Social ConventionsIn Muslim areas, the visitor should respect the conventions of dress and the food laws, since failure to do so will be taken as an insult. Dress is casual and must be practical, but smarter dress will be expected in hotel dining rooms and for important social functions. The visitor should be aware that the cost of living is high. Sending flowers or chocolates to hosts is inappropriate; a letter of thanks is all that is required.
International Travel:Getting There by AirAstraeus (website:
www.flyastraeus.com) flies from London
to Monrovia.
Departure TaxNone.
Main AirportsMonrovia (ROB) (Roberts International) is 60km (36 miles) southeast of the city.
To/from the airport: There are bus services and taxis to and from the city.
Facilities: Limited, but include restaurant and first aid facilities.
No airlines currently land at
Spriggs Payne Airport (MLW) which is in the city itself.
Getting There by WaterMain ports: Monrovia,
Buchanan,
Greenville,
Harper and
Robertsport. The port in Monrovia is being expanded.
There are unscheduled
freighter services with passenger accommodation from European ports.
Getting There by RoadBest routes to Liberia are through Guinea Republic and Côte d’Ivoire, but they are impassable during the rainy season. The northeastern route to Sierra Leone (via Kolahun and Kailahun) is currently closed.
OverviewThe following goods may be imported into Liberia without incurring customs duty:
200 cigarettes or 25 cigars or 250g tobacco products;
1l of spirits and 1l of wine;
100g of perfume and 1l of eau-de-toilette; goods to the value of US$125.
Internal Travel:Getting Around By AirThere are 60 airfields for small aircraft.
Getting Around by WaterThere is a passenger service between Monrovia and Buchanan. There is also a boat service which runs weekly between Harper and Greenville. Unscheduled coastal steamers may sometimes take passengers. Small craft are used for local transportation on Liberia’s many rivers.
Canoe safaris: Between December and March, specialist companies arrange canoe trips upriver from Greenville, a small seaport 200km (125 miles) southeast of Monrovia. Contact the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism for further details (see
General Info section).
Getting Around by RailNo service at present.
Getting Around by RoadTraffic drives on the right. Difficulties in bypassing lagoons and bridging river estuaries often result in long detours and delays along the coast. Main roads are from Monrovia to Buchanan and from Monrovia to Sanniquellie with branches to Ganta and Harper. Many of the smaller roads are still untarred. Vehicle transport is limited.
Bus: No services between main towns at present.
Car hire: Self-drive or chauffeured cars may be hired in Monrovia.
Documentation: An International Driving Permit is recommended, although it is not legally required. A temporary license to drive is available from local authorities on presentation of a valid British, Northern Ireland or US driving license and is valid for up to 30 days.
Getting Around Towns and CitiesTaxis are available and tipping is unnecessary.
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