Monrovia Travel Guide
Founded in 1817 as a colony for emancipated African-American slaves, Monrovia is both the financial heart of Liberia and an important port on the West African coast.
The centre of Monrovia is a typical tropical city. Its wide streets are lined with palm trees and informal merchants, and paint-chipped buildings make up most of the sights. There are a few attractions worth seeing, including the Waterside Market, the oldest Masonic Lodge in Africa, the National Museum of Liberia, and the Centennial Pavilion.
One of Monrovia's top attractions, Monkey Island, had a sinister beginning, founded as a lab to conduct medical experiments on chimpanzees. However, the experiments have long since ceased and the chimps are now cared for. The facility is set on six small islands and visitors who make an appointment can ride with the caretakers and interact with the chimpanzees.
There are also plenty of beaches around Monrovia, most notably ELWA Beach near the airport, Thinkers Beach, and Ce Ce Beach. Facilities are spotty however, and swimmers should get local advice on where the safest areas are as the ocean can be dangerous.
Tourism in Monrovia is on the rise, thanks in part to cruise ship traffic, and infrastructure is gradually improving. A good, if limited, selection of restaurants and bars pepper the downtown area, and the locals are generally friendly and welcoming to all visitors.
Things to do in Monrovia
Getting Around
There is no official public transport system in Monrovia. Taxi cabs operate across the city, but these are not always the safest means of getting around; they are shared taxis and drivers will often stop to pick up other passengers along the way.
Robberies and pickpocketing have been reported in shared taxis, and visitors should rather hire a taxi exclusively for their trip. Motorbike taxis are a popular mode of transport but, although they are relatively cheap and convenient, they are not reliably safe.
Local buses travel along set routes in the city, but they are also best avoided due to safety concerns as they are often overcrowded and hotspots for pickpocketing. Car hire is available, and a recommended option is to hire a car with a driver. A four-wheel drive vehicle is recommended for travel outside of Monrovia due to the poor road conditions.
Monrovia Climate and Weather
Monrovia has a tropical climate, which means that it is hot and humid year-round and gets plenty of rain. Temperatures generally range between 68°F (20°C) and 89°F (32°C) year-round. The humidity makes it seem hotter than it is, but there is an almost constant breeze along the coast, which is refreshing.
The year can be divided into a wet and a dry season: between late April and mid-November it is hot, wet, and cloudy, with frequent heavy rain showers; and between December and March it is dry with hot days and cool nights. Monrovia is one of Africa's wettest capital cities, with annual rainfall averaging about 202 inches (5,130mm), but rain seldom falls outside of the wet season.
The best time to visit Liberia is in the dry season, between December and April. This time of the year is characterised by the hot, sandy Harmattan wind, which blows in from the Sahara Desert, but this is seldom very disruptive for travellers.
Liberia travel info
Electricity
Electrical current is 120 volts, 60Hz. Northern American non-grounded and grounded plugs are standard. Plugs in use are types A, B and F.
Language
Thirty three languages are spoken by the local population of Liberia, but English is the official language.
Money
The Liberian Dollar (LRD) is the official currency of Liberia, but the United States Dollar is still widely accepted. Although the US Dollar is the best foreign currency to carry. Other major currencies, such as the Euro, can also be exchanged. Money can be exchanged at the international airport, at foreign exchange bureaus in Monrovia and at some banks. Credit cards are seldom, if ever, accepted and there are very few ATMs.
Tipping
Tips are appreciated in Liberia, although not always expected. The culture was brought in by returning Liberian-American immigrants. Some restaurants add a service charge to the bill, but if they do not, a 10 percent tip is customary. Hotel service staff appreciate small amounts for good service.
Health
A yellow fever vaccination is required for all travellers to Liberia greater than one year of age. Vaccinations are also recommended for hepatitis A, hepatitis B and typhoid. Malaria occurs all over the country and it's recommended that prophylaxis of some kind should be taken in all areas. Those travellers who plan to spend a lot of time outdoors and may be at risk of animal bites, or in close contact with bats, should consider a rabies vaccination. Travellers are usually advised to be up to date on vaccinations for polio, MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) and tetanus-diphtheria.
Precautions should be taken with food and water: tap water should never be drunk unless it has been boiled, filtered or chemically disinfected; fruit and vegetables should be peeled and cooked; no raw or uncooked meat or fish should be eaten; all cooked meals should be eaten while still hot; and food from street vendors is best avoided.
