This island group near Conakry includes beautiful Roume (Ile Roume)—rumored to be the inspiration for Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island. Roume was once a slave-trade headquarters; later, the British mounted an antislavery campaign against it.
On the 5 mi-/8-km-long island of Kassa, one can hike to secluded sandy beaches; its small strip of restaurants and bars offer a surprising variety, a testimony to the island's mix of populations, including fishermen from Ghana and Sierra Leone. The nearby island of Tamara once a penal colony (the old penitentiary is still standing) is perhaps the quietest of the three. Unless you catch one of the daily public ferries, you'll need to charter a pirogue (dugout canoe) to get there—be sure to bargain and set the price before you embark. 3 mi/5 km offshore from Conakry.
To request access to the full version of this destination guide, please provide your email address below. Your email address will only be used for verification purposes and will not be used for marketing purposes.