Category: Guinea Guinea-Bissau Top List Travel
Source: https://top-list.co/top-things-to-know-before-traveling-to-guinea-bissau-v4429.html
- Where is Guinea-Bissau?
- Ethnic group of the Guinea-Bissau population
- Where to stay?
- Must-see locations
- Delicious cuisine
- Safety
- Guinea Bissau Visa
- Take part in Guinea-Bissau’s largest carnival
- What Is The Weather Like in Guinea Bissau?
- Which currency to use?
Where is Guinea-Bissau?
You should learn some basic facts about a new country before deciding to visit it, and one of the first things to know before traveling to Guinea-Bissau is its location. Where is Guinea-Bissau? Guinea-Bissau (officially the Republic of Guinea-Bissau) is a country in West Africa on the Atlantic coast. The predominantly low-lying country is slightly hilly further inland, despite its location on the Atlantic coast. It is bordered on the north by Senegal, on the east and south by Guinea, and on the west by the Atlantic Ocean. Guinea-Bissau has a population of roughly 1.9 million people and covers 36,125 square kilometers.
What is the capital of Guinea-Bissau? The capital of Guinea-Bissau is Bissau. It originated in 1687 as a Portuguese fortified post and slave-trading centre. It took the place of Bolama as the capital in 1941, and the Gêba Channel has shaped its development on a northwest-southeast axis since then. With nearly 400000 residents, Guinea-capital Bissau’s is home to the majority of the country’s population.
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Ethnic group of the Guinea-Bissau population
More than 20 ethnic groups live in Guinea-Bissau, including the Fula, Balanta, Mandinka, Papel, Manjaca, Beafada, Mancanha, Bijaqos, Felupe, and Mansoaca. The Fula are the majority ethnic group in Guinea-Bissau. Fulani make up nearly 29% of the population. They live in Bafata and Gabu, in the eastern part of the country. Scientists estimate that there are roughly 40 million members of this ethnic group living in various African states.
The Balanta are Guinea-second Bissau’s most populous ethnic group. Balantanians are mostly found in the country’s southern regions, and, like the Fulani, many of their members are foreign nationals. According to historians, these people arrived from Egypt, Sudan, and Ethiopia between the 11th and 14th centuries. This theory is supported by their culture and traditions. Mandinka is the third ethnic group. They are mostly found in the country’s northern regions, with a global population of more than 30 million. Mandinkas are thought to be distant descendants of the Mali Empire, according to historians.
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Where to stay?
Where to stay is one of the most important things to know before traveling to Guinea-Bissau. Actually, there is accommodation available for everyone, depending on their preferences. Many hostels are available for between 8 and 30 euros per night. You should expect to pay more than 30-40 EURO if you prefer a more comfortable hotel in a good location (of course, depending on quality). Hotel Ceiba Bissau, Hotel Ponta Anchaca, Afrikan Ecolodge Angurman, Ledger Plaza Bissau Hotel, Hotel Imperio, Bubaque Island Hotel, Bissau Royal Hotel, and others are some of the hotels that have received positive feedback from visitors. Furthermore, if you intend to stay for an extended period of time, you are recommended to looking for houses and apartments to rent.
You don’t get a strong sense of Bissau’s metropolitan character during your stay. It’s pointless to search for tall apartment or office buildings. Instead, the allure of old colonial architecture can be felt. The National Museum, which is located at the back of the university, is particularly noteworthy. The Cathedral and typical colonial buildings are also close by.
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Must-see locations
The country is small, but it provides lasting memories. Traditional villages, white sand beaches, national parks, historical buildings, African-style markets, souvenirs, impressive biodiversity, and much more can be found here. Orango Island, Bubaque Island, Dulombi-Boe National Park, Joao Vieira Island, Bissau, Bafata, Lagoas Cufada Natural Park, Bolama Island, Gabu, Farim, Florestas de Castanhez National Park, and others are among the best places to visit in Guinea-Bissau. For many people, the islands are the most exciting of these locations. You can join tours to learn all about these fascinating islands. Of course, nature lovers flock to islands, but visitors also come to relax on beaches, learn about tribes who maintain their traditional ways of life, and more. If island hiking isn’t your thing, take a boat trip or visit cities like Bissau, Bafata, or Gabu.
Conakry, the capital of Guinea and located on the west coast of Africa, is another excellent place to visit. Conakry is home to some of Africa’s most beautiful sea beaches on the Loos Islands, Instagrammable natural palm forests, and some of Africa’s most famous structures, including the Great Mosque.
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Delicious cuisine
Trying new flavors is always exciting. Another (and, for many, the best) way to learn about a country’s culture and tradition is to sample local cuisine. Soups and stews are common in Guinea-Bissauan cuisine, with yams, sweet potato, cassava, onion, tomato, and plantain as the most commonly used ingredients. Rice is also extremely important to the residents of the area. It occupies a unique position in the diet of the locals.
Locals also enjoy eating fish, shellfish, fruits, and vegetables, which they frequently combine with cereal grains, milk, curd, and whey. Spices, peppers, and chilis, as well as palm oil, are essential components of Guinea-Bissauan cuisine. In Guinea-Bissau, what should you eat? Egusi, Fufu, Millet couscous, Dried fish, Yassa, and other dishes are among the most delicious. Guinea-national Bissau’s dish is the poulet Yassa. They serve national drinks such as cana de cajeu (fruit rum) and palm wine in addition to the meals. In rural areas, palm wine is a popular beverage. It has an unpleasant odor, but don’t worry; the taste is much better. Furthermore, the amount of alcohol produced is determined by the length of fermentation.
