LIVING IN GUINEA BISSAU


It will not take you much time to establish contact with the Guinean people. They are very open and ready to help.

Knowledge of Portuguese is welcome. The other foreign language most spoken in Guinea-Bissau is French. Only a small percentage of people speak English.

As an underdeveloped country, where technology and the use of the computer is still rare in the government offices, patience is required. Having good connections through friends working in public services will drastically reduce your waiting time.

There are public and private hospitals in Guinea-Bissau, but are on average not equipped up to the Western standards. The biggest hospital in the country is hospital Simao Mendes in Bissau, the capital. The services of private hospitals are not much different, compared to the public ones, but offer faster services. Most services, in any hospital, are charged.

There are public and private schools. Public schools are exposed to frequent strikes by professors due to irregular salaries. Private schools function normal and regular, during the whole year. It is recommended to register your children in private schools.

People use taxies and kombis 'toka toka' to travel inside the cities and across the country. The prices are fixed.

Many drinks and fast food are sold on the street and in adapted containors for bar purposes. Fried fishes and chicken meat called ‘frango’ are very popular in Guinea-Bissau, however, Guinea Bissau's food is very tasteful. Rice and fish are present in everyday meal. Bears and home made wine called caju are the most consumed alcohol drinks.

Night clubs are of very high standard. They are very well equipped and people like dancing. Girls and boys dress very fashionably, in western and African style.

The problem of energy cutting is very frequent, and very alarming situation in the country. Water supply is connected to this problem.

More info:

Contact GBI LDA