Kankan

Understand

thumb|250px|Washing clothes in the Niger River

Often called the second city of Guinea, after Conakry, however some believe in fact the second city is Labe while others give that title to N'zerekore! Either way, Kankan can't be missed since it is strategically located on relatively decent road from Conakry to Bamako, Mali. The town also boasts the 2nd largest public university in the country(Universite de KanKan) which is even equipped with an American Reading Room! Kankan still has no electricity or running water so don't be surprised if you find the city in total darkness. Don't expect much at all in the form of luxury (i.e. supermarkets, shopping malls, etc). Although you may run into some English speakers, it's best to have at least a basic knowledge of French, although many people will only speak the local language, Malinke.

Get in

Under normal road conditions, it is around an 11-12 hour journey to Conakry and roughly 5 hours to Bamako. The train to Conakry has not run since 1993.

Get around

thumb|Moto taxis in Kankan Another worthwhile option is to hire a moto-taxi (taxi-motor) driver to give you a tour of centre-ville (downtown) and a few outlying areas. Your driver (sans helmet) can take you through the many dirt roads to get a glimpse of the traditional style huts, the market and so on.

Do

Kankan is famous for the Mamaya dance which many people come to celebrate as part of the post Ramadan Tabaski celebration. The Milo River is also a nice place to visit. Additionally, it would be interesting to pay a visit to the Universite de Kankan. Generally, however, isn't a whole lot to see or do in Kankan. Many people stop through Kankan in transit between Bamakao and Conakry and beyond. The heat from March-May is relentless making visiting during these months not recommended.

Drink

If you like to dance, you may be able to find a club with popular Guinean (also Ivorian, Malian and Senegalese) music since there are a number of bars around.

Sleep

Most decent hotels have electricity (at night) and running water.

Go next

The Mandingo cultural site Gberedou/Hamana is located about 40 km to the northeast. The area has exceptional spiritual significance as it harbors a traditional Mandingo religious milieu. In addition, supports a unique architectural style of residential structures.