Guinea?
 

Wondering if anybody is in Guinea currently and could share what the situation is like away from the capital? My personal interest is to go Mali - Guinea - Sierra Leone....

Depressing article on the state of near anarchy and moral bankruptcy in Guinea Conakry here BBC NEWS | Africa | African view: Guinea's lingering military legacy

Q

I'm pretty sure Charlie did it recently. Check out his site: On The Edge of Africa – Welcome!

I went through there very quickly a couple of weeks ago (Guinea-Bissau to Sierra Leone) without problems, although there were plenty of military checkpoints and the odd drunk soldier in the south. My blog about the journey is here. (We're travelling by push bikes, but got a lift through Guinea.)

The president was shot by his chief military aide last night (he survived), so things may be changing quickly...

london the serra leione... hopefully
 

I too should be traveling to Guinea in a few weeks. I'll be heading to Freetown from Bamko. Is their a particular way anyone can recomed and let me know of an estimate on how long this could take.

many thanks
maz

Travel advisory
 

I live in The Gambia and have traveled in Guinea, but not recently.
There are traveler's advisories for Guinea but also for northern Mali, including Timbuktu and Gao.
Be aware that when you enter a place like Guinea at this time there is no law. You may be fortunate and encounter nothing more than an "odd drunk soldier" but there is no central control in that country right now. This means that the soldiers at any given checkpoint can and will do what they wish. The only restriction on their behavior is the whim of the officers at that particular check point. Guinea has had a history of decades of totalitarian rule and it shows in the behavior of the soldiers and police. Even when the former ruler, Lansana Conte, was alive control of outlying garrisons was poor and many soldiers and officers did what they felt like. This included very aggressive demands for money at military checkpoints. The chance of being shot or arrested is probably low.
The Guinean people themselves are terrific: kind and hospitable. I am very sad for their country.
You might want to reroute through Burkina Faso. You might also want to ride with at least one other person, if possible.

Ive just ridden solo thru Guinea from the senegalese border at Koundara, its 300klms of tough but great fun dirt road to Labe where i sopped at Tata hotel then poor tarmac thru Dalaba Mamou to Kankan , expensive very poor hotels. then headed north to the Malian border

This was a seven day ride two nights in GH then others bush camping

Many checks by police and army everyone asks for money but non was paid

I really enjoyed the Fouta Djallon, it was the Africa that i had the picture of in my head, dusty roads smll villages and a landscape that times forgot

Ecowas are or were talking about sending a peace keeping force in if Camara didnt get back soon but this seems to have quietened down

I never felt threatened but it did feel edgy, thats why we are all Adventure riders after all.

Definitely an adventure but if central control is gone I'd be wary at least. Six years ago en route from Koundara to Conakry (can't remember exactly where) at a random village a tree had been chopped and laid on the road where upon the bush taxi driver (I wasn't on a bike) had to pay to have the locals move the tree to allow us pass. Two of them had guns, rickety old shot guns and though not remotely aggressive it was clear that we weren't getting past until the driver paid. It was obvious from the driver's reaction that this was not a usual interruption. If that could happen in stable times (as stable as Guinea gets) I'd be at least cautious about the oppuortunistic mindset that may exist in a more anarchaic set up. Not saying I wouldn't go, just gving an insight.