Guinea Bissau is such a unique country that is really a good idea to get out of the normal day to day business responsibilities and take your rental car for a little road trip. Even if you are only in the country for a few days, you will see a lot. There are plenty of attractions and natural vistas to be enjoyed within a short distance from any city and if you are hankering for a longer road trip, then there are numerous scenic driving tours that beckon the traveller.



Guinea Bissau is one of the smallest countries in Africa and is sited in the western part of the country. She has several cities and Bissau serves as the capital as well as the largest city. This country covers an incredibly small area of 36,544 squared kilometres and has a population of 1,586,000 where the majority speak Portuguese which is the official language. You can get around Guinea Bissau by aeroplane as there are 20 small internal airports though most towns are accessible by ship making it easy to traverse by water. The best way to get around this marvellous country is by road and traffic drives on the right.

Until recently, Guinea Bissau was well off the tourist list as tourist facilities remain limited after the 1998-99 civil war but efforts have been made to encourage visitors to this undiscovered gem of West Africa. Although she is a small country, Guinea Bissau’s beaches and wildlife are exceptional while West African traditions and Portuguese colonial remains can still be seen. There are fishing villages on the coast whereas further inland, the country is dry and dusty. There is outstanding splendour on the islands off the coast that are home to indigenous people. Turtles, sharks, manatees and a very special kind of hippopotamus that lives mostly in salt-water can all be seen.

Enjoy the relaxed environment of Bissau the capital with its winding streets and Mediterranean style houses which are worth a visit. You can also visit the Museum of African Artefacts which is a treasure trove of traditional sculptures, pottery, and weaving and basket ware. You can go off the beaten track of the Bijagos Archipelago which constitutes a group of petite islands several of which are uninhabited and most of which are hardly ever visited by foreigners. Bolama and Bubaque are the easiest to access. Bolama is the original capital city of Guinea Bissau and is now a rather attractive ruin and the island is worth visiting as it has picturesque beaches though there are no accommodations except in camps. The River Zoo Farm has thousands of birds, large mammals and other native fauna which are living freely in the wildlife. The farm covers 200 hectares bordered by two fresh water lakes and rivers.

Accommodation in this culture rich country is expensive hotels which are in scarcity though some of the destroyed ones are undergoing renovation to improve competition and as well as lower prices. In most of the towns, outside the capital city there are possibilities of finding hotels and other rentable rooms. There are also mainly French-run hotels on the Bijagos islands and are the most recommended accommodations. The people of Guinea Bissau love to drink a sweet green tea known as warga and the Muslims enjoy drinking cashew or palm wine. This country is best visited throughout the year as events and attractions are best all through.