Travel to Liberia to backpack, study, intern, volunteer, work, or live as a digital nomad, expat or emigrant?

Backpacking or Traveling in Liberia?

• Located on the west coast of Africa, Liberia is a country rich in history, culture and breathtaking scenery. While it may not be the most obvious backpacking destination, Liberia offers unique experiences for those willing to venture off the beaten track. With its tropical rainforests, beautiful beaches and warm people, it is a destination full of adventure and discovery. The country is slowly recovering from the civil war, and tourism is still in its infancy, meaning you will often have untouched places to yourself but also need to exercise caution.
• Activities to spot: Admire the flora and fauna of Sapo National Park; surf in Robertsport, one of the best surf spots in Africa; visit historic Providence Island; spot birds at Lake Piso; explore the markets and historic buildings of Monrovia; get splashed at Kpatawee Falls; see the strange Blue Lake; hike the Nimba Mountains; stay at Libassa Ecolodges; learn about and visit palm oil plantations. Animal spotting: lots of birds including the Liberian Greenbul, forest elephants, Nile crocodiles, chimpanzees, pangolins, large forest pigs, duikers, manatees, pythons, cobras, pygmy hippos.
• Food spotting: jollof rice (rice cooked in tomatoes and spices), pepper soup (often with meat or fish), fufu (doughy dish made from cassava or yam), palm butter stew (stew with palm oil and often meat and fish), cassava leaf stew (one of the national dishes), fish stew, collard greens, kanyah (popular side dish made from cabbage leaves), plantain.

Studying in Liberia?

• It is not an easy country to study in and the country still bears many scars from war, political revolutions and also the recent Ebola outbreak. So there are not many options. Nevertheless, it is a beautiful country and you will be warmly welcomed by the other students. You can study business, medicine, law and agriculture, among other things.
• Study cities: Monrovia, Gbarnga.
• Language: English

Internship in Liberia?

• There are few internship opportunities in Liberia, and it can be quite a challenge to do an internship there in terms of infrastructure and culture. You can possibly find internships with international development organizations in, for example, education, care and development aid.
• Competencies: dealing with difficult circumstances, independence, intercultural communication, adaptability, creative thinking.

Volunteering in Liberia?

• The country has had to endure a lot in the past 40 years. So there is a great demand for volunteer work in Liberia, especially in the areas of education, care for orphans, women's emancipation, health care and community development. There are also opportunities for work with wildlife.
• Be prepared for a culture shock and considerable challenges, also in terms of your own living comfort.

Working in Liberia?

• There are limited job opportunities in Liberia. If you look hard enough, you may be able to find opportunities with NGOs and development aid workers, or with international companies.
• Work culture: Liberia’s work culture is informal but respectful. Expect a lot of personal interactions, and relationships are often just as important as business success. Punctuality can sometimes be flexible, and it’s important to be patient in business dealings.

Working as a digital nomad in Liberia?

• Working and living in Liberia certainly offers a unique experience with lots to discover and experience in addition to your daily work. It is also known for its incredibly delicious local food, but… It does cost quite a bit if you live in the capital and it comes with some serious challenges.
• So there are few who go to Liberia. It is a country for those who don’t mind being challenged and finding their own way. The internet infrastructure is developing and the best internet can be found in Monrovia and accommodations specifically aimed at expats. Also be aware that traveling around is not always easy, for example there is no taxi app like in other countries and the health care also leaves much to be desired.
• Favorite city: Monrovia.

Living in Liberia?

• Living in Liberia is an adventure in itself. Expats living in Liberia usually come for development work, education or business. Most expats live in Monrovia, where the facilities are the best. Although life in Liberia can be challenging due to infrastructure problems, the hospitality of the people and the natural beauty offer a unique living experience.
• Education: There are a few international schools in Monrovia, including the American International School. These schools offer education at international standards, but the offerings are limited outside the capital.
• Expat community: The expat community in Liberia is small and mainly consists of NGO workers, diplomats and business people. Most expats live in Monrovia and meet regularly at social events.
• Safety: There are definitely safety risks, both in certain areas of the capital and in the countryside. So make sure you are aware of the local situation and safety advice.
• Climate: Tropical, hot, humid and with quite a bit of rain!
• Be aware: the roads and transport are quite rudimentary and can be dangerous especially during the rainy season, there are two currencies in Liberia - the LRD and the USD, it can be difficult to find housing and you often have to pay a lot up front and there is quite a bit of corruption that you have to deal with.
• Health insurance: the public healthcare facilities are not of the quality that we are used to in the West. For basic care you can go to private expat institutions. If you need extensive care you will probably have to go to another country. So make sure you have your own good health insurance.

Safety, insurances and packinglist for Liberia