A small, low-lying country on the West African coast, Guinea Bissau has plenty to offer the rare tourists that travel there - beautiful beaches, bird-rich mangrove swamps and idyllic coastal islands.

The capital, Bissau, has elegantly faded colonial architecture and a lively atmosphere that culminates each year in a riotous Carnival celebration.

The Bijagos Islands are exquisite and remote, as well as the few places on earth that you can find the rare pygmy hippo, while the Boe region is home to another endangered animal - the chimpanzee.