Sierra Leone

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We travel not to escape life, but for life not to escape us

For the traveller, Sierra Leone is still West Africa's secret beach destination. Sweet sands rise from the soft waters of the Atlantic, with the backdrop dressed in sun-stained hues, rainforest green and the red, red roads of the north.

In Freetown, colourful stilted houses remember the days when freed slaves from the Caribbean were resettled upon these shores. In the north, the Loma Mountains form the highest point west of Cameroon. Further east national parks and rainforest shelter endangered species like the black-and-white colobus monkey and the elusive pygmy hippo.

The scars of Sierra Leone's civil wars had just healed when the 2014–15 Ebola outbreak knocked the country off its feet once again. Tourism can play an important role in helping its recovery, so join the island-hoppers and adventurers, camp in little-visited rainforests and crack open fresh lobster in the shade of skinny palms and rope-strung hammocks.

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Freetown
Freetown, Sierra Leone

Strung between the mountains and the sea, Sierra Leone's capital is a cheeky, quicksilver city bubbling with energy, colour and charm. One minute it's calm, offering up quiet beaches, friendly Krio chat and warm plates of soup and rice. The next it's frenzied and playing dirty, throwing you into the back of a shared taxi and hurtling you up and down its pretty little hills.

Makeni
Makeni, Sierra Leone

Makeni is a good base for exploring the northern highlands, and all of the city's hotels will be able to advise you on getting out into the countryside, including rock-climbing and hiking. The town mixes politics and sports well, being the birthplace of both Ernest Bai Koroma and the Wusum Stars, Sierra Leone's oldest football club. Makeni is also home to the country's first marathon.

Bo
Bo, Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone's second city is a pleasant place to spend a day or two, dodging the okadas that zip about at breakneck speed, or chatting to one of the many students that call this university town their home. There are no must-see attractions here, but it serves as a useful stop-off for travellers heading east to Tiwai Island, or south to Bonthe.

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Location

Sierra Leone is located on the west coast of Africa, between the 7th and 10th parallels north of the equator. Sierra Leone is bordered by Guinea to the north and northeast, Liberia to the south and southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west. Sierra Leone has four distinct geographical regions: coastal Guinean mangroves, the wooded hill country, an upland plateau, and the eastern mountains. 

Transportation

A road network, originally developed as a feeder system to the railway, has become the principal transport carrier. The network is dominated by a series of highways radiating from Freetown to inland urban centres. The government launched a long-term program in the late 1980s to modernize the road system to meet the needs of rapidly expanding traffic, but by the end of the 20th century the roads were in serious disrepair. Reconstruction of the road network was a priority in the years after the end of the civil war.

Languages Spoken

Krio, a language derived from English and a variety of African languages, is the mother tongue of the Creoles and the country’s lingua franca. Among the Niger-Congo languages, the Mande group is the largest and includes Mende, Kuranko, Kono, Yalunka, Susu, and Vai. The Mel group consists of Temne, Krim, Kisi, Bullom, Sherbro, and Limba. English, the official language, is used in administration, education, and commerce. Arabic is used among Lebanese traders and adherents of Islam.

Currency

The official currency of Sierra Leone is the Sierra Leonean leone. Since 1974, various coins have been introduced inspired mostly by the changing face of leadership and government. These include cupro-nickel coins, such as the seven-sided one leone coin which was introduced in 1976 to commemorate FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization). Octagonal nickel-bronze one leone coins were also introduced in 1980. However, the latter coin was less popular than lower denominations coins and circulated less frequently. 

Visas

All persons entering Sierra Leone must have a valid passport or travel document. Citizens of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) do not require a visa to enter the country, but citizens of all other countries do. Everyone needs a work permit. Visas can be easily extended for 30 days at the Immigration Department in Freetown. 

Electricity

Electricity in Sierra Leone is 230 Volts, alternating at 50 cycles per second. If you travel to Sierra Leone with a device that does not accept 230 Volts at 50 Hertz, you will need a voltage converter.

Vaccinations

Recommended vaccines

The following vaccinations are recommended for your protection and to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. Before you travel, the following vaccines should be reviewed and updated if necessary:

Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis (Tdap)

Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR)

Polio

Influenza

Emergency Calls

Police, Ambulance and Fire
Freetown
Sierra Leone
West Africa
Phone: +232 22 000112

From any Phone

Ambulance             999
Fire                         019
Police                     999

When to visit
Best time to visit the destination

The best time to go to Sierra Leone is in the dry season, which runs from October to May. January and February tend to be the hottest months. Birders will find December or January most rewarding. Travel is possible in June and late September although there will be heavy down pours and rural roads can become very muddy.

What to do?
Don’t miss to challenge your world

Tiwai Island Wildlife Sanctuary

'Big Island' in the Mende language, 12-sq-km Tiwai Island certainly packs a punch when it comes to its primate population. Set on the Moa River, the entire island is run as a conservation research project. There are over 700 different plant species, 11 species of primates – including Diana monkeys and chimpanzees – 135 bird species plus otters, sea turtles and the endangered, elusive pygmy hippopotamus. First you'll need to get to Poturu (there is regular transport from Bo or Kenema); from there you'll need an okada to Kambama.

Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary

In the dense rainforest of Western Area National Park, Sri Lankan founder Bala created Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary, a leafy, waterfall-framed hideaway set up with the purpose of rescuing and rehabilitating endangered primates, and in the process educating humans about one of our closest relatives. The passionate and committed staff offer twice-daily tours of the sanctuary, during which you'll watch rescued chimps frolic in enclosures and spot those who have been released to a larger area in the mountains beyond.

Sierra Leone National Museum

There are two galleries inside the Sierra Leone National Museum – one housing a collection of cultural and historical artefacts, including Temne Guerrilla leader Bai Bureh's drum, clothes and sword; and another devoted to temporary exhibitions (at the time of research a fascinating collection of photographs and documents detailing the city's colonial past). Entry is free in theory, but you'll likely be asked for a Le10,000 donation before entering; it is well worth it, considering you'll be guided around the exhibits by well-trained staff. 

Sierra Leone Marathon

The annual Sierra Leone Marathon was set up in 2012. Runners follow a route through the villages and communities surrounding Makeni, raising funds for the charity Street Child (www.streetchild.co.uk). Over 100 international runners travelled to the town for the most recent event in 2016.

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