Liberia is Africa’s oldest republic but also one of its poorest nations. It is struggling to get back on its feet after almost 14-years of civil war, which led to the deaths of 250,000 people. In 2006, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf was elected president, becoming Africa’s first female ruler. She faces the daunting task of
rebuilding the country, which has a presence of 15,000 UN troops.
Travelers are currently advised against all but essential travel to Liberia. But if this nation recovers enough to open up to tourists, intrepid travelers will have the opportunity
to explore the
sprawling city of Monrovia, relax on the
beach or venture into the
pristine wilderness of Sapo National Park.
The most evocative description of Liberia can be found in Graham Greene’s
Journey without Maps, an account of his overland trip across the country in 1935. Although it can now hardly pretend to be an up-to-date guide-book, the descriptions and the atmosphere of the country it creates – particularly when dealing with the mysterious and jungle-rich interior – make the book a valuable and entertaining introduction for anyone planning to visit the country.
GeographyLiberia borders Sierra Leone, Guinea Republic and Côte d’Ivoire. The Atlantic coastline to the west is 560km (348 miles) long, of which over half is sandy beach. Lying parallel to the shore are three distinct belts. The low coastal belt is well watered by shallow lagoons, tidal creeks and mangrove swamps, behind which rises a gently undulating plateau, 500 to 800m (1,640 to 2,625ft) high, partly covered with dense forests. Inland and to the north is the mountain region which includes Mount Nimba at 1,752m (5,748ft) and Waulo Mountain at 1,400m (4,593ft). About half of the country’s population are rural dwellers.
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