Overland Guinea Travel

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Visiting Guinea

Bissau is often overlooked when moving through West Africa. With easily the best hiking, mountains, waterfalls and friendly people, don't miss this spectacular country. NOTE: Exchange US dollars or Euros on the street to get a better rate than official. Don't use an ATM, you get a bad rate. The street rate was about 30% better than official in late 2016.

Entering Guinea with a Car or Motorbike

Correct as of: Sept. 2016

Travel Visa for Guinea

The visa for Guinea is extremely easy to obtain at virtually any bordering country.
The Embassy in Bissau Guinea-Bissau is very friendly, and the process is very easy. Expect to pay CFA30,000.00 XOF for one month single entry, CFA60,000.00 XOF for two months multiple entry and progressively getting higher the more you ask for.

Required Paperwork

(no copies are required)

Process at border

  • Get yourself stamped in at immigration.
  • Go to Duane to get a temporary import for the vehicle. Using the vehicle registration the officer will write out a Passavant, valid for one month.
  • If you are at a small border, they might not issue a Passavant at the border, you just continue to the next big town and do it there.
  • If you have a Carnet de Passage, you don't need the Passavant.

Cost of entry

In late 2016 the Passavant cost FG50,000.00 GNF (50,000GNF, remember, that's not much money using the street exchange rate), though that clearly went in the pocket of the senior officer that wrote it out.

Permitted length of stay

Passavant is good for one month.

Extension of stay

Unsure.

Storing a vehicle and temporarily leaving the country

Describe if/how a vehicle can be stored, and for how long.
Also mention if the owner / temporary importer can leave the country while the vehicle is in storage.

Exiting with a vehicle

  • Hand in your Passavant to Duane.
  • Get yourself stamped out at immigration.

All should be free, do not pay for this.

Driving in Guinea

Recommended books for Overlanding in Guinea

Overland Travel Essentials: West Africa: Myths, Miscon...
Overland Travel Essentials: West Africa: Myths, Miscon...
by Dan Grec
From $click on Amazon
Lonely Planet West Africa (travel Guide)
Lonely Planet West Africa (travel Guide)
by Lonely Planet
From $32.99 on Amazon
Work Less To Live Your Dreams: A Practical Guide To Sa...
Work Less To Live Your Dreams: A Practical Guide To Sa...
by Dan Grec
From $click on Amazon
Overlanders' Handbook: Worldwide Route And Planning Gu...
Overlanders' Handbook: Worldwide Route And Planning Gu...
by Chris Scott
From $22.49 on Amazon
Adventure Motorcycling Handbook: A Route & Planning Gu...
Adventure Motorcycling Handbook: A Route & Planning Gu...
by Chris Scott
From $click on Amazon
Footprints On The Door: Fifty Years In Papua New Guinea
Footprints On The Door: Fifty Years In Papua New Guinea
by Bruce Blowers, David Blowers, Brendan Blowers
From $click on Amazon

Travel insurance for Guinea

World Nomads offer the most flexible Travel Insurance at the best prices for multi-country / multi-year trips. You can buy, extend and claim online, even after you've left home.

Vehicle insurance requirements

Liability Insurance is required, and the corrupt police will ask repeatedly to see it.
If you travel through more west African countries get a 'Carte Brun' which is valid in most west African countries at no extra cost.

Cost of vehicle insurance

Expect to pay CFA10,000.00 XOF to CFA20,000.00 XOF per vehicle per month, depending on engine size and vehicle age (newer costs more)

Where to purchase vehicle insurance

Unknown within Guinea.

Driving license

Anything from your home country will be accepted.

Driving side of road

Right.
RHD vehicles are allowed but ensure you have correct paperwork, because it’s a good chance for bribery.

Mandatory items in vehicle

You need two safety triangles, first aid kit, and fire extinguisher. They even checked the expiry date and amount of gas on the gauge.

Roads

General Road quality

The main highways are good pavement, without potholes, especially those recently built.
In Conakry the roads are horrible.
Minor dirt roads are frequently horrible, especially in towns. Lots are impassable in the rainy season.
Always watch out for potholes on sealed roads - they can be HUGE, and hitting them fast will be very, very bad.

