Places to visit in Guinea

The Republic of Guinea, being a predominantly Islamic country is represented by a population of 85% Muslims and thus is home to one of the most beautiful Mosques in the world, the architecturally-astounding Grande Mosquée.

The city of Conakry is also home to another stunning place of worship, The Cathédrale Sainte-Marie. The foundation stone of the lovely yellow and red architectural marvel was laid by Monseigneur Raymond René Lérouge in 1928 after which it was built in the 1930s.

As unconventional as it is interesting the Musée National or the Guinea National Museum is the national museum of Guinea and comprises the country’s largest and probably most avant-garde collection of masks, statues, fetishes, art, and musical instruments. The wonderfully unique museum is also home to a historically-relevant and deeply-informative display of the ethnography and prehistory of the Republic of Guinea.

Well-known for being the coolest and possibly the most naturally beautiful place in the capital of Guinea, is the wonderful Conakry Botanical Gardens. It may not be the cleanest, but the garden, located in Camayenne part of the city is most famous for its lovely towering kapok trees.

Located at a distance of 25 km from the city of Conakry, the BadiarTransboundary National Park is an impressive 100,000 acre expanse of all that nature has to offer. Comprising breath-taking landscapes, a stunning waterfall, and a host of wild dogs and other such carnivores, a visit to the National Park undoubtedly makes for a unique and interesting experience.

South of the densely-forested Guinea Highlands lies the country’s highest peak, Mount Nimba. Situated a good 913 kms from the main capital, the peak stands at an impressive 5748 feet and is a part of the mountain range that also finds itself in Côte d'Ivoire and Liberia.

The Mount Nimba Nature Reserve is located on the borders of Guinea, Liberia and Côte d’Ivoire and is a sight to behold. Designated as a protected area as well as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the luscious natural space is a nature lover’s dream. A visit to the reserve known to be abundant in flora and fauna may yield a rare spotting or two of an endemic species such as a viviparous toad, Micropotamogale.

The historically-significant and extremely architecturally-relevant structure that is the Palais des Nations is an important landmark of Guinea. Originally constructed as a venue for the Organisation of African Unity conference in 1984, the structure then went onto serve as the president’s office after the death of SekouTouré.

The building was destroyed in the 1996 army rebellion but its ruins and the 50 Moorish-styled villas surrounding it which are now used as residences and offices, still make for a great visit and give an accurate sneak peek into Guinea’s rich past.