Major city · Guinea
Kankan
Skip Kankan unless you are transiting between Conakry and Bamako: one night max, no major sights, no electricity or running water in most of the city.
Kankan is Guinea's second-largest city by population and home to the country's second-largest public university, but it has no electricity grid or piped water. Most travellers pass through on the Conakry–Bamako road. The Great Mosque and the Milo River are the main landmarks; the Mamaya dance and Tabaski festival draw visitors. The heat from March to May is relentless. One night is enough.
More
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- GNF
- Best months
- Nov–Feb
- avoid Mar–May (extreme heat), Jun–Oct (rainy season, roads worsen)
- Airports
- Kankan (KNN) · Conakry (CKY)
- Nights
- 1
Not a trip line yet
Rules in force · 7Nine African countries on this site have no trip line bec…Carry an original yellow fever vaccination certificate on…
- Africa ↗When a route touches a yellow-fever country — even a transit of 12 hours or more — keep the original yellow card (ICVP) in your hand luggage; health desks and airlines can refuse boarding or entry without it.
- Africa ↗Nine African countries on this site have no trip line because governments advise against travel; several others have no-go regions. Read your government's advice for every country on the route before paying deposits.
- West Africa ↗Carry an original yellow fever vaccination certificate on any West African trip: several countries on the coast road demand it of every arrival, and the rest demand it after you have passed through a neighbour.
- West Africa ↗Cross land borders and drive between cities in daylight only; plan each crossing as a full travel day with cash for fees and passport copies for checkpoints.
- Guinea ↗Check visa and entry rules for your passport on official Guinean government sources before booking.
- Guinea ↗Avoid demonstrations and political gatherings; check your government's advice for current restrictions.
- Guinea ↗Check the yellow-fever vaccination certificate rules for Guinea before you fly.
Entry rules depend on your passport. Full visa guide
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Emergency numbers for Kankan117 ▾
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Kankan, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?checkCurrency is the Guinean franc (GNF), about 8,500–8,700 per US$ (check).Guinea-wide
- SIM or eSIMOrange and MTN sell SIMs in Conakry; passport registration.Guinea-wide
- Tap waterBottled only.Guinea-wide
- TippingDriver day: 50,000–100,000 GNF.Guinea-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets C/F/K. US/Canada (A/B): adapter · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 220 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.Guinea-wide
- SafetyKankan is generally safe but petty crime occurs; avoid walking alone after dark.
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsBasic outside hotels.Guinea-wide
- Emergency numbers117 police · 18 fire (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Sundays & holidaysFriday prayers; Ramadan hours.Guinea-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportcheckKNN Kankan Airport (Small domestic airfield; commercial schedules are not reliable — check current service before planning around it.).
- Getting aroundMoto-taxis (taxi-moto) are the main way to get around; negotiate the fare before you ride.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- Taxi, about 5 km (3 mi)Taxi, about 3 mi (5 km)Moto-taxi ride (short)negotiate firstGNF 5,000–15,000
- Budget bedBasic hotel room (fan, generator power, running water), a night, per roomGNF 100,000
- Mid-range bedBasic hotel room (fan, generator power, running water), a night, per roomGNF 150,000
- High-end bedBasic hotel room (fan, generator power, running water), a night, per roomGNF 250,000
A day, not counting the bed: Budget GNF 150,000 · Mid GNF 250,000 · High GNF 400,000
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- KNN Kankan Airport (Small domestic airfield; commercial schedules are not reliable — check current service before planning around it.) · CKY Conakry International Airport (Main international gateway; road transfer to Kankan takes about 11–12 h in good conditions (check road and security status).)
Map of Kankan
Where it is, and the guides within about 120 km.
