BBC: Surfing Liberia

I went to Robertsport, a two hour drive from Monrovia, and took some photos for BBC. Here's the link to it on the Beeb website.

For many years, people have associated Liberia with its brutal civil war. But now, people are discovering its potential in an unlikely area: surf tourism.


Many of the Liberian surfers who play in the waves at Robertsport were just kids when the war raged throughout the country.

Robertsport, a sleepy town two hours' drive north-west of Monrovia, is Liberia's surfing capital. A lodge called Nana's has opened to cater those looking to ride the waves and escape from the capital for the weekend.

Nate Calhoun is just one of countless development workers drawn to Liberia by the waves. He and his partner hope to set up an NGO in Robertsport to ensure the local community benefits from the growth in the surf tourism industry.

Over the past couple of years, many of the surfers who have visited Robertsport have left a board or two behind so more Liberians can learn to surf.

Spectacular sunsets are a regular occurrence in Robertsport. The area gets up to six meters of rain annually and is on the only coastal rainforest in West Africa.

Most of the locals in Robertsport work as small-scale fishermen who brave the waves in hand-carved wooden canoes. Many hope an influx of surf-based tourism will boost demand for fresh fish.

Many young people in the town see surfing as their meal ticket. In post-war Liberia, few job options exist, especially in a rural area like Robertsport.

The beach at Robersport is pristine and undeveloped, with miles and miles of unexplored perfect waves and sandy bottom breaks.