Select your outward journey date
Select your return journey date

Liberia Practical information Liberia

Area : 43000  sq.mi - Population 3851000 hab.
Liberia

Our expert Liberia

map

map Liberia

Weather

Practical information Liberia

superficie

Area

43000  sq.mi
vol

Flights

9 hrs 30 mins London-Monrovia with a connection in Abidjan (Ivory Coast).
decallage horaire

Jet Lag

population

Population

3851000 hab.
aeroports proche

Airports

The Robertsfield airport, 37 miles from Monrovia, is closed. Planes land at the Spriggs-Payne flying ground, 4 miles from the town centre. A shared taxi will cost you LRD 0.20 and a hired taxi will cost LRD 1.5.
securite

Security

Liberia has known seventeen years of very bloody civil war. Despite President Taylor's departure and recent exile, the political climate is still unstable. Limited travelling due to poor transport infrastructure. Note that in Monrovia there is no British Embassy. Today, Liberia is not a recommended tourist site
langue

Languages

The official language is English. Local languages are from Mandingo (Mande): Mende, Vai, Kpelle and Kru: Bassa, De, Grebo.
formalites

Requirements

A passport with a validity of six months is required as well as a visa. You must fill in two forms. Bring two ID photos and a "return" plane ticket, or a certified document from the travel agency. You must show your vaccination booklet (yellow fever vaccination is required). The visa is theoretically issued within 2 days.
religion

Religion

Christian (40%) and Animist (40%) are dominant. There are a few Muslims (20%).
monnaie

Currency

The currency is the Liberian Dollar (LRD). £1 Sterling = 104.95 LRD.

It is hard to exchange travellers cheques, so the best option is to bring plenty of cash with you, as the use of credit cards (MasterCard, Diners Club, etc.) is limited and there are no ATM machines. Banks are open from 9:30am to noon, Monday to Thursday, and from 9:30am to 12:30pm on Fridays.

transports

Local transportation

Roads are completely damaged and impassable in the rainy season. Several bridges have been destroyed, so passing across rivers may be difficult. It is possible to rent a car, with or without a chauffeur. You must have an international driving license. There are several "bush-taxis" (taxis serving the rural areas) leaving Monrovia every day. The journey sometimes takes several days. It is possible to board a boat between Monrovia and Harper (the country's far south) several times in a week. Trains essentially carry goods, but the private company LAMCO takes passengers between Buchanan and Yekepa, close to the border with Ivory Coast and Guinea. There is currently no internal air traffic.
sante

Health

No vaccine is required. Check your DTP vaccine is up to date. Vaccines against hepatitis A and B are recommended, as well as the one for typhoid and rabies.

Be careful ofmalaria: protect yourself from mosquitoes and bring an anti-malaria treatment.

Diarrhoeal diseases have been reported: you must treat the water you drink, wash fruit and vegetables with purified water and cook food well. The sanitary conditions are poor: lack of water and electricity.

Medical facilities are non-existent. You are recommended to apply for medical repatriation insurance.

electricite

Electricity

Voltage of 220/240 V. An adapter is needed. The country has serious problems with its electricity supply.
frequentation

Flood of tourists

unknown.
taxe

Taxes and tips

Service is not included in hotels and restaurants, leave a tip of 10%.
telephone

Telephone

To call Liberia from the UK, dial 231 (country code) + the number you are calling. There are no town codes.
To call the UK from Liberia, dail 00 + 44 + the number you are calling.