Medical facilities are extremely limited and even essential medicines and services are often unavailable. Travellers should ensure that they have comprehensive travel and health insurance and should bring all required medications with them, in the original packaging and accompanied by a signed and dated letter from a doctor detailing what it is and why it is needed.
Safety
Liberia has become increasingly stable since the internal conflict ended in 2003, and the country is working closely with the UN and the international community to encourage further development and stability. Political protests and gatherings do take place in Monrovia on occasion and should be avoided.
There is a high level of crime in Monrovia and, although most crimes against foreigners are opportunistic and petty, there have been incidents of armed robbery as well. The police force has very limited resources and cannot be relied upon. Crime levels are much higher after dark and travellers shouldn't walk anywhere in the city at night. Theft is common on public transport, in markets and other crowded areas such as in nightclubs and on beaches.
The UK Foreign Office advises against all but essential travel to the Grand Gedeh and River Gee counties of Liberia, where armed groups are active. The US Department of State warns travellers that they must plan trips to Liberia carefully: arrangements for transport from the international airport to Monrovia as well as arrangements for accommodation at a reputable hotel should be made in advance as there is no reliable public transport and decent rooms can be scarce.
Local customs
Travellers to Liberia should not be unduly worried about transgressing social etiquette. They should avoid boisterous behaviour and ostentatious displays of wealth, and remember to make sure they smile at and greet people in the street, especially when they have made eye contact with them.
The country's reputation and the relative absence of foreigners make it hard to relax in Liberia. Although people may be curious about visitors, travellers will mostly find that the locals are friendly and hospitable. Lastly, visitors shouldn't take photographs of military or government buildings and installations without asking permission.
The 'Liberian fingersnap handshake' is an integral part of the country's culture, the audible snap said to represent how slave owners would break slave's fingers. It is consequently a celebration of freedom in Liberia, seen throughout all levels of society.
Doing business
Liberia is one of the poorest countries in the world. Internal conflict and government mismanagement have destroyed much of Liberia's economy, which has in the past relied on foreign direct investment, aid and the exportation of natural resources.
Lightweight suits or a shirt and tie are the ideal for meetings and etiquette tends to be quite formal. People should be addressed by title and surname unless instructed otherwise. The exchange of business cards and handshakes is usual upon greeting. Meetings seldom start punctually. Business hours are generally 8am to 12pm and 2pm to 5pm Monday to Friday.
Duty free
Visitors to Liberia may import the following goods duty free: 200 cigarettes, 25 cigars, 250g of tobacco, one litre of spirits and one litre of wine, 100g perfume, and gifts valued at $125.
Communications
Telecommunications infrastructure in Liberia was heavily damaged during the civil war and cellular phone networks are a far more popular and reliable means of communication than landlines. The international dialling code for Liberia is +231. Internet services are essentially limited to Monrovia, with poor service anywhere outside the capital. Visitors can purchase local SIM cards.
Passport & Visa
All foreign passengers to Liberia require a visa. Holders of a pre-arranged visa can obtain a visa on arrival, provided that they are entering from a country without diplomatic representation of Liberia, their visa has been pre-arranged and paid for by a local sponsor in Liberia, and the transporting carrier in Monrovia is informed of the following details: the passenger's name, nationality, document number, flight number, date of arrival, and address of stay in Liberia. Note that passengers should not be boarded unless a telex confirmation from the airline's station manager in Monrovia is stapled to the ticket. A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required to enter Liberia. It is highly recommended that travellers' passports have at least six months' validity remaining after the intended date of departure from their travel destination. Immigration officials often apply different rules to those stated by travel agents and official sources.
Entry requirements
US citizens must have a passport that is valid upon their arrival in Liberia. A visa is required.
British citizens must have a passport that is valid for the duration of their stay. A visa is required.
Canadian citizens must have a passport that is valid for at least 6 months beyond the date they expect to leave Liberia. A visa is required.
Australian citizens must have a passport that is valid upon their arrival in Liberia. A visa is required.
South African citizens must have a passport that is valid upon their arrival in Liberia. A visa is required.
Irish citizens must have a passport that is valid upon their arrival in Liberia. A visa is required.
New Zealand citizens must have a passport that is valid upon their arrival in Liberia. A visa is required.