Sapo National Park
Liberia’s largest protected area and the second-largest primary rainforest in West Africa. Home to the rare pygmy hippopotamus, forest elephants, western chimpanzees and the endangered Diana monkey.
Sinoe County
Discover Liberia
About
Explore official visitor information from the Liberia National Tourism Authority.
At a Glance
Liberia in brief
CapitalMonroviaNamed after US President James Monroe
Official languageEnglishPlus ~20 indigenous languages
Population≈ 5.6 million2025 estimate
Area111,369 km²43,000 sq miles
CurrencyLiberian dollar (LRD)US dollar also legal tender
Independence26 July 1847Africa’s first republic
Counties15Each with its own character
Time zoneGMTNo daylight saving
Calling code+231Mobile money widely used
Coastline≈ 579 kmOn the Atlantic Ocean
Neighbours3 countriesSierra Leone, Guinea, Côte d’Ivoire
Main gatewayRoberts Intl (ROB)≈ 56 km from Monrovia
Where We Are
Map of Liberia
Liberia sits on the west coast of Africa — bordered by Sierra Leone to the north-west, Guinea to the north, Côte d’Ivoire to the east, and the Atlantic Ocean to the south.
History
A republic founded on return
Liberia’s modern story begins in 1822, when the American Colonization Society established a settlement on the Atlantic coast for freed and free-born Black Americans. Over the following decades more than 15,000 African Americans and around 3,000 Afro-Caribbeans made the journey across the ocean.
On 26 July 1847 the settlement declared independence, becoming the first African republic recognised by Western nations — and the only country in Africa never brought under European colonial rule. The constitution and flag were modelled on those of the United States, which is why the Liberian flag carries a single white star beside red and white stripes. That star gives Liberia its nickname: the Lone Star.
The settlers, known as Americo-Liberians, governed alongside a large indigenous majority — a tension that shaped much of the country’s later politics. Liberia endured civil conflict between 1989 and 2003, and the Ebola epidemic of 2014–2016. It has since rebuilt: in 2005 Liberia elected Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Africa’s first elected female head of state, who went on to share the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize.
Today Liberia is peaceful, and its people are widely regarded as among the most welcoming in the region.
People & Culture
Sixteen peoples, one Lone Star
Liberia recognises 16 indigenous ethnic groups, each with its own language, craft and musical tradition. The Kpelle are the largest, followed by the Bassa, with the Gio, Mano, Kru, Grebo, Krahn, Vai, Gola, Mandingo, Lorma, Kissi, Mende, Gbandi, Belle and Dei completing the mosaic.
English is the official language, which makes Liberia unusually easy to travel in for English speakers. In daily life you will hear Liberian English — a warm, rhythmic variety with its own vocabulary — alongside indigenous languages.
Culture runs through storytelling, drumming, dance and mask-making. Liberian food is generous and boldly spiced: try jollof rice, cassava leaf, palm butter, pepper soup, fresh grilled fish and roasted plantain from a roadside stall.
Land & Weather
Rainforest, coast and highland
Liberia holds the largest remaining share of the Upper Guinean rainforest — one of the most biodiverse and threatened forest systems in the world. Behind the mangrove-lined coast the land rises through rolling hills to the northern highlands around Mount Nimba.
The climate is tropical — hot and humid year-round, with temperatures typically between 23°C and 32°C. There are two seasons rather than four.
Between December and early February the harmattan blows down from the Sahara, bringing dust and haze that can soften visibility for photography.
Highlights
All destinations →
What visitors come for
A short list of the experiences Liberia is best known for.
Robertsport
West Africa’s best-known surf town, with long right-hand point breaks, palm-fringed sand and a famously relaxed pace. Suits beginners and experienced surfers alike.
Grand Cape Mount CountyProvidence Island
Where the first settlers came ashore in 1822. Now a cultural site in central Monrovia hosting traditional music and dance performances.
Montserrado CountyKpatawee Waterfall
A wide forest waterfall with natural pools for swimming — one of the country’s favourite inland escapes and an easy trip from Gbarnga.
Bong CountyMount Nimba
A UNESCO World Heritage site straddling three borders, with rare montane species found nowhere else on earth.
Nimba CountyThe Atlantic coast
Nearly 580 km of coastline — from Monrovia’s city beaches to the quiet sands of Buchanan, Marshall and Harper in the far south-east.
NationwideBefore You Travel
Practical information
Requirements change — always confirm with the Liberian embassy or your airline close to your travel date.
🛂 Entry & visas
Most visitors — including US, UK, EU, Canadian and Australian passport holders — need a visa before boarding. Liberia operates an eVisa system; applications typically take a few business days.
Citizens of ECOWAS member states may enter without a visa.
Your passport should have at least six months’ validity and a blank page.
Flight & visa details →💉 Health
A yellow fever vaccination certificate is mandatory and is checked on arrival — carry the physical certificate.
Malaria is present year-round; speak to a travel clinic about prophylaxis. Drink bottled or treated water, and bring prescription medicines with you.
Travel insurance including medical evacuation is strongly recommended.
💵 Money
The Liberian dollar (LRD) and the US dollar both circulate freely — many prices are quoted in USD.
Card acceptance is limited outside major hotels, so carry cash. ATMs exist in Monrovia but can be unreliable. Mobile money is widely used.
Bring clean, newer US notes — worn or older bills are sometimes refused.
🚗 Getting around
Roads between major towns are improving, but many rural routes are unpaved and become difficult in the rainy season. A 4×4 with a driver is the practical choice beyond Monrovia.
Arrange airport transfers and intercity travel through a licensed operator rather than on arrival.
Find a licensed operator →📶 Staying connected
Mobile coverage is good in Monrovia and along main corridors, patchier in remote forest areas. Local SIM cards are inexpensive and easy to buy with ID.
Power cuts happen — a power bank and a torch are genuinely useful.
🤝 Respect & safety
Liberia is peaceful and visitors are warmly received. Use ordinary city sense: avoid displaying valuables, don’t walk alone late at night, and agree taxi fares in advance.
Ask permission before photographing people or ceremonies, and follow local guidance at sacred sites.
Trust & safety →Administration
Browse by county →
The 15 counties of Liberia
Each county has its own capital, landscape and cultural traditions.
Start Planning
Ready to discover Liberia?
Browse destinations across all 15 counties, find a licensed tour operator, or tell us what you would like to experience and we will help shape the trip.
Country information compiled from public reference sources and Liberian government material, reviewed in July 2026. Population figures, visa rules and airline routes change over time — please confirm current requirements with the Liberian embassy or your carrier before travelling.