LIBERIA TRAVEL REPORT.

  

In Liberia there is a 1 hour time zone, compared to Italy, 2 hours when in Italy there is daylight saving time

 

Entry visa: necessary, to be requested at the diplomatic / consular offices of the Liberia in Italy or abroad. It is not possible to apply for an entry visa online or at the airport. I asked the Embassy of Liberia in Rome based in Piazzale delle Medaglie d'oro n. 7, Email: ambaliberia.roma@gmail.com. The employee who speaks excellent Italian is very polite and helpful and replies to both email and telephone.

I sent the following documents by courier:

 

-2 color passport photos taken recently;

- original passport;

 - Return flight ticket;

- Completed and signed entry visa application form;

- photocopy of Yellow Fever booklet;

- 70 Euros in cash;

 

In just 2 days I got a tourist visa valid for 90 days.

Then I sent my courier to collect it

 

In Liberia, the official language is English and therefore almost everyone speaks English.

 

Religions: Animists 40%, Christians 40%, Muslims 20%.

 

At the land border of Kpantiaplay (Liberia), you have to pass several checks, before obtaining the entry stamp on the Passport.

A cop politely asked me for a tip and I gave him a dollar.

 

Keep in mind that in Liberia the US dollar is used to pay for larger expenses such as hotels, while the Liberia dollar is used to pay for Restaurants, Supermarkets, means of transport, ect.

 

At the land border of Kpantiaplay (Liberia), there are 2 money changers that do not exchange Euros, but exchange US Dollars at the following exchange rate: 1 USD = 155 LRD In Monrovia the exchange rate is: 1 USD = 160 LRD

 

 From the land border of Kpantiaplay (Liberia), there is a collective taxi that leaves for Monrovia when it is full but it is likely to wait several hours before it fills up. The journey takes approximately 8 hours.

 

A faster solution is to take a motorbike, which takes about 2 and a half hours to cover the 70 km of dirt road, sometimes in poor condition, which separates Kpantiaplay from the City of Ganta. There are several checkpoints, where you need to show your passport for registration. The police are almost always polite and generally don't ask foreigners for money. Sometimes you may be asked for a tip. In this case, you can get away with 50 or 100 AMLA.

 

 

In Ganta I spent the night at the E.D. Motel, located right on the main road in front of the minibus and collective taxi stand for Monrovia. The cost of a single room with fan is USD 10, with private bathroom and USD 5, with shared bathroom.

 

From Ganta, when full, many collective taxis leave for Monrovia. The cost of the ride is LRD 1,000. The journey of about 260 km, entirely asphalted, takes about 3 and a half hours.

 

In Monrovia all means of transport from the north and east of Liberia stop in Paynesville, located 16 km south-east of the capital.

 

From Paynesville, when full, many shared taxis leave for Buchanan. The cost of the ride is 550 LRD. The journey of about 130 km, entirely asphalted, lasts a good 2 hours.

 

In Buchanan, the collective taxi dropped me on the main road, right in the center.

 

In Buchanan, I rented a motorbike, for half a day, for the price of 600 LRD to visit the city and to go to Sunset Beach, located 5km south of the City.

 

The road from Buchanan to Sunset Beach is unpaved.

 

Entrance to Sunset Beach, which is one of the most beautiful beaches in Buchanan, costs 200 LRD.

 

The Buchanan collective taxi stand is located on the north-eastern outskirts of the city.

 

From Buchanan, when full, many shared taxis leave for Paynesville which also stop at Marshall Junction. The cost of the ride is 500 LRD. The journey of approximately 120 km entirely asphalted, lasts 2 hours.

 

From Marshall Junction, there are many motorbikes, which are necessary to reach Marshall. The cost of the ride is 250 LRD. The journey of about 15 km of dirt road in good condition takes about 20 minutes.

 

In Marshall, I rented a rowing canoe, with 2 rowers, to go and see the Chimpanzees on Monkey Island, for 20 USD. If you want you can also rent a motor boat but the cost of the same is 50 USD.

 

Keep in mind that the Chimpanzees can only be seen from the boat without going ashore as they are aggressive towards humans.

 

I spent my night at a Motel, located on the link road between Paynesville and Buchanan, a good 1km northeast of Marshall Junction. The cost is USD 10, for a double room, with fan. Also supplied with 2 condoms. Only cold water in buckets available. Ball music until after midnight.

 

In front of the aforementioned Motel pass numerous collective taxis bound for Paynesville. The fare is 120 LRD. The journey of approximately 15 km entirely paved, takes from 20 minutes to 45 minutes depending on traffic.

 

Numerous collective taxis pass through Paynesville to the center of the capital Monrovia (Broad Street). The fare is 120 LRD. The journey of approximately 16 km, entirely asphalted, takes from 20 minutes to approximately 40 minutes depending on traffic.

 

Monrovia is a seemingly safe city by day. It is good to walk around while after sunset it is better to use a taxi.

 

To photograph the Monuments and the National Assembly Building, located in Ashmun Street, in front of the National Library, I paid the custodian 500 LRD.

 

To move around the center of Monrovia you can take advantage of a short three-wheeled vehicle at a cost of 30 LRD for a short ride.

 

If from the center of Monrovia, you want to reach Robertsport, you have to reach the Duala collective taxi stand, located 7 km north of the capital.

 

To reach Duala it is necessary to take a collective taxi which departs from United Nations Drive, at the intersection with Broad Street. The cost of the ride is 50 LRD. The journey of approximately 7 km, entirely asphalted, takes from 20 minutes to approximately 40 minutes depending on traffic.

 

From the Duala car park, when full, some collective taxis leave for Robertsport. The cost of the ride is 700 LRD. The journey of 100 km, of which the last 43 km are unpaved, takes about 3 hours.

 

There are several checkpoints, where you need to show your passport for registration. The police are almost always polite and generally don't ask foreigners for money. Sometimes you may be asked for a tip. In this case, you can get away with 50 or 100 AMLA.

 

From the Robertsport taxi stand, located in the center, near Lake Piso, I rented a motorbike which for 180 LRD (round trip), took me to Cassava Beach, the most beautiful beach in the area, located 3 km south - east, the last of which is a dirt road.

 

In Robertsport, I slept in a Guesthouse, located in front of Emmanuel Chapel, in the center, for the price of 25 USD. Wifi not available. Fan not working. Cold water in buckets available.

 

From the Robertsport car park, when full, some collective taxis leave for Bo, on the border with Sierra Leone. The cost of the ride is 700 LRD. The 96 km journey, of which the first 43 km are unpaved, takes about 3 hours.

 

In Bo there is a guy who changes money for you with the following exchange rates: £ 1 = SLL 8,900, 1 Euro = SLL 8,700, USD 1 = SLL 8,300 (with tickets of USD 100; with tickets of 50, 20 and 10 the change is worse)

 

At the Liberian Border of Bo, you need to register your passport before obtaining the Exit Stamp. Then there is the control of the Yellow Fever certificate.

 

To reach the Sierra Leone border it is necessary to walk for about 1 km, I take a motortaxi.

 

My complete travel report with map, photographs and videos is available at this link:

https://vivendosalendo.blogspot.com/2019/04/viaggio-in-costa-davorio-abidjan.html