Road signs

Not overly common.

Toll roads

There are no toll roads in Guinea.

Bribery in Guinea

Bribery is extremely common, with every police stop and checkpoint an attempt to get money out of you. Be polite, and don’t pay. See the bribery tips page for general advice.

Checkpoints

There are many checkpoints and random stops where Police will check all your paperwork. Don't pay.

Traveling with pets

Unknown.

Gas price in Guinea and Diesel price in Guinea

Last updated: September 2016

Currency and unit to display:

Gasoline Grade Price
Unleaded (called Essense)(Pump said 98 octane - doubtful) FG8,000.00 GNF per Liter
Diesel (called gasoil) FG8,000.00 GNF per Liter

Gas and Diesel Availability / Frequency

All towns have stations, all stations always have gasoline and diesel. Both are also available in small containers on the side of the road. Quality is likely very bad when bought like that.

Gas and Diesel Quality

Seemed to be no problem with quality.

Safety and Security Considerations

Driving at night

Driving at night is not recommended due to hazards on the road, vehicles without lights and extremely bad roads.

Vehicle parking

Vehicles seem safe enough on the street during the day, secure overnight parking is recommended in the cities, especially Conakry.

Special driving considerations

As in all of West Africa, expect hazards on the road around every turn - animals, children, pot holes and speed bumps!

Security advisories and information

Camping in Guinea

There are a few campsites in Guinea, and a few hotels allow camping. Expect to pay between CFA2,000.00 XOF and CFA5,000.00 XOF per person per night.
Wildcamping is possible in Guinea, especially in rural areas. Try to camp away from villages unless you don't mind lot of attention and lot of demand for ‘Cadeaux’ which means gift. If you do camp in a town, ask the Chief of the village for permission (he will always say yes)

Camping guide books

List and link to books specifically for camping.

Drinking water

Drinking water is generally not considered safe to drink for visitors who are not used to it.

Navigation

Paper maps

Reise Know-How are among the best paper maps. Purchase paper maps before arriving in Guinea

Papua-neuguiea, Indonesien: West-papua, Molukken = New...
Papua-neuguiea, Indonesien: West-papua, Molukken = New...
by Reise Know-How Verlag
From $13.65 on Amazon
Asia Classic [laminated] (national Geographic Referenc...
Asia Classic [laminated] (national Geographic Referenc...
by National Geographic Maps - Reference
From $14.95 on Amazon
New Guinea 1:1.65m / 1:1.2m Travel Map (international ...
New Guinea 1:1.65m / 1:1.2m Travel Map (international ...
by ITM Canada
From $7.65 on Amazon
Lonely Planet Bushwalking In Papua New Guinea
Lonely Planet Bushwalking In Papua New Guinea
by Yvon Perusse
From $25.24 on Amazon

GPS Maps of Guinea

  • Garmin Open Street Maps has excellent coverage of all roads - highways and cities.
  • Tracks4Africa is an SD Card for Garmin GPS, and contain Routable turn-by-turn maps with 809,000 kms of roads and over 129,000 points of interest.
Gps Map Of Africa
Gps Map Of Africa
From $click on Amazon

GPS co-ordinates for camping, propane, gas, repairs, etc. in Guinea

  • iOverlander is a website and iPhone application designed by Overlanders, for Overlanders. It contains GPS co-ordinates and reviews for camping, hotels, propane, water, mechanics, borders and much more.

Special Overland Travel interests

List any special items / places that are popular with Overlanders

Vehicle Maintenance

Dealers

4x4s / Trucks

Motorbikes

Local Garages

Add known good mechanics here.

Buy or sell a car or motorbike in Guinea

Buy
Describe how a foreigner can buy a vehicle. List any difficulties or limitations on where the vehicle can be driven.

Sell
Describe how a foreigner can sell a foreign-plated vehicle, or list not possible.'

References

Links to the source of any information - blogs or discussion forums, etc.


Helpful External links

Add any helpful external links here.