Getting there & Getting around

Getting there

Weasua Air Transport offers reliable connections to Monrovia from Abidjan (Côte d'Ivoire), Accra (Ghana) and Freetown (Sierra Leone). Slok Air International flies between Monrovia, with Dakar via Freetown and Banjul, and Monrovia and Accra. Bellview Airlines flies to/from Lagos via Accra and Abidjan. From outside Africa, there's SN Brussels Airline between Monrovia and Brussels.

If travelling overland, the main crossing with Sierra Leone is at Bo (Waterside), with frequent public transport on both sides. There's also a border post to the north at Kongo and one northwest of Kolahun, (currently closed). For Guinea, there are border posts just north of Voinjama, Ganta and Yekepa. There's frequent transport on the other side to towns in Guinea. Border crossings with Côte d'Ivoire are just beyond Sanniquellie and east of Harper, towards Tabou.

Cargo boats occasionally make the two-day run between Conakry (Guinea) and Monrovia (enquire at Freeport, Monrovia) and fishing boats run sporadically between Harper and San Pédro (Côte d'Ivoire).

Getting around

Weasua Air Transport offers air charters, but bush taxis are the backbone of Liberia's transport system, with daily departures from Monrovia to the Sierra Leonean border and major towns around the country. Smaller destinations generally have a couple of departures per week. Apart from a few sealed stretches, such as the ones from Monrovia to the Sierra Leonean border, Ganta, Tubmanburg and Buchanan, road conditions are generally bad and many routes are impassable in the rainy season.

For the adventurous, fishing boats or cargo ships can shift you along the coast, but other than a couple of semi-regular services it's a matter of hanging out at the Freeport in Monrovia and hoping for the best.

Visa information

Visas must be arranged in advance and are valid for 30 days. After arrival in Monrovia, report to the Bureau of Immigration (Broad St) within 48 hours for a visitor's permit (25.00) that actually determines your length of stay. Visa extensions are also available from the Bureau of Immigration.