Guinea

Description of Guinea

Guinea is a country located in the western part of the African continent. Officially, the name of the country is the Republic of Guinea.

History, Map and Language

In the earlier times, the land was under the rule of African empires. Very little is known about the history from that time. Around 1890, it was colonized by the French. On 2^nd October 1958, Guinea was declared to be independent of the French, and the leadership went to autocratic rulers. Many rulers came and went over the years when finally presidential elections were held in 2010.

This country covers a total area of 245,836 km². Capital is Conakry, which is also the largest city. Due to this, the country is often referred to as Guinea Conakry. It is surrounded by countries like Equatorial Guinea, Liberia, Papua Guinea and Guinea Bissau on the map. The coastal region is mostly flat, but the interiors are filled with many hills and mountains. The total population is over 10 million.

French is the official language here, but you will generally find people speaking Fula, Maninka and Susu.

Culture and Holidays

Guinea has a rich culture of 24 different ethnic groups. Fula, Maninka and Susu are the biggest groups. When it comes to religion, Islam is extremely popular. About 85% of the total population is Muslim. After independence, Guinea flourished in music, like all the other countries of western Africa. A lot of international holidays are celebrated here, along with some national ones.

Climate and Weather

The climate is mostly tropical here. For over six months, the country gets a rainy season. Making the annual rainfall of 430 cm. The average temperature of Guinea is 18^oC. However, in some regions the weather stays relatively warmer and humidity remains high. Even then the highest mark goes only to 29^oC. The cool climate is mainly due to the mountains that cover most of the interiors of the country.

Travel and Tourism

The government started promoting tourism only a few years ago. Connectivity with different parts of the world was promoted and transport inside the country was developed. Many dining options are now available for those who come here for travel purposes. There are several small markets where you can buy cheap souvenirs to remember your trip. The people here are also very warm and welcoming. However, the tourism got a fatal blow when Ebola out broke here in March 2014. It is a deadly disease and has taken uncountable lives till now. No working treatment has been found yet. That’s why most of the resources are being concentrated to contain it. Due this disease, traveling to Guinea is not recommended until Ebola is controlled.

Vacation and Destinations

If you are visiting Guinea for vacation, your first destination should definitely be Conakry. It is the largest, most populated and also most advanced city in the country. Your visit to this country will give you an overview of the whole culture. The city is also famous for its nightlife. You can also visit Kindia for some of the most amazing waterfalls.

Some facts about Guinea

Gallery of Guinea

Guinea video guide

More information about Guinea

Top cities of Guinea