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TLC
Africa Travel Tips to Liberia
Air
Lines: Airlines still operate in and
out of Liberia, but there is no direct flight
from the USA to Liberia. Options include:
South
African Airways (Boeing and Airbus) (www.flysaa.com)
from New York JFK to Dakar, Senegal then
transfer in Dakar to Slok Air from Dakar
to Monrovia. This is currently the fastest
way to get to Liberia. South African Air
leaves daily from JFK to Dakar. Slok Air
a regional Airline in West Africa currently
leaves Dakar for Monrovia three days a week.
Call Slok Air Directly in Liberia to make
your reservations and pay for your ticket
upon arrival in Dakar. Slok Air Liberia
Country Manager can be reached at 0112316-590178.
Please note that you may need to pay for
excess baggage when transferring because
of varying limits of baggage.
SN
Brussels (Airbus Jet): (www.flysn.com)
leaves three times a week from Brussels,
Belgium to Monrovia, Liberia. You would
need to fly from the USA to Brussels and
connect. Call your travel agent or visit
the websites of US carriers flying to Brussels.
Belleview
Airways (Boeing Jet): Belleview is another
regional carrier in West Africa, like Slok
Air, you would have to pick up Belleview
from Accra, Lagos, Abidjan or Freetown to
get to Monrovia. Tickets on Bellevue can
be purchased locally in West Africa or through
some African travel agents in the USA.
Slok
Air (Boeing Jet): a regional Airline
in West Africa currently leaves Dakar for
Monrovia three days a week. Call Slok Air
Directly in Liberia to make your reservations
and pay for your ticket upon arrival in
Dakar. Slok Air Liberia Country Manager
can be reached at 011-231-6-590178.
Slok Air can also be picked up in Freetown,
Lagos and Accra.
Liberia
Embassy in Washington DC
The Embassy can provide you with travel
related information such as visa requirements
and other specifics. Call the Embassy at
202-723-0437 or visit http://www.embassyofliberia.org/
Cell
Phones:
There are about four cell phone companies
in Liberia (Lone Star, Comium, Cell-Com,
and Liber-Cell). You would need to take
an Unlocked GSM cell phone to Liberia, meaning
the phone uses a SIM card. Certain USA based
cell phones such as TDMA or CDMA type phones
will not work in Liberia if the phone is
not a GSM tri-band or quad band phone. Some
US carriers do use GSM phones but not all.
Check with your service providers to be
sure. Make sure that the phone is UNLOCKED
by the carrier before you leave or else
the phone will not accept the local Liberian
phone companies SIM card or "chip."
Depending on your phone, you may have to
lower the network bandwidth for the Liberian
networks. The US is on a much higher bandwidth.
Some phone will adjust automatically. Check
the phone instructions for resetting your
network bandwidth if necessary.
Banking
A couple of banks are still operating in
Liberia, among them Eco-bank and LBDI.
Both bank provide international wire transfer
services, travelers check cashing. They
will charge you a fee of course.
Cyber
Cafes/Internet Cafes
A number of Cyber Cafés operate in
Liberia and some of the hotels provide Internet
services for their guests.
Some
Major Hotels
Getting
Around Monrovia
Taxis, Private Rental Cars, etc.
Some of the car dealerships will rent cars
to business travelers and others provide
the service as well. Speak to officials
at the airport upon arrival to obtain more
information, or your travel agent may be
able to assist you if they have contacts
with local car rental merchants. Your hotel
can also assist you with obtaining car service,
so of which come with an assigned driver.
Security
The United Nations Mission in Liberia
(UNMIL) and the Liberian National Police
provide security in Liberia. UNMIL has an
emergency "911" type number. Please
take note of this number when you arrive
in Liberia. Please be mindful that Liberia
is still recovering from the ravages of
war, and crime is very much a problem. Do
not walk the streets late at night and do
not carry your valuables in view of the
public. Guard your cell phones, purses,
jewelry etc.
Nightlife
Nightlife in Monrovia is just buzzing. As
they say "war or no war, we will 'pleajay.'"
Spots include among others Pepper Bush,
Musu's Spot, Czech Pub, Metropolitan,
Zanzibar Blues, and La Point
in Mamba Point, the Porch, and several
other spots.
Newspapers
* The Observer
* The Inquirer - private daily
* The News - private daily
* The Analyst <http://www.analystliberia.com/>
- private daily
* The Heritage - private weekly
* Poll Watch - private daily
* The Independent - private daily
Television
* DC TV - private
Radio
* ELBC - state-run, operated by Liberian
Broadcasting System
* Star Radio <http://www.starradio.org.lr/>
- FM station, operated in
partnership with Swiss-based Hirondelle
Foundation
* UNMIL Radio - operated by United Nations
mission
* Kiss FM - private Monrovia station
* DC 101 - private Monrovia station
* Radio Veritas - Catholic station
* ELWA - Christian station
* Sky FM - private Monrovia station
News
agency
* Liberian News Agency
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