Liberia

By Amy Adejokun

Section editor

For the past few years, foreigners have been advised against travel to Liberia. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been clear on this point. Holidaymakers are not really welcome here and their safety cannot be ensured. This is a very unfortunate state of affairs, especially since Liberia, which lies open to the Atlantic Ocean, has some wonderful seaside resorts. The country also boasts wonderful savanna landscapes and luxuriant mountains.

Our Editorial team's advice

Today, Liberia is not a recommended safe tourist destination. The recent civil war has profoundly affected the country and the resurgence of tensions renders it dangerous. In case of any major problems, British nationals are not well protected since there is no British Embassy in the country.

pros

+The wild animals in the Nimba Mountains Reserve.
+The hospitality of the people.

cons

-Civil war has torn the country apart.
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Traditions

There are three religions in Liberia: Animism, Christianity and Islam. The last two are more popular than the first. Animism is a religion or faith. It believes that nature is governed by spirits such as the wind, stones and animals.

Food

The staple food is rice, cooked with different foods like dried fish. Fish can be served with sweet potatoes cooked in coconut cream or shrimps cooked in palm oil. There is chicken soup, cabbage cooked with bacon or pig's trotters and fried plantains. The national dish is goat soup. Fufu is a popular dish served with palava sauce, spinach and meat stew. Liberianslove sweetened desserts like sweet potato, coconut or pumpkin cakes. Liberian rice bread made with banana puree is very sweet. Peanuts are used in all varieties of cookies and desserts. As for drinks, there's a lot of palm wine and ginger beer, and Liberian local coffee is said to be excellent.

Souvenirs

Monrovia streets are full of tailors selling coloured fabrics and embroidered garments. Liberian craft includes ebony or mahogany sculptures and stone items. There are soap stone sculptures, a symbol of fertility among the Kissis. There are also ritual masks, metal jewels, figurines and reed dolls. Shops and markets open from8:00 am to 1:00 pm and from 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm, Monday to Saturday.