Africa

Guinea-Bissau

Location

Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea and Senegal.

Crime rates in Guinea-Bissau are low, but the country is very poor and in a severe economic crisis. You should take sensible precautions. Weapons (various), ballistics danger areas, vehicle security, personal security, kidnappings, bandits / corruption, gunfire, legal / illegal checkpoints, armed robberies, general travel, navigation, off road driving, building / office security, hot weather injuries, personal hygiene, sanitation / sterilisation, clothing & equipment, emergency first aid, helicopter safety, terrorism, cultures / customs, communications, emergency shelters. Do not take photographs of any public buildings or anything connected with the military.

Use bottled water only.

Mostly low coastal plain rising to savannah in east.

Tropical; generally hot and humid; monsoonal-type rainy season (June to November) with south-westerly winds; dry season (December to May) with north-easterly harmattan winds.

Hot, dry, dusty harmattan haze may reduce visibility during dry season; brush fires. Rainy season June to September.

Bacterial and protozoal diarrhoea, bilharzia, cholera, hepatitis A, malaria, meningococcal meningitis, polio, rabies, schistosomiasis, typhoid fever, yellow fever.
Hospital: Simao Mendes National hospital, Bissau. Tel: 212 861

De-forestation; soil erosion; overgrazing; overfishing.

Generally light volumes of traffic, however road conditions and driving standards are poor.

For more in-depth general information please download our Preparation and Training document.