Sierra leone is full of beautiful beaches, wildlife and is a surfers paradise. A major port city in the atlantic ocean, freetown is the major urban, economic, financial, cultural, educational and political centre of sierra leone. Sue watt travelled with tailormade africa and sister company africa marathons. Sierra leone bradt travel guide manson, katrina, knight, james on. Archaeological finds show that sierra leone has been inhabited continuously for at least 2,500 years, populated by successive cultures of peoples who. While the economy of the city revolves around its large natural deepwater harbour, the city is ethnically. If you need help, please visit the help section or contact us submit please provide a response. Travelling in sierra leone or as the locals call it, salone was an amazing experience. The 10 best sierra leone hotel deals apr 2020 tripadvisor. Flights to sierra leone depart from a variety of european and african destinations and are operated by several airlines. For a country that basically has two seasons wet may to october and baking november to april, its extraordinary that sierra leone rivals the uk as far as conversations about the weather go. I want emails from lonely planet with travel and product information, promotions, advertisements, thirdparty offers, and surveys. You will need a transit visa in order to get through immigration as well as a missionary visa if you plan to educate the people of sierra leone.
Find out how to return to the uk from sierra leone. Be considerate of sierra leones customs, traditions, religion and culture. Jun 05, 2008 sierra leone travel and tourism operator vsl travel destination management company dmc forums misc chit chat book club sierra leone literature this topic has 26 replies, 12 voices, and was last updated 9 years, 3 months ago by puneet chadha. Visitors to sierra leone are required to show their international certificates of vaccination yellow card upon arrival at the airport with a record of vaccination against yellow fever. The small west african country of sierra leone is brimming with natural beauty and history. If you are going to visit a friend or contact in sierra leone ask for a short letter from them. Jan 22, 2020 sophie wessex, 55, appeared pensive as she was given a tour of the sierra leone peace museum in freetown on the first day of her whirlwind visit to the african country. Explore sierra leone holidays and discover the best time and places to visit. Cynthia was originally from sierra leone, and i loved the way those two dusky words rolled off her tongue. Feb 07, 2018 the children of sierra leone books for young learners. As with other countries in the region the weather is always balmy, thanks to the position of the equator, but the best time to go to sierra leone is the dry season of november to april, when the roads will be passable, and the weather good for wildlife visits and beaches. Sierra leone travel guide, including map of sierra leone, top sierra leone travel.
British airways flights from the uk are currently suspended due to concerns. For the traveller, sierra leone is still west africas secret beach destination. Things you need to know visit sierra leone vsl travel. This new, thoroughly updated third edition of bradts sierra leone remains the only englishlanguage guide dedicated to this unique west african destination. Visit sierra leone4, primarily a travel company based in freetown, offer an. But our editor at gonomad, max hartshorne, met with members from kamageo, a national tourist board for african tourism, about why sierra leone is. Sierra leone travel guide world travel guide official. General safety information and advice for lgbtq2 travellers abroad. Giving a thumbs up is the sierra leone equivalent of giving the rude. Days are even hotter inland, though the nights are cooler. Cheap flights to sierra leone, get airline tickets onetravel. Sierra leone visa passport health passports and visas. Why sierra leone should go straight to the top of your mustvisit list. A solid tour of the country, including lessvisited towns in the.
Sophie wessex, 55, appeared pensive as she was given a tour of the sierra leone peace museum in freetown on the first day of her whirlwind visit to the african country. For more information on travel to africa, visit our africa. Sierra leone travel guide, tips and inspiration wanderlust. Lgbtq2 travellers should carefully consider the risks of travelling to sierra leone. There are so many reasons to add sierra leone to your travel bucket list. If you travel to sierra leone, especially whilst on business, you should stay in contact with your employer or host organisation about the support that they can provide to you while youre in. Carry your identification and vehicular documentation with you. The best time to visit freetown, sierra leone for weather. Visit sierra leone freetown, sierra leone information. Buy lonely planet sierra leone travel guidebooks direct from lonely planet. See information on measures introduced in sierra leone in response to the coronavirus covid19 pandemic. This may change in the future as conditions improve and the rest of the world wakes up to sierra leone s stunning beauty.
Sweet sands rise from the soft waters of the atlantic, with the backdrop dressed in sunstained hues, rainforest green and. If you are going on a genuine holiday, then arrange one through your tour operator or hotel. Leaf group is a usa today content partner providing general. Our principal goal is to be the best online news and entertainment portal for sierra leone with unassailable quality of valueadded service in news gathering and information dissemination to every sierra leonean. A comprehensive guide to the worlds best travel destinations, its print heritage stretches back more than 30 years, with the online portal reaching its 20year anniversary in 2019.
Sophie wessex joins roundtable discussion during visit to. It is advisable to book tickets in advance to get cheap flights to. Tragically, the men and women who worked in sierra leones rice fields became soughtafter slaves, with more than 50,000 people leaving the countrys biggest slave port, bunce island, bound for the american states of georgia and south carolina. Sierra leone is proudly back on the tourism map for the adventurous, beachloving, jungleexploring, mountainscaling and curious of heart traveller. The laws of sierra leone prohibit sexual acts between individuals of the same sex. Sierra leone travel and tourism operator vsl travel destination management company dmc forums misc chit chat book club sierra leone literature this topic has 26 replies, 12 voices, and was last updated 9 years, 3 months ago by puneet chadha. Visit sierra leone, primarily a travel company based in freetown, offer an online visa application for one month visas which can sometimes work out cheaper than getting it at the embassy.
Freetown is the capital and largest city in sierra leone. The republic of guinea is to the north and northeast. I can unsubscribe any time using the unsubscribe link at the end of all emails. Transit and missionary are other visas people may apply for in order to travel to sierra leone. See tripadvisor s sierra leone, africa hotel deals and special prices on 24 hotels all in one spot.
