Northwest Liberial
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Positives
- Fairly consistent SW swells
- Uncrowded waves
- Concentration of long left pointbreaks
- Not too challenging
Negatives
- Inconsistent in summer
- Extremely wet during surf season
- Bugs, malaria, yellow fever
- Relatively high costs
Northwest Liberial surf travel guide
The name Liberia comes from the word liberty and refers to the nation’s origin as a colony of freed African American slaves returning to Africa from the United States in the early 19th century. Since 1989, two civil wars have plunged the country into chaos, led by violent military dictatorships, leading to the deaths of up to 200,000 people.
Now peaceful, Northwest Liberia has the greatest concentration of quality lefthanders in just about all of Africa and combined with warm water, virgin line-ups and friendly locals, these empty barrels deserve more surfer’s attention.
Surf spots in Northwest Liberial
Research the 7 surf breaks in Northwest Liberial and discover what spots suit the current conditions.
Break lowdown
We’ve collated the wave data giving you a unique insight into the 7 breaks in Northwest Liberial.
When to go
Surf and weather statistics to help plan your surf trip to Northwest Liberial
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Travel Information
General
- Current Time
- Population
- 5,057,681
- Tourist Info
- Tourist Info
Security
Health
Money
- Currency
- LRD
Cost of living
Communication
- Dialing in
- +231
- Dialing out
- 00
- Emergencies
- 911
- Language
- English 20% (official), Many local languages
Electricity
- Plug Type
- abcf
Visas
Nearly everyone needs a visa to enter Liberia and this should be organised well in advance of your trip as it can take a couple of weeks to get. Prices are not cheap. USA $131, UK/EU is currently around £60/70€.
Getting There
Visas ($100 valid for 30 days) require a letter of invitation and yellow fever certificate. SN Brussels Airlines from Belgium or KLM to Ghana from Amsterdam. Weasua Air offers reliable flights from Abidjan and Accra. Slok Air flies from Dakar via Freetown and Banjul.
Getting Around
It takes about 3.5h to reach Robertsport from Monrovia. Expect to pay $100 for a private taxi. Bush taxis are the backbone of Liberia's transport system, with daily departures from Monrovia to the Sierra Leonean border. Many routes are impassable in the rainy season.
Accommodation
Accomodation around Roberstport can be hard to find since covid devastated what few tourist numbers there were. In Monrovia, try Mamba Point Hotel on United Nations Drive at $150/d, Krystal Ocean View Hotel at $130/d or Tilda Guest House $110/d. Budget travellers can also get a room at St. Teresa’s Convent, located a few blocks from Mamba Point Hotel ($25). Avoid dairy products.
Activities
Sapo National Park is popular for wildlife: elephants, viviparous toad, cross river gorilla, water buffalo, lions, zebra duiker, leopards, Diana monkey, iguanas, pigmy hippopotamus.
Hazards & hassles
Chloroquine-resistant malaria is present year-round. Vaccination against yellow fever is mandatory, jabs for hepatitis A and typhoid is recommended. Ebola outbreaks from 2013-16 shut down Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, but the current status is ebola-free. Local water is untreated; lots of bugs and mosquitoes because of the humidity that kills electronic gear.
Handy Hints
Take at least two boards and plan on leaving an old board behind! Only take folding US dollars. Check out the surf movie Sliding Liberia.
Due to global pandemic, Visas, Getting There, Getting Around or Accommodation information and pricing may have changed. Always check Government Travel Advice before travelling.