Harper: history and sea views on Cape Palmas

A town with its own story

Maryland in Liberia began as an independent colony founded by the Maryland State Colonization Society, and it only joined Liberia in 1857. Harper is named after Robert Goodloe Harper, an American supporter of the colonization movement. The town later became closely tied to **William V. S. Tubman**, Liberia's longest serving president, who was born here and built a grand residence on the cape.

The local **Grebo** people have lived along this coast for centuries, and Grebo fishing villages, music and food are as much a part of Harper as the settler houses.

What to see

• **Cape Palmas Lighthouse** on the tip of the cape, with wide views over the ocean and the mouth of the Cavalla River region.
• **The ruins of President Tubman's mansion**, a huge shell of a building that speaks of the town's grand past and the war that followed.
• **Old settler era houses and churches** along the quiet streets, some restored, many slowly returning to nature.
• **Harper's beaches**, golden and mostly empty, with fishermen launching canoes through the surf.
• **Lake Shepherd**, a coastal lake just outside town, good for birds and a peaceful walk.
• **William V. S. Tubman University**, whose campus is a sign of the town's revival.

Getting there

Harper is far from Monrovia. The road runs through the southeast via Zwedru or along the coast, and even in the dry season the journey can take a very long day or two, with rough and muddy sections. In the rains, some stretches can be impassable. Domestic flights and charter services have run to Harper at times, so check what is operating when you plan. Some travellers arrive overland from Cote d'Ivoire, but border rules and conditions change, so check official advice first.

This is a trip for travellers with time, patience and a reliable driver or operator.

Where to stay and eat

Harper has a few simple hotels and guesthouses. Facilities are basic, with generator power at set hours and limited water pressure. Meals centre on fish, rice, cassava, palm butter and soups, with fresh fruit from the market. Ask your guesthouse to cook for you; it is often the best food in town.

Practical tips

• Bring all the cash you expect to need. Banking is limited and cash machines may not work.
• Carry a good supply of medicines, insect repellent and a water filter or purification tablets.
• Phone and data coverage can be patchy; download maps and messages before you set off.
• Check your government's travel advice for the southeast and border areas before you go.
• Swim only where locals say it is safe; the surf on this coast is powerful.

Who Harper suits

Harper is for curious, flexible travellers who enjoy history, quiet beaches and conversations with people who rarely meet visitors. It is also a meaningful journey for diaspora families with roots in Maryland County. If you have a week or less in Liberia, Monrovia and Robertsport are easier choices.

See our other Liberia destinations and plan the route with the free trip planner.