A8OK Team will be active from Liberia, 5 - 19 April 2024.
Team - Petr OK1BOA, Petr OK1FCJ, Palo OK1CRM, Pavel OK1GK , Ruda OK2ZA, Ludek OK2ZC, Karel OK2ZI, David OK6DJ.
They will operate on 160 - 6m, SSB, CW, RTTY, FT8, FT4, PSK and also QO-100, RS44, IO-117.
QSL via OK6DJ, ClubLog OQRS, LOTW.
Liberia is a country of free people in West Africa
Liberia is a young independent state located in West Africa. The name of the country in English means "Land of Freedom", which is completely true, because the state was founded in the middle of the 19th century by natives of America - born in freedom descendants of black slaves.
Today Liberia is on the list of the poorest countries in the world, and the standard of living is surpassed only by Zimbabwe, Congo and Burundi. The reason for the poor state of the country's economy was the internal revolutionary and military events that Liberia underwent between 1980 and the early 2000s. However, this fact does not discourage numerous tourists from different parts of the world who want to relax on the Atlantic coast and admire the beautiful natural landscape and picturesque African views. In recent years, the country has remained stable and peaceful, which is another factor in favor of planning a vacation in Liberia.
Nature and geography of Liberia
The country has a hot equatorial climate with an average annual temperature of +25 degrees Celsius. The heavy rainy season is from May to October, and in the coastal zone - from April to November, so it is better not to plan your vacation for this time.
The territory that Liberia occupies, despite its small area, is rich in minerals - iron ore, gold, diamonds and some other expensive elements. But, due to the completely destroyed infrastructure and general economic decline, it is not yet possible to develop at full capacity mining and processing of raw materials in Liberia.
The relief is represented by both flat areas (near the coast) and mountainous - inland. The highest point - 1380 meters above sea level - is on Mount Vuteve. The coastline is varied - marshy areas are replaced by dense tropical thickets. At the same time on the coast there are many cozy sandy beaches, on which tourists like to rest, despite the poorly developed infrastructure. Among the representatives of fauna in Liberia you can see elephants, hippos, chimpanzees and other animals characteristic of Africa.
Monrovia is the capital of the Land of the Free
It is better to start getting acquainted with Liberia from the largest city and capital - Monrovia, located at the beginning of the St. Paul River. The city is also a major port of international importance, the only one in the whole western part of Africa, where duty-free trade operates. The lion's share of the metropolis' budget is revenue from the transit of goods to other African countries.
The city-millionaire is located in a zone of very humid hot climate, where the annual rainfall is huge. Even in the so-called "dry" season it can suddenly start to rain. The peculiarities of the climate affect the habits of the locals, many of whom carry an umbrella every day, even if the sun is shining and the sky is clear.
There are two international airports in Monrovia, with flights from all over the world, so getting here is no problem, even with connections.
The capital is not only the political, economically, but also the cultural center of the country. In the city you can visit the National Museum of Liberia, the Masonic Temple, Antoinette Stadium for 40 thousand seats and other equally curious sights. Unfortunately, other architectural monuments of the capital and the rest of Liberian cities were destroyed during years of military events. Interestingly, the most important news of the country is described daily by hand in chalk on a large "Daily Talk" wall newspaper set up in the middle of Tubman Boulevard.
Right at the exit of the city is the large Lake Piso, where residents of the capital like to go in their free time. The lake is also very popular with visitors who want to go fishing or just walk around the neighborhood.
Attractions in Liberia
All places of interest to visitors in the country, for the most part, are of natural origin. The diversity of the landscape provides a wide range of exciting things to do in Liberia. If you are a fan of eco-tourism, we recommend you to visit the scenic spots listed below.
One of the most spectacular places is located 400 kilometers from the capital - the waterfalls of Kla-Tawe, surrounded by dense palm thickets. To admire the amazing beauty of the waterfalls, you will have to rent an off-road vehicle, as other transportation simply can not cope with the off-road.
Another amazing place to visit in Liberia is Sapo National Park, the largest reserve in the country. The place is interesting because it is a truly virgin forest, untouched by man, where all the original ecosystem peculiar to the region has been preserved. In the park you can meet more than 600 species of birds and many rare animals, such as forest elephants, leopards, buffaloes, antelopes. There are regular guided tours by car in the reserve, as well as hikes on safe trails.
Fans of a measured vacation will be pleasantly surprised by the large number of beaches with the purest sand and smooth descent into the water. Golden beaches, azure waters of the ocean and lush green frame of tropical plants - all this will make you completely forget about the city bustle and problems left at home. Bernard Beach, Caesars Beach, and Kendake Beach are considered the best beaches. Most major beaches charge a visitation fee, but it is always symbolic.
In almost all tourist areas, local artisans sell products that will serve as a great souvenir. Statuettes and masks made of mahogany and ebony are popular - such things invariably delight Europeans. A skillfully made, original figurine will be an original addition to the interior and a reminder of a distant African country.
Population and traditions of Liberia
According to the 2010 census, there are 3.7 million permanent residents, more than a quarter of whom live in Monrovia. The list of densely populated Liberian cities also includes Ganta and Buchanan. The entire population of Liberia is black, of which 95% are descendants of tribes that have lived in the territory for centuries, even before the formation of the state. Only 2.5% are so-called American-Liberians who returned from the United States after the abolition of slavery. The remaining 2.5% of the inhabitants are descendants of immigrants from the Caribbean.
The official language of Liberia is English, but only 20% of Liberians speak it, the rest speak more than 20 local dialects. About 40% of Liberians are Christian, 20% are Muslim, and 40% are adherents of African cults. However, it is not uncommon to find those who, while practicing Christianity, remain cult followers.
Culinary traditions of Liberia
The basis of the daily diet of Liberians is rice, which can be consumed both independently and in combination with other products. Meat is practically absent in the diet, but fruits common in the tropics - pineapples, mangoes, bananas, and various types of nuts - are served in abundance.
Of the few meat dishes, there is a stew with pork, eggplant and tomatoes, as well as meat stewed in spinach leaves. The meat stewed with dried fish and cassava tastes quite unusual. By the way, cassava tubers, common in all countries with a tropical climate, are prepared by Liberians in different variations - the fruit is mashed, deep-fried, baked, etc.
Many dishes in Liberia will appeal to vegetarians, who will discover new unusual products, spices and non-standard combinations. Be sure to try bananas fried in peanut oil, potato and mushroom soup in a loaf of black bread, stuffed sweet peppers filled with mushrooms and zucchini.
A special place in Liberian cuisine is occupied by seafood dishes, which are prepared here according to unusual recipes. Fish cooked in coconut cream or an appetizer made of shrimps, olives, celery and rice are just worth it.
Among local alcohol, ginger beer and palm wine are of particular interest. If you're a fan of something stronger, you'll find local gin, which should still be drunk with great caution.