Stormrider Guide to surfing Northwest Liberia
Liberia, AFRICA
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Fishermans, Magnus Murray
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Summary
+ Fairly consistent SW swells
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- Inconsistent in summer
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+ Uncrowded waves
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- Extremely wet during surf season
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+ Best left pointbreaks in Africa
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- Bugs, malaria, yellow fever
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+ Not too challenging
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- Relatively high costs
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Now peaceful, Liberia has the greatest concentration of quality lefthanders in just about all of Africa and combined with warm water, virgin line-ups and friendly locals, these empty barrels deserve more surfer’s attention.
When to Go
Most swells are SSW swells from the South Atlantic, usually more frequent from April to September. The S-SW-facing coastline is mainly comprised of beachbreaks, generating waves from waist-high to double overhead. The beachbreaks are fun and can throw hard when it is on, while the pointbreaks are more fickle but offer perfect walls for intermediates. For guaranteed swells, choose July-August, but March-April will have better weather. Semi-diurnal tides 1.2m maximum tidal range.
Surf Spots
Statistics |
J
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F
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M
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A
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M
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J
|
J
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A
|
S
|
O
|
N
|
D
|
dominant swell |
SW -SW |
SW -SW |
SW -SW |
SW -SW |
SW -SW |
SW -SW |
swell size (ft) |
2 |
2-3 |
3-4 |
4 |
3 |
2-3 |
consistency (%) |
60 |
70 |
80 |
80 |
70 |
60 |
dominant wind |
W -NW |
W -NW |
S -SW |
S -SW |
S -SW |
SE -SW |
average force |
F2 |
F2-F3 |
F3 |
F4 |
F3 |
F2 |
consistency (%) |
41 |
50 |
49 |
82 |
61 |
45 |
water temp (C) |
27 |
27 |
28 |
26 |
27 |
28 |
wetsuit |
boardshorts |
boardshorts |
boardshorts |
boardshorts |
boardshorts |
boardshorts |
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Travel Information
Weather
Liberia has a year-round hot and extremely humid climate, but the heat is tempered by an almost constant breeze. Intense rainy season from May to October, (can back off in August) and the dry season really starts in December up to March. Surf in boardshorts all year.
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Lodging and Food
In Robertsport, Kwepunha surf retreat has full board rooms fr $45/n, lessons ($30/h), rentals ($10/h) and guided tours ($25/d). In Monrovia, try Mamba Point Hotel on United Nations Drive at $150/d, Krystal Ocean View Hotel at $130/d or Tilda Guest House $110/d. Budget travellers can also get a room at St. Teresa’s Convent, located a few blocks from Mamba Point Hotel ($25). Avoid dairy products.
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Nature and Culture
Sapo National Park is popular for wildlife: elephants, viviparous toad, cross river gorilla, water buffalo, lions, zebra duiker, leopards, Diana monkey, iguanas, pigmy hippopotamus.
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