Nestled along the Atlantic coast of Africa, Guinea boasts plenty of crowd-pleasing spots to visit. Just 30 minutes off the coast of the capital city, you will find Iles de Los, a small group of islands that feature wide, sandy beaches similar to Hawaii in the Pacific. But beaches aren’t all that make Guinea a destination worth visiting. If you are fond of exploring unique cultures and nature reserves, a trip to Guinea will surely delight you. Not to mention that the country is one of the most underrated places in the world.

If you’re interested in placing Guinea on your African itinerary very soon, secure now your International Driving Permit for Guinea and check out some of the most popular destinations that you can visit!

The Parc National du Haut Niger is a haven for wildlife lovers. The entire park straddles the Niger River and provides a home to thousands of species, including those of mammals, amphibians, and birds. If you want to see the West African Manatee, the Hippopotamus, Lions, and other enormous animals in their natural environment, make sure to bring in your binoculars and book a tour to the National Park of Upper Niger.

The National Park of Upper Niger is about 10 hours and a half from the capital city of Conakry. You’ll have to stop by the village of Sanbaya to hire a tour guide. This ensures the safety of all travelers considering that the animals are just roaming around the park freely.

Fouta Djallon is an economically important region of Guinea. It’s multiple waterfalls and springs serve as a significant water source for the different rivers and tributaries that run along the entire West Africa. The Highlands is a great place to hike and explore. The waterfalls and plateaus in this region provide some of the most breathtaking scenes in the world, so make sure to charge your camera batteries before heading out.

To reach Fouta Djallon, you’ll have to drive to the City of Labe. The city is about 390km from Conakry, and it will take you about half a day to drive. Other visitors spend the night in the town before going on the trek. You’ll also need to hire a tour guide in Labe because it’s not easy to navigate the jungles by yourself. But don’t worry, tour guides in Labe are very seasoned and experienced, so much so that some are really very entertaining.

If you cannot afford a trip to Iles de Los, you can take a three (3) and a half-hour drive north of Conakry for some beach-loving day out. Cape Verga hosts some of Guinea’s most popular beaches, including Bel-Air. In the area, you can ride the waves, go paragliding, swim, snorkel, play some beach volleyball, eat, or just chill under the towering palm trees. The area is a great place to unwind after a day of exploring the different towns.

To drive to Cape Verga, you’ll need to pass through N3. Remember that Cape Verga is a wide area, so there are multiple entries. Your best option would be to ask locals where Bel-Air Beach is.

The City of Labe is the commercial center of the Fulani People. If you want to buy fresh fruits to fill you up for your trip around Guinea, Labe is where you’ll find the freshest citrus fruits like oranges. There are also plenty of local restaurants that you can try in Labe. If you want to unwind from your hike to Fouta Djallon, Labe has a good selection of nightclubs and cafes.

If you want to learn about how agriculture is being done in Africa, you should visit Kindia. Kindia not only features expansive agricultural gardens, but it also hosts multiple research centers that focus on developing Guinea’s high agricultural potential. Considering that Guinea is characterized by an intense climate (very arid summers and extremely wet rainy seasons), you will learn a lot about adapting and how to grow produce successfully in these kinds of weather.

Next to Conakry, Boke hosts the second busiest port in Guinea. But beyond the bustling commerce and trade, did you know that Boke was once the principal port for Guinea’s slave trade? This was where people were loaded onto boats and shipped to Europe. At present, you can get to know the stories of these people at the Fortin de Boke Museum when you visit Boke.

A trip to Guinea wouldn’t be a trip without exploring its capital city of Conakry. Here is where you’ll see the most abounding cultural hotspots and experience the developing Guinean way of life. Some of the best spots to check out in Conakry are:

• Faga Faga Fougou Espace Culturel
• Centre de’Art Acrobatique Keita Fodeba
• St. Mary’s Cathedral
• The Grand Mosquee
• National Museum of Guinea

Remember that Guinea has a relatively conservative culture. Taking photographs of the locals and government buildings is highly discouraged. However, you can still do so, considering that you ask permission from the concerned locals.

Mount Nimba is the highest peak in West Africa. It borders Guinea, Liberia, and Cote d’Ivoire. The Mount Nimba Mountain Range is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that you can drive up to. Yes, you don’t need to hike up Mount Nimba because the trails leading up to the peak are wide enough for small motor vehicles, like the motorcycle.

The park is home to a lot of West African Lions and Zebra Duikers. In order to navigate the mountain safely, you’ll need to hire a tour guide from the nearby towns. Mount Nimba is more than a day’s drive from Conakry. Specifically, it may take you about 19 hours to reach the area. If you want to visit Mount Nimba, it would be best to leave Conakry early in the morning, spend the night at a nearby village, and drive up to Mount Nimba the next day.

Now that you have an idea of where to go and what to do for an exciting road trip in Guinea, you must be familiar with the country’s road rules. Although Guinea has received a lot of criticism for its weak implementation of road laws, you still need to observe them for your own safety.

Your driver's license and international driver's permit are required to drive a motor vehicle in foreign countries. Driving without a license is not tolerated in Guinea. In addition, drivers need to be at least 18 years old to drive legally in the country. If you are under 18 but have a full driving license (because your home country permits it), you are still discouraged from driving in Guinea.

If your native driving license is printed in a language that is not understandable to the local authorities, you’ll need to present a valid International Driving Permit. If you aren’t able to show an International Driving Permit, your native driving license might not be considered valid. It would be good to remember that cases of fake licenses are very rampant in Guinea, so the authorities are very stringent in checking the permits. Whether you hold a U.S. driver's license or a valid UK driving licence, it's recommended to have an IDP with you.

Some road sections in Guinea aren’t adequately marked or delineated. This means that there is no line separating the lanes. With this, remember to keep to the right side of the road. If you’re not used to driving a motor vehicle on the right-hand side of the road, it is recommended that you practice driving first outside built-up areas.

The road network in Guinea is still being developed. This also goes with its traffic management system. When you go driving around Guinea, you will notice that there are no speed limit signs even within the city propers. Despite not having a speed limit legislation, all drivers are encouraged to drive below 60km/hr.

Driving intoxicated is one of the significant causes of road accidents worldwide. Drinking is highly discouraged because it slows down your ability to react in certain situations and weakens your mental and physical coordination. In Guinea, you are only allowed a maximum blood alcohol concentration of 80mg per 100ml of blood. Nevertheless, it is still best to have 0% alcohol when you drive a motor vehicle around Guinea.