TOURISM IN GUINEA CONAKRY

travels to Guinea Conakry

Travel to Guinea Conakry

Area: 245.855 kmq
Borders: Guinea Bissau, Senegal, Mali, Ivory Cost, Liberia, Sierra Leone
Population: 9.5 million (30% malinke, 40% fulans, 20% sussu, 10% other groups)
Capital: Conakry (1.8 million inhabitants)
Languages: francese (official), malinke, fulan, sussu
Religions: 85% muslim, 8% christian, 7% animist
National holiday: October, 12th
Time: GMT
Telephone access code: 00 224
Money: Guinea Franc

Guinea overlooks the Atlantic Ocean and is boarded by Guinea Bissau, Senegal and Mali to the north, Ivory Coast on the east, Sierra Leone and Liberia lie to the south.

The mountainous Fouta Djalon area in the west (maximum height 1,538 m) slope down towards the coast, and the Nimba mountains in the south eastern corner (1.752 m), offer some of the most beautiful landscape of West Africa. These mountains are the source of the 3 great West African rivers, the Niger, the Gambia and the Senegal.

The climate is sub tropical. Throughout the rainy season, from May to October, rainfall is abundant along the coast with a little less falling in the central mountainous regions. In the winter the harmattan blows, dry wind from Sahara. There are still a lot of forests.

The main ethnic groups are Malinké (or Mandingo), Fula and Susu who constitute about three quarters of the country population. There are numerous tribal languages spoken however French is the official government language. Guineans are predominantly Muslim. The Mandingo and Fula are well known for their musical talent and the tradition of Kora playing.

Conakry, founded in 1884 by French, became the capital in 1958 at independence. The old town is located on the narrow peninsula of Kaloum and the little Island of Tumbo. Other major towns are Kankan, Kindia and Labè.

For more informations:
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/guinea

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