Liberia travel guide

Well off the tourism radar for most people, Liberia is a small package full of big surprises. Open it up and you’ll find fantastic surf beaches, thick tracts of rainforest and wildlife filled islands; as well as a people eager to welcome visitors after a long and difficult period scarred by civil war and the Ebola crisis. Read our Liberia travel guide to find out more.

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Liberia travel guide

Liberia’s unique origins make for a history as diverting as its natural beauty. In the 1820s, bands of freed blacks left plantation era America for West Africa, where they founded settlements that would later become the independent state of Liberia. In so doing, they created divisions between settler and native populations that would lay the foundations for the civil wars which tore through the country from 1989 until the early 2000s. Combined with the 2014 Ebola crisis, these conflicts put off all but the most intrepid of visitors.

Liberia’s petite frame bristles with rainforest, beaches, and dishevelled colonial buildings, whose walls tell the tale of freed slaves forging a brave new West African world.

Lately, however, things are looking up. At peace for over a decade, and now Ebola free, Liberia is more than ready to welcome tourists. And while its small contingent of beach resorts and eco lodges are largely full of expats and Liberian returnees, adventurous travellers are also starting to feel the pull. They’re arriving – albeit in a trickle - to discover fascinating colonial relics, an empty golden coastline, little-visited rainforests and energetic cities full of music and optimism. Find out more in our Liberia travel guide.

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Liberia is…

full of history and natural beauty

Liberia isn’t…

an Ebola ravaged basket case

Things to do in Liberia…

Liberia has some incredible beaches, and the country’s difficult reputation means that they are wild and unspoilt, and what development there is, is low rise and low key. There are surfing beaches and oceanfront resorts in and around the capital, including sublime Libassa Lodge, an eco-hotel founded in partnership with the forestry authority. Robertsport, a laidback surf town 100km from Monrovia, is one of the continent’s great undiscovered surf spots, offering empty golden beaches and a thick mane of rainforest. Do take the time to learn about the history and culture while you’re here. Throughout the country you’ll find crumbling colonial buildings that are reminders of the freed American slaves who founded the independent state of Liberia, while the National Museum, based at the former legislature in Monrovia, details the traditions of the country’s many ethnic groups, and the history its founders. It’s also worth reading up on the brutal civil wars (1989-1997 and 1999-2003), the effects of which are still evident today. Liberia may be tiny, but it’s not short on natural beauty so make sure you get out into the wild while you’re here. Hotspots include Chimpanzee Island – an archipelago that’s home to a community of rescued chimpanzees; Kpatawee Waterfall, whose tumbling waters and natural pool have sacred significance for the local people; and the area surrounding the popular Libassa Lodge, where you can stroll through botanical gardens, or search for birdlife in the local rainforest.

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Things not to do in Liberia…

Part of Liberia’s appeal is that it’s not a mainstream tourist destination, so you shouldn’t expect luxury here. While there are a number of high-end digs in and around Monrovia, elsewhere accommodation tends to be simple, power shortages are common and roads are often little more than dirt tracks. This is all part of the experience though; accommodation will be clean and comfortable and you’ll get a more authentic experience than you would if you were staying at an international chain hotel in the city. While Liberia is safe to travel in these days, poor infrastructure means it’s still pretty tough going, except for the hardiest of travellers. That’s why we don’t recommend travelling independently. On small group tours, you’ll travel in a private vehicle with an expert local driver and guide, so there’s less chance of anything going wrong and if it does, there’s help at hand. What’s more, you’ll have the added bonus of a gaggle of likeminded travellers to share the highs and lows with along the road. Liberia has a rich and varied cuisine, so don’t miss out on the local food. Spicy and comforting, it combines strong influences from the southern United States with the flavours of its indigenous ethnic groups. Key dishes include bitter-leaf stew – meat or fish cooked with melon seed, greens and palm oil, and served with fufu (pounded plantain or cassava); and palm butter soup – a rich, spicy soup made with palm nut flesh and meat or vegetables. The seafood is also excellent, with crawfish a particular speciality.