leone - Guinea border by land with bush taxis?
Many thanks!

Air Guinee may operate between Freetown and Conakry. Not sure, check their website. But, be aware that the airport associated with Freetown (called Lungi airport) is way the heck out of town, you normally take a helicopter (USD $35) from the airport to the helipad in downtown Freetown, beside the UN compound. By road, it's almost an 8 hour drive from Lungi airport to downtown Freetown. No-one, not even the locals, makes the trip by road.

There are ferries that run between Conakry and Freetown. The schedules are somewhat erratic, and the level of safety is NIL, but if you have a vehicle with you (moto, LandCruiser), the ferry is probably the only way to go.

To put things in perspective - air transport in that region is so difficult, the organization I work for operates their own private aircraft just to move people between the two cities.

PanEuropean

as far as I know the border between Guinea and SL is open and well used. Journey time form Conakry- Freetown is around 8 hours. There are daily flights (guinea national carrier), UNHCR and WFP also fly regularly.
I just left Seirra leone/liberia (april '04) after 18 months work I never heard of problems of movement between the two cities. if you need contacts let me know. SL is wild and stunning.

Jimmy:

8 hours from Conakry to Freetown by road? Are you sure (no disrespect meant). I have never done it by road but I have flown from Hastings to Conakry or Lungi to Conakry many times, and it is about a 15 to 20 minute flight with a fast turboprop, going in a straight line.

I was of the impression that it was close to 8 hours by road just from downtown Freetown to Lungi airport (though I have never done that either, always took the Paramount helicopter).

PanEuropean