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Best
34°C (93°F)93°F (34°C)
Feb
Best
36°C (97°F)97°F (36°C)
Mar
Avoid
38°C (100°F)100°F (38°C)
Apr
Avoid
38°C (100°F)100°F (38°C)
May
Avoid
36°C (97°F)97°F (36°C)
Jun
Avoid
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
Jul
Avoid
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Aug
Avoid
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
Sep
Avoid
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Oct
Avoid
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Nov
Best
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
Dec
Best
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
Best: Nov–Feb. Avoid: Mar–Oct. Month by month →
Warmest Mar (38°C (100°F)100°F (38°C)), coolest Jan (18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C) low), wettest Aug (19 rain days), driest Jan (0). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Kankan: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
34°C (93°F)93°F (34°C)
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
0 rd
Feb
36°C (97°F)97°F (36°C)
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
0 rd
Mar
38°C (100°F)100°F (38°C)
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
1 rd
Apr
38°C (100°F)100°F (38°C)
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
3 rd
May
36°C (97°F)97°F (36°C)
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
8 rd
Jun
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
13 rd
Jul
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
17 rd
Aug
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
19 rd
Sep
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
16 rd
Oct
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
9 rd
Nov
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
2 rd
Dec
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
0 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
Moto-taxis (taxi-moto) are the main way to get around; negotiate the fare before you ride. Walking is possible in the centre but expect dirt roads and dust.
Nearest full guides
Straight-line distance, not travel time
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Gberedou/Hamana
cautionDoor to door: About 1 h
Moto-taxi or bush taxi northeast, about 40 km (25 mi)Moto-taxi or bush taxi northeast, about 25 mi (40 km)
Mandingo cultural site with traditional religious significance and traditional architecture; check road conditions and local guide availability.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Centre-ville (downtown)
Most hotels with generator power and running water are here. Hotel Bate is a known option.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- GNF 150,000–250,000 excl. bed
- Mid
- GNF 250,000–400,000 excl. bed
- High
- GNF 400,000+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Basic hotel room (fan, generator power, running water)1 × 1 night × GNF 150,000 | GNF 150,000 |
| Food, local transport, entries1 × 1 day × GNF 250,000 | GNF 250,000 |
| Moto-taxi short ride (centre-ville)1 × GNF 10,000 · check | GNF 10,000 |
| Meal at a local restaurant1 × GNF 30,000 · check | GNF 30,000 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | GNF 44,000 |
| Trip total≈ GNF 484,000 per person per day, bed included | GNF 484,000 |
2026 estimate in Guinean francs; flights excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Moto-taxi ride (short)negotiate first | GNF 5,000–15,000 |
| Local meal (rice, sauce, meat or fish)check | GNF 20,000–40,000 |
| Bottle of water (1.5 L)check | GNF 5,000–10,000 |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- No mains electricity or running water in most of the city; hotels with generators and tanks exist but confirm before booking.
- Heat from March to May is severe; carry water and avoid midday sun.
- Road from Conakry takes 11–12 hours in good conditions; check current security and road status.
- French and Malinke are the main languages; English is rare.
Emergency numbers
- Police
- 117
- Fire
- 18
Pocket card
Fill in, then print or save as PDF
Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.
KankanKankan
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
Ka n taa yanTake me to this address, please
Emergency
- Police117
- Fire18
Embassy
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Moto-taxi centre-ville: GNF 5,000–15,000 (negotiate)
- Bush taxi Conakry → Kankan: about GNF 150,000–250,000, 11–12 h (check)
Say or show
- I ni ce — Hello (ee nee cheh)
- A ni ce — Thank you (ah nee cheh)
- Joli? — How much? (joh-lee)
- N te faamu — I don't understand (n teh fah-moo)
Malinke (Maninka) is the local language; French is also widely spoken.
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Kankan. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Nov–Feb · avoid Mar–May (extreme heat), Jun–Oct (rainy season, roads worsen) · month by month →
- 2 airports and 1 area to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 1 day-trips, door to door
- 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- An airport-to-bed path that says whether a late landing still works
- Walking clusters with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Field-verified times and fares
Sources
Ask about Kankan
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