Liberia Goes from War Zone To Surfing Mecca

1 minute read

Only a few in the surfing community know about the miles of untouched golden sands, the clear waters and, most importantly, the rhythmic pounding of perfectly-formed waves that can be found in Liberia.

But Robertsport, a fishing village in north-west Africa, is building a name for itself as one of the best surf spots in Africa, the AFP reported.

“It’s picturesque! This is a little bit different from what of most people imagine when they hear Liberia,” said Sean Brody, part of the Surf Resource Project.

Indeed, while the African country has been recently known for gruesome civil wars that spanned two decades and left more than 200,000 people dead, surf tourism is slowly picking up and the country is gaining a global reputation for its spectacular beaches and waves.

In the video above, both local and foreign aficionados talk about what’s so special about Liberia’s coast.

More Must-Reads From TIME

Contact us at letters@time.com