Safety travel in Guinea Bissau and Guinea Conakry

[piero-mirella]

Hi All,
anyone has information about the safety situation in Guinea Bissau and Guinea Conakry?
I'm planning to do my own trip there in near future.
Thank you for you help
Best regards
Piero

[campfirecookie]

Hi Piero, we have just returned from a trip through West Africa in a Landrover Defender. We had no problems at all with the people in GB or Guinea Conakry. All very friendly. Usual police check points, some look for small things wrong to try and impose fines. But they are not very good at it, make them laugh and they forget about it. There were very few travellers in both countries in Feb / March this year. We did meet a few bikers. We spent 3 days at the carnival in Bissau city where hundreds of people flocked ... it was all very good natured and no real trouble.
Guinea Conakry was just as welcoming, Fouta Dijlon region fabulous.
Regards Lisa / Campfirecookie

[piero-mirella]

Originally Posted by campfirecookie

Hi Piero, we have just returned from a trip through West Africa in a Landrover Defender. We had no problems at all with the people in GB or Guinea Conakry. All very friendly. Usual police check points, some look for small things wrong to try and impose fines. But they are not very good at it, make them laugh and they forget about it. There were very few travellers in both countries in Feb / March this year. We did meet a few bikers. We spent 3 days at the carnival in Bissau city where hundreds of people flocked ... it was all very good natured and no real trouble.
Guinea Conakry was just as welcoming, Fouta Dijlon region fabulous.
Regards Lisa / Campfirecookie

Thank you Lisa for the information.
We lived in GB almost 2,5 years but was on 1977/1980 and was a fantastic and terrific experience.
Now we want to visit again and travel all around West Africa.
Have you been also in Ivory Cost traveling from Guinea Conakry?
What about the safety?
Thank you again and best regards
Piero & Mirella

[Overland Tonka]

We were along the Ivory coast border with GC...we were told to be careful, but had no problems...Great place Ivory coast and we saw no other tourists. I Think the NP is closed because of cross border trouble in the villages.

We stopped at the side of the road once and an Army guy turned up saying "Be careful" but again we never had a problem.

[piero-mirella]

Hi,
thank you, when did you make this trip?
Have you been by car or bike or?
Did you travel all around Ivory Cost?
Our plane is to cross the country to reach Ghana.
Any information?
Thank you and best regards

[CREER]

I will back up the situation in Guinea Bissau & Guinea, wonderful countries.

Annually I spend about 4-5months in Cote d'Ivoire & know it extremely well, so do ask if you want more information

However I can tell you now that the land border between Guinea & Cote d'Ivoire remains CLOSED, you will have to go via Mali

[piero-mirella]

Originally Posted by CREER

I will back up the situation in Guinea Bissau & Guinea, wonderful countries.

Annually I spend about 4-5months in Cote d'Ivoire & know it extremely well, so do ask if you want more information

However I can tell you now that the land border between Guinea & Cote d'Ivoire remains CLOSED, you will have to go via Mali

Hi,
thank you for the information.
According your experience therefore Ivory Cost it is a nice and safe country to travel?
If we have to get in through Mali then we can cross it a go to Ghana easily?
What is your suggestion?
Thank you and best regards

[CREER]

Personally I'd say it's a wonderful country to visit, been there for 10 years even during the 2010/2011 crisis & people are great!

At the moment you'll have to deviate through Mali, should take you 2 days with a night in Bamako

However, I'm hearing murmurs that the Liberian/CI border is going to open, waiting to get official info on this. However the roads between Guinea/Liberia & CI are terrible, particularly the southern Liberia stretch

[piero-mirella]

Originally Posted by CREER

Personally I'd say it's a wonderful country to visit, been there for 10 years even during the 2010/2011 crisis & people are great!

At the moment you'll have to deviate through Mali, should take you 2 days with a night in Bamako

However, I'm hearing murmurs that the Liberian/CI border is going to open, waiting to get official info on this. However the roads between Guinea/Liberia & CI are terrible, particularly the southern Liberia stretch

Thank you for the info,
we will be there on next January and according what you say our program will be Senegal, GB, Guinè Conakry, Mali and CI
I will check again the situation nearest at the date
Best regardshttp://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/images/smilies/biggrin2.gif

[CREER]

Not sure if you saw my other posts, but about 10 days ago the CI govt held a press conference to confirm that the borders will open ... apparently they are & all is back to normal.

No need to deviate via Bamako unless you want to (although it's a great town that I do enjoy!)

[piero-mirella]

Originally Posted by CREER

Not sure if you saw my other posts, but about 10 days ago the CI govt held a press conference to confirm that the borders will open ... apparently they are & all is back to normal.

No need to deviate via Bamako unless you want to (although it's a great town that I do enjoy!)

Hi,
yes I saw and it's a great notice.
We will decide on the way if to go through Mali or direct from Guine to Ivory Coast.
Still depending on safety condition on the way, till now all seems is quite.
Thank you.
Best regards

[schmookeeg]

Originally Posted by piero-mirella

Hi,
yes I saw and it's a great notice.
We will decide on the way if to go through Mali or direct from Guine to Ivory Coast.
Still depending on safety condition on the way, till now all seems is quite.
Thank you.
Best regards

Hey Piero (or others),

Curious how your research has been going about routes?

We are in Kedougou trying to select the best route through Guinee, and it seems to be a dice throw between risking coupeurs de route via Mamou, or general banditry through Kankan -- neither are very appetizing. It is amusing that we're even considering going via Sierra Leone and Liberia for Security reasons.

We haven't been able to query any informed locals with any confidence, and news stories seem to be 90% bad news on the subject.

Curious if you have been able to turn over any sources that we may have missed.

Cheers,

- Mike