Conakry

Introduction

Conakry is the capital and largest city in Guinea and has an estimated population of about 2 million people, almost a quarter of the total population of the country. The city is located in the west of the country, along the southern part of the Atlantic coast of the country and also functions as the major port to Guinea. The city has been founded over 120 years ago and has been growing rapidly, mainly during the last decades. Nowadays, it is the cultural, economical and industrial hart as well as the administrative centre. For tourists, it hasn't got that many to offer, apart from the usual hustle and bustle of lively and colourful African cities.

Sights and Activities

• Guinea National Museum - Established shortly after independence in 1960. It contains displays of the ethnography and prehistory of Guinea, and has a considerable collection of masks and fetishes and a range of art.
• Conakry Grand Mosque - Built by Guinea's first president Ahmed Sékou Touré in 1982 and is one of the largest in sub-Saharan Africa.
• Conakry Botanical Garden - Noted for its kapok-trees.
• Markets - There are many colourful markets in the capital.
• Monument du 22 Novembre 1970 - Commemorates the victory over the attempted coup led by Portuguese troops in 1970, named Operation Green Sea.

Events and Festivals

Festival International Kora et Cordes de Conakry

Festival International Kora et Cordes de Conakry is an annual musical event and the largest in Conakry. Performers and personalities play all genres on makeshift street platforms and in large venues. This long-standing tradition commemorates the contributions of Guinean artists to the performance arts and is celebrated on the first week of December.

Weather

Conakry has a typical tropical climate with hot and humid conditions throughout the year and a distinctive rainy season which lasts from the end of May until early October, with a peak in July and August when heavy downpours occur and flooding is possible. The hottest month is April although the difference is just marginal with the cooler July and August months and even during the night the temperatures just drop 4 °C or 5 °C and rarely gets below 23 °C or 24 °C.

Getting There

By Plane

Conakry International Airport (CKY) receives all departing and arriving international flights. Destinations include those to and from Bamako (Slok Air, Air Ivoire, Benin Golf Air), Dakar (Benin Golf Air, Slok Air, Afrinat International Airlines), Freetown, Paris (Air France), Brussels, Abidjan and Lagos, among a few others.

By Bus

Bush-taxis and minibuses travel to all major cities and towns across the country.

Getting Around

Situated on a peninsula, Conakry is thin and long. Although many tourist sites are situated in the old centre on Tombo Island at the very end of the peninsula, distances can be long. Taxis are the best option for tourists.

A popular way of travelling for locals is the Conakry Express, a commuter train that runs the length of the city. Generally not recommended for tourists it can still be an interesting way of experiencing daily life.

The street numbering scheme of Conakry labels all roads with a two-letter code for the urban district, followed by a three digit number: odd for north-south streets and even for east-west, e.g. KA002 for a northbound street in the Kaloum district.

Eat

• Jardin de Chine - Very safe bet with good food and quaint atmosphere.
• Mouna Internet Cafe - Has very nice croissants for "on the run" snack.
• Le Cedre, 6th Ave - This Lebanese restaurant is a bit hard to find (near Mouna Internet) but has nice food

Drink

• Timi's - Good venue, small but alive. edit
• Le Loft - Quieter and can be visited early in the night for a good vibe

Sleep

• Maison d'Accueil (close to stade de la Mission), ☎ +224 621752939. Simple but clean rooms at the Conakry Catholic mission. 13€.
• Grand Hotel de l'Independance, BP 287 2nd Ave, ☎ +224 622 35 19 07. Located at the very tip Kaloum Peninsula and offering great views, this modernist hotel was built by the French colonial administration in 1954. Today it is a somewhat run-down hotel with pool, dining room, bar and decent rooms.
• Residence Schaka, Ratoma, ☎ +22467912175. Nice and clean alternative to the big hotels.
• Hôtel Palm Camayenne. Newly renovated beachfront hotel.
• Hôtel Mariador Palace.
• Riviera Royal Hotel, ☎ +224-64223301, fax: +224-64532447, ✉ [email protected]. Low key hotel with a half Olympic size pool and good gym.

Keep Connected

Phone

See also International Telephone Calls

External Links