From the airport to the city centre Guinea

Whenever possible, the best thing to do is to anticipate your arrival by arranging for you to be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel before you land. Both large and smaller hotels can arrange for you to be picked up as soon as you leave the terminal. In most cases, this is an additional service, but one that will ensure your arrival is as stress-free as possible.

If you don't have the time to make arrangements in advance, you can always call a cab service, which is available from the airport parking lot as soon as you leave the terminal. Before hiring a taxi, make sure you know where you're going and discuss the cost. As many planes land at night, rates are higher than during the day. For a trip from the airport to downtown Kaloum, you should expect to pay between 60,000 FG and 80,000 FG during the day, and between 150,000 FG and 200,000 FG at night.

Public transport Guinea

To get around Conakry, there are various modes of transport, more or less expensive, more or less safe. Yellow cabs and minibuses can be found on the main roads, with fares based on distance travelled. A little experience is needed to understand who goes where, but this is the most common and economical means of transport. Tuk-tuks also operate on the same principle, but on three wheels, and it's also possible to negotiate with one of these cabs to take you where you want to go. In this case, you need to specify "displacement" and your destination. If the driver is free, he'll take you straight there. Be sure to ask for the fare before you get in, to avoid unpleasant surprises. Some motorcycle cabs have clearly identifiable badges, but most do not. If you want to take a moto-taxi, the best thing to do is stand at the side of the road and wave to passing motorcycles. You won't usually have long to wait for a driver to stop. You then give your destination, which determines the price of the service. Pricing also depends on the number of sections covered, with one section costing 5,000 FG.Beware, few drivers will offer you a helmet. They usually reserve the right to use them. It's up to you to decide whether to accept the risks or buy your own helmet.A few Sotragui (public transport company) buses were still running in 2021, but with most of them at a standstill, the end of this public service seemed near.To get around the interior of the country, the taxi-brousse is the most efficient way (a little more expensive than the rare buses, but above all safer and faster). Bus stations are generally located in the city center, close to the market, except in Conakry, where the main station is in Bambeto (since moved from Madina). Bush cabs are mainly Renault Nevada or Peugeot 505 station wagons (fewer and fewer in number), designed for nine adult passengers. For a little extra comfort, you can book and pay for two seats and have the front passenger seat to yourself. A real luxury! To save time, take the six-seater cars (without driver), which are a little more expensive, but also leave more quickly. Because there are no timetables here: cabs leave when they're full. It's best to get to the station in the morning around 7 a.m., to be ready for the first departures. Caution: in small towns, it's best to get there early, as the first departure is often the last. It is possible to book the day before, but this is not always very safe, as the drivers may have forgotten about the next day and sold more places than possible. On the other hand, the rates drivers give you are generally the rates applicable to everyone (you can check with the union); don't try to haggle. For all these reasons, it's advisable to plan well in advance when using this mode of transport, and to add the cost of luggage to these fares. Intercity fares are indicated in the cities concerned. In general, if you wish to travel to an intermediate village, you will pay the price corresponding to the section of road concerned, always from town to town.

Bike, scooters & co Guinea

In Conakry, you will see few, if any, non-motorized two-wheelers. And for good reason, riding a bike or a scooter here requires a certain amount of courage, but above all a good dose of unconsciousness. In the middle of the anarchic, erratic traffic of the capital, the dangers are everywhere. As there are no sidewalks or very few and no bike paths on the roads, you will not be safe anywhere. Not recommended.

On the roads and tracks in the interior of the country, cycling is much less dangerous from a traffic point of view. On the other hand, caution is still required because the roads are often strewn with pitfalls (gaping holes, speed bumps, stray animals, unmarked or poorly marked roadworks...) and even more so when approaching villages and towns.

With a driver Guinea

Car rental companies with drivers are mainly based in Conakry. A few rental companies offer quality services, but it is often by word of mouth (through social networks) that one can find a service provider. Rental rates are relatively high, the overall average or even poor condition of the roads explaining much of this reality.

If you go with a driver for several days, it is customary to pay for his meals (unless the contract specifies otherwise).

In order to have a vehicle and a driver at your disposal, you can also opt for the solution of a "displacement" of a cab over one or several days. You will then have to negotiate the daily rate with the driver so that he can accompany you wherever you wish.

