Africa's earliest republic, has mountains to climb, cities to explore, broad sandy beaches to have fun on and also national parks to hunt for some of the continent's most enigmatic wildlife. You can also surf, swim and trek or just kick again inside a hammock on the advantage of the rainforest. Yet no person you know has been here.

Where on planet is Liberia?
When the American Colonization Society selected away a homeland for freed American slaves in 1822, they decided to go with a portion of West Africa which had not been seen by the outside world since European powers established (and abandoned) trading outposts within the 17th century. The story of life here before the base of Liberia is mostly unwritten, however, the new arrivals set about creating a household that had been slightly American, a little bit West African, and not really like anywhere else inside the world.

Hemmed in today by Sierra Leone, Guinea and C�te d'Ivoire, Liberia is blessed with a long Atlantic coast and a densely forested interior that remains one of the least explored parts of West Africa. The government has just signed an offer with Norway to stop all logging of Liberia's pristine rainforests in exchange for expansion aid, but infrastructure for exploring is minimal and getting in among the greenery takes some organising. Start the journey at Visit Liberia, a handy one-stop-shop for info on all things Liberian.

Five curious Liberia facts
- Liberia turned out to be Africa's very first independent republic in 1847
- 12 % of the earth's ships are registered in Liberia
- The president, George Weah, used to have fun football for Man City and Chelsea

- Smog levels are lower than in America and also the UK
- Along with Ethiopia, Liberia was one of only two African nation to in no way be colonised by European powers

Do you find it safe?
Though the scars of 2 municipal wars (from 1989 to 1997, and from 1999 to 2003) are still apparent, Liberia is safer to visit than it's been in years. Stability has returned to Monrovia and also the coast and infrastructure is slowly being restored, even thought roadways continue to be largely unsurfaced, making overland travel hard during the rainy time of year from May to November. Ebola emerged in Liberia, sierra Leone and Guinea in 2014, though the region was provided a thoroughly clean bill of wellness by the World Health Organisation in 2015.