Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
NORTH OF MONROVIA
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Gbarnga
Liberia's most prestigious seat of learning, the country's second city and capital of the
county of Bong is home to
Cuttington University
, on the site of the old Africana Museum,
which once had a 3000-piece collection. Gbarnga's historical significance runs deeper than
that; it is the site of
Charles Taylor's farm
(on the outskirts of town), from where he master-
minded rebel operations in Sierra Leone and Liberia. An hour outside of Gbarnga is
Kpatawee waterfall
, a pretty picnic and swimming spot.
You can sleep at the
Hill Top Hotel
( 0886-423 702; r US$50)
, 5km from town on the Ganta
Hwy, or
Paulma's Guesthouse
( 0886-771 297; r US$25)
nearby. By bush taxi, Gbarnga can be
reached in about five hours from Monrovia (L$400).
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Mount Nimba
When the heat gets too much in Monrovia, there's only one thing for it - head for higher
climes. Beautiful Mt Nimba is Liberia's tallest peak, 1362m above sea level, and you can
feasibly climb it if you have a few days on your hands.
The jumping-off point is the curious town of
Yekepa
, a 10-hour drive from Monrovia and
a
Truman Show
-esque mining town owned by Arcelor Mittal. The road to Mt Nimba is
paved for almost three- quarters of the way to the top; you can drive to the peak using a
4WD, and camp along the way if you have your own equipment, hiking along the peaks.
Bring GPS and warm clothing as it can get misty and very cool at night. Accommodation
in Yekepa is available at the
Noble House Motel
(
077-285 158; r from US$12)
.