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Safety
When you visit a new country, you are naturally concerned because you are unfamiliar with the locals, their rules, lifestyle, and so on; as a result, culture shock is unavoidable. Apart from the cultural differences, the second factor that makes you concerned is the country’s safety. You can relax in this situation. Although serious crime rates in Guinea-Bissau are low, you should still be cautious in certain situations. Some precautions you can take include staying away from dangerous areas, not carrying all of your valuables with you, staying in reputable hotels, getting information about tours before participating, and more.
Pickpockets may be encountered while visiting The Bandim Markets, which are a treasure trove of the black market by-products of drug and gun smuggling. There are a lot of interesting and strange things to see here. Just keep your belongings close at hand. All other markets and crowded areas are the same. Guinea-Bissau, like almost any other country, has a high risk of being conned. Always double-check everything and plan ahead of time. Taxi drivers may try to dupe you into paying more by providing false information about the fare.
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Guinea Bissau Visa
Visa is one of the most important things to know before traveling to Guinea-Bissau. Citizens of 63 countries can apply for a Visa on Arrival to visit Guinea Bissau. Applicants who use this visa can stay in the country for a maximum of 90 days within a one-year period. An authorization letter from Guinea Bissau’s Migration Office and a valid passport with a minimum validity of six months from the date of arrival in the country are required to obtain a visa on arrival.
To receive an authorization letter, send several details to the contact in Guinea Bissau, including the purpose of the visit, the duration of the trip, and a scan of a valid passport. The authorization letter must be printed in order to apply for a visa at the port of entry. Applicants must wait in a long line at the border checkpoint to apply for a visa on arrival and submit the application form along with the processing fee.
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Take part in Guinea-Bissau’s largest carnival
Guinea-Bissau dresses up in its best festive clothes every year in February to celebrate its annual carnival. Locals celebrate the occasion by reviving their Afro-Portuguese traditions with colorful celebrations. The four-day Guinea-Bissau Carnival is held primarily in Bissau and the Bijagos archipelago, and it brings together various ethnic groups and residents of small villages and other towns throughout the country to showcase their culture and traditions. The first day of the Guinea-Bissau Carnival is dedicated to the event’s start. A first parade of masks from each region will be held to the beat of drums, showcasing traditional and contemporary masks created by various ethnic groups. The majority of these masks were made out of colored papier-mâché for the occasion. The warriors parade in crocodile-skin suits, waving arrows in the air. This opening parade continues in a deafening roar through the streets of Bissau for hours. This event is the most popular in the country due to the lively atmosphere, general excitement, and local music.
The next few days will feature parade floats, dance performances, and traditional music concerts. Locals prepared some costumes, masks, and floats months in advance, a work so precise and meticulous that many of the accomplishments could be considered true works of art. The carnival also serves as a venue for residents from various neighborhoods to compete against one another. Each district of the capital prepares indeed its own giant mask, which will then be entered into the contest to determine the most beautiful and grandiose.
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What Is The Weather Like in Guinea Bissau?
Guinea Bissau has a tropical climate with two seasons that are hot all year. The rainy season begins in June and lasts until October, with the dry season beginning in November and ending in May. From February to May, the rainy season is when the weather is the hottest and most uncomfortable. Monsoon rains are most likely to cause flooding between June and September, so these are not the best months to visit Guinea Bissau. Organised tours don’t run during this time, as it’s a soggy scene and the country’s already poor infrastructure is worsened by the rain. The average annual rainfall during the rainy season is 200 cm (79 inches).
The months of December and January are the best for visiting Guinea Bissau because they are slightly cooler. Nonetheless, during the dry season, be aware of the Harmattan, an arid, dusty wind blowing in from the Sahara. From November to May, expect nine hours of sunshine per day and temperatures between 32 and 90 degrees Celsius (88 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit). Between August and February, you can see nesting sea turtles on the Bijagos Archipelago.
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Which currency to use?
Guinea Bissau uses the West African CFA franc as its currency. Senegal, Burkina Faso, Benin, Togo, Mali, Niger, and Côte d’Ivoire are among the countries that use this currency. ‘Communauté Financière d’Afrique’ is the acronym for ‘Communauté Financière d’Afrique’ (Financial Community of Africa). When the Guinea-Bissau peso was abandoned in 1997, it was replaced with this currency. You are welcome to bring a supply of euros (preferred over US dollars). Some ATMs in the capital accept international cards, and banks and hotels can help with currency exchange.
A handful of banks in Bissau, as well as several hotels, including the Malaika and Ledger Plaza, have ATMs that accept international MasterCard and Visa cards. In Bissau’s airport, there is also an ATM right outside the arrivals hall. Some ATMs are functional, while others are not. It’s normal to haggle for goods in markets, craft shops, and from street vendors. It’s done in a friendly, non-aggressive manner. You can also haggle for lower rates on longer-term stays, as well as prices quoted by guides and drivers.
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