By car Guinea

An international driver's license is usually required if you are driving in Guinea. For petrol and diesel supplies, there are service stations in every town and sometimes even in unlikely places in the middle of nowhere. It has to be said that traffic has grown enormously in recent years, so demand for fuel has exploded. In spite of this, the pumps are sometimes empty (as the entire country is supplied by tanker trucks, delivery times are not always guaranteed), so you have to stock up on the black market (the orange-colored bottles on the roadsides are there for this purpose) or carry a spare can in your car. A liter of petrol will cost 12,000 FG, as will diesel in August 2022. Mechanics and vulcanizers (tire repairers) are a common sight on the roadsides. In the event of a breakdown, if you don't have a driver, they'll usually be able to find a solution to your problem and/or make a makeshift repair to get you back on the road; but without any guarantee. It's best to have a few tools, some basic mechanical knowledge and a spare wheel in good condition (check before you set off).13,585 km of national and regional roads, the number of paved sections increases every year, but also deteriorates at the same time. Overloaded trucks and heavy rains in certain months are the main causes of this deterioration. As regards the network of tracks, a high percentage are in poor condition. Given the rainfall, major annual expenditure would be required to maintain the entire network. These costs are only partially incurred.What's more, you should always be cautious, as the route is full of pitfalls: you'll have to slalom between roaming oxen and sheep, avoid piles of rice or other cereals drying on the side of the road, vehicles parked in the middle of the lane without signs, cars cutting corners, 10 cm-high speed bumps that are not indicated... Speeds are limited to 100 km/h on the road and 50 km/h in the villages, but there is no radar; it's up to you to take your responsibilities.We strongly advise against driving at night, as the pitfalls that await you during the day are even more dangerous at night. Particularly in Fouta-Djalon, cows behave like sacred Indian cows and seem to use the roads to spend the night. In our opinion, the best thing to do when travelling by car is to bring a small tent, a jerry can of drinking water and a small stove, to be independent or to cover any unforeseen circumstances.Signs are quite good on the tarmac roads, which are relatively recent, but when you get onto the tracks, there are hardly any signs. As there are very few junctions, and usually only in towns, it's easy to check with the locals if you're in doubt.

Borders. Guinea shares borders with six countries: Guinea-Bissau, Senegal, Mali, Côte d'Ivoire, Liberia and Sierra Leone. From these countries, there are several possible crossing points, with roads and/or tracks that are more or less "easy". For your information, it is not possible to obtain a visa at the border. You need to think ahead and apply on the e-visa platform. Some information for cross-border travellers. From Guinea-Bissau, the main crossing point is northwards between Gabu-Buruntuma and Saréboïdo-Koundara. From Bissau, the road is a mixture of asphalt and track. At the crossing point between the two countries, the track is worse, but from Koundara, it's tar again. Further south, there's another crossing point between Quebo-Cuntabane and Dabiss-Boké, but on this route the track is really bad. Most of the journey is made by motorcycle cab. Otherwise, you'll need a good 4 x 4. Avoid from August to October. From Senegal, the most common and easiest route is between Manda-Kalifourou and Sambaïlo-Koundara. Asphalt road in good condition, coming from Dakar or Casamance. Other possible crossing points are further east, at the level of Kédougou-Dindéfélo and Mali ville. On this route, the track is very tricky and reserved for 4 x 4 vehicles with experienced drivers. From Mali, the route between Bamako-Naréna and Kourémalé-Siguiri is paved all the way. This is THE point of entry into Guinea from Mali. From Côte d'Ivoire, the main entry route is between Danané-Gbapleu and N'Zo-Lola, the southernmost. This road is asphalted. It is very busy, especially for cross-border traders. Other possible crossing points, but not recommended: the axis between Odienné and Sinko-Beyla, as well as between Odienné and Mandiana. A hell of a long way from anywhere! From Liberia: enter Guinea via Voinjama-Daro to reach Macenta, or via Ganta-Diecké to reach N'Zérékoré. All dirt roads... a living hell in the rainy season. From Sierra Leone: the "natural" route into Guinea is between Kambia and Pamélap-Forécariah. It's a paved road that links the capitals of the two countries in less than six hours. A second crossing point, unpaved with a few tricky sections on the Guinean side, is located on the axis between Kamakwie-Fintonia and Madina-Oula-Kindia. Ideal for linking up with Fouta further north!

Tourist traps Guinea

Whether you're looking for a car cab or a motorcycle cab, "clandos" (unofficial cabs) are everywhere, and it's often difficult to distinguish them from the official ones. Most of the time, they will offer you the same rates as the official ones. Taking a clandestine cab can be a hassle, especially over long distances, as you risk losing time at every uniformed checkpoint (there are still a few on the roads).