Sierra leone, is a country with endless stories, with twenty one protected areas, sierra leone houses some of the most unspoilt jungles and beaches in the world. Like one of its rough diamonds, sierra leone is a destination of exquisite natural beauty. Sierra leone travel and visas travel guide books bradt. Important things to know before you visit sierra leone. From an approximate 100km coastal belt of lowlying land, the country rises to a mountain plateau near the eastern frontier rising 1200m to 2000m with a rich timber. Travel guides sierra leone 15 best places to visit in sierra leone. A passport and visa are required for travel to sierra leone. The rainy season runs from midmay to midnovember, during which the humidity can be taxing.
Sierra leone, 2nd bradt travel guide manson, katrina, knight, james on. As we drove along i found myself fascinated with the deep oooooohhs and aaaahhhhss that made up her conversational speech patterns. Freetown, sierra leone travel guide travel center blog. The countrys beautiful, lighthearted capital, freetown is bursting with colorful architecture and picturesque landscape. It is advisable to book tickets in advance to get cheap flights to sierra leone as airfares tend to rise during peak season. Sierra leone is an adventurous rather than a traditional holiday destination. Travelers involved in outdoor and other activities such as camping, hiking, biking, adventure travel, and caving that put them at risk for animal bites.
After more than a decade of civil war one of the most brutal and destructive that west africa has ever seen and an unexpected outbreak of the deadly ebola virus, sierra leone is working hard to get back on track. Violent crime, such as armed robbery, and assault, is common. Vsl is sierra leones leading site for information about tourism. Avoid all international travel due to the global impact of covid19 exercise increased caution in sierra leone due to crime country summary. Viewing 15 topics 1 through 15 of 34 total 1 2 3 topic voices posts last post the bite. Sierra leone travel and tourism operator 2020 forums misc chit chat book club this forum has 34 topics, 237 replies, and was last updated 8 years, 11 months ago by kelvinasar. As the third uk holiday firm in a month goes bust, lonely planets tom hall gives advice on travel during a year of industry disruption. Building innovative perceptions welcome to freetown, the capital of sierra leone. Those who visit now are generally rewarded with warm hospitality and an almost touristfree experience. My daughter is teaching in kabala, sierra leone this year, and has spent much of her time in the past six years in that country.
Visit to sierra leone gives a new appreciation for daytoday services. In leonian culture talking during a meal can signify a lack of respect for the food. Sweet sands rise from the soft waters of the atlantic, with the backdrop dressed in sunstained hues, rainforest green and the red, red roads of the north. The search for africas fighting spirit by tim butcher, a long way gone by ishmael beah, sierra leone by k. Sierra leone travel information and guide bradt travel guides. The best times to visit freetown for ideal weather are. Thumbs up to bradt for keep writing guides on destinations, the otherstm does not cover.
We are a local tour operator based in freetown offering the complete range of travel related services that create the best experience for our clients, whether they are traveling for business, leisure or relocation. From the beginning of the postslavery era, freetown, the capital and largest city of sierra leone, has served as a place for free people to establish a new life, and the country has developed into a prosperous and friendly place to visit. Multi country guide 2 phrasebook 1 planning maps 1. Life, scenery and customs in sierra leone and the gambia, volume i. The serene sands kiss the soft waters of the atlantic against a hue of sunstained colours, dense rainforests, and a gentle breeze. Sierra leone is listed as the eighth poorest country in the world, and its probably one of the last places on your travel bucket list.
Like one of its rough diamonds, sierra leone is a destination of exquisite. Some bodies, such as visit sierra leone and ipc travel agency, offer fasttracked tourist boardapproved services to skip this archaic letterwriting hurdle. The weather during this duration remains warm and apt for sightseeing. Sierra leone news, this is sierra leone,all about sierra. Sierra leone travel and tourism operator vsl travel. Go beyond news headlines and youll find sierra leone is a nation of staggering natural beauty, intriguing history and heartfelt vibrancy says ian packham. The population of sierra leone is hoping that this spike in tourism could really help to boost their countrys prosperity.
Weatherwise, the best time to take sierra leone flights is from october to may. Local police lack the resources, capacity, and training to respond effectively to serious criminal incidents. Cover of west africa travel guide lonely planet shop. The world travel guide wtg is the flagship digital consumer brand within the columbus travel media portfolio. Sierra leone literature visit sierra leone vsl travel. One of the restautants that i visited had been vlosed for several years and a local. Vsl travel is more than just a comprehensive online guide for travelers to sierra leone. With an average temperature of 27 degrees c, sierra leone is one of west africas hottest and wettest countries. Rabies can be found in dogs, bats, and other mammals in sierra leone, so cdc recommends this vaccine for the following groups. We visited sierra leone, one of the poorest countries in the world, along with ghana, which is far more stable and prosperous. But despite its lush rainforests, palmfringed beaches, fascinating history and vibrant culture, the country remains largely unexplored and undiscovered. Discover our deals and build your sierra leone vacation package.
Our expert sierra leone travel guide, with tips on highlights, when and where to visit, including details on exploring freetown, climbing mount bintumani, visiting. Mar 12, 2017 sierra leone, is a country with endless stories, with twenty one protected areas, sierra leone houses some of the most unspoilt jungles and beaches in the world. Liberia is to the east and southeast, and the atlantic ocean on the west and south. The children of sierra leone books for young learners by arama christiana sep 1, 1997. Visit sierra leone vsl travel sierra leone travel and. Freetown, beaches, a nearby town or two and some wildlife. Bimbola carrol is the founder of visit sierra leone vsl travel, a local travel and tour operator providing the complete range of travel.