Sierra Leone - beaches, forests, open water
"Salone" - as people call it - is our most tropical destination. Good roads, a laid-back capital, beaches on the Atlantic, islands offshore, rainforest on the peninsula, mountains up-country, and chimpanzees at Tacugama.
The country
Sierra Leone is small, tropical, and surprisingly easy to travel. Roads between Freetown and the main towns are in good shape; the beaches along the peninsula would make the cover of any travel magazine; the forests inland are rich in wildlife; and the people are famously welcoming.
What to see
- Freetown - the capital, Lumley Beach, colonial history, the National Museum, Big Market
- Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary - rescued chimps on the forested hills above Freetown
- Banana Island - historic slave port turned quiet holiday island
- Turtle Islands - offshore archipelago, near-untouched
- Tiwai Island - primate research sanctuary on the Moa River
- Kambama - swampland and fishing culture
- Makeni - Bombali district, northern town
Travel style
English is widely spoken (Sierra Leone is anglophone). The climate is tropical year-round. Our itineraries typically include a beach day, a wildlife encounter, and time in Freetown - low stress, high reward.
Safety
Sierra Leone is safe to travel. The country has come through civil war and Ebola and emerged stable and hospitable. Standard tropical precautions apply (malaria prevention, water).
Practical information
Scenes from Sierra Leone - beaches, forests, open water.
Journeys that visit Sierra Leone - beaches, forests, open water
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