We will start our Sierra Leone Travel Tips by talking about this country. Sierra Leone is a coastal area on the West African coastline. It has borders with Liberia in the southeast & the Atlantic Ocean in the southwest. Whereas, it is partially encircled in the north and northeast by Guinea.
This country covers a total area of 71,740 km². The geography of the region presents a flat belt on the coast. While there are hills and high mountains in the East half of the country. Most of them are part of the highlands in Guinea. Mount Bintumani is the highest point in the region, within the Loma Mountains in Koinadugu.
The total population of this country is around 7 million. This country’s main city, principal port, and the capital city is Freetown. Freetown is not full of night clubs, however, there are a lot of small bars around.
Table of Contents
Things to do in Sierra Leone
- Bunce Island
- Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary
- Banana Islands
- River No 2 Beach
- Lumley Beach Road
- Tiwai Island
- Cotton Tree
- Bureh Beach
- Mount Bintumani
- Outamba-Kilimi National Park
- Tokeh Beach
- Sierra Leone National Museum
- Lakka Beach
- Turtle Islands, Sierra Leone
- John Obey Beach
Languages
English is the official tongue of Sierra Leone. However, It is used mainly for formal industry, administration, and media only.Whereas Krio is the country’s national language, and a lingua franca commonly has spoken throughout the region.
Other Sierra Leonean languages include Kono, Kuranko, Suru, Limba, Fula, and Kissi. After Krio, the Mende language is the second widely Spoken language in the region. According to Sierra Leone Travel Tips, Sierra Leone’s Minority tongues are Krim, Bom, and Sherbro.
Currency & Banking
The Sierra Leonean leone is the standard & official Sierra Leone currency. The currency code is SLL. Bank issues notes in denomination of 1,000, 2,000, 5,000, 10,000 leones. Whereas, Coins come in the denomination of 10, 50, 100, 500 leones.
ATMs and moneychangers are available all over Freetown, and there are ATMs in all big cities. Credit cards in Sierra Leone aren’t commonly recognized only luxury hotels will take it. According to Sierra Leone Travel Tips, Cash is the King in this region so please keep some cash with you.
Sierra Leone Tourist Visa
Indian needs a Visa to Travel Sierra Leone.
Documents Required for Sierra Leone Visa
- Visa application form
- 1 passport size photograph
- Passport with Minimum one-year validity
- 2 blank visa pages.
- Travel itinerary
- Confirmed air ticket
Best Time to Visit
The best time to visit Sierra Leone is from October to December & March to April. This is the dry season in this country. This country receives most of the tourists in this season. However, For bird watching December is the most favorable months.
Whereas, The beaches are at their best in late September and October, at the end of the rainy season. You can also travel in June and late September, although there will be heavy rainfall. Mostly rural roads become very muddy. January and February are warmest months in this region. You should avoid traveling in these months.
Time Zone
The Time zone in Sierra Leone is GMT.
Emergency Numbers
- Ambulance 999
- Fire 019
- Police 999
Internet
Internet speed in Sierra Leone is good and rates are affordable. You can buy SIM cards for your phone from the airport or one of many retailers all over Sierra Leone. All you need is the passport to get the sim card in this country.
Orange Sierra Leone, Africell, Smart mobile, Sierratel, and QCell are Main internet service providers in Sierra Leone. According to Sierra Leone Travel Tips, The Places with free Wi-Fi connection are airports, restaurants, hotels, coffeehouses, cafes.
Electricity
The Normal voltage is 230 V and the default frequency is 50 Hz. The electric plugs and sockets are of form D and G in Sierra Leone. Type D is mainly Popular in India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and some African countries. This socket only works with plug D.
While Type G is of British origin. This socket only works with type G. You can use your electric equipment in this country if the standard voltage in your country is in between 220 240 V. Although it is advisable to carry a travel adapter to stay connected with the world.
Climate
The climate of this country is tropical and humid all year. However, January and February are very warm and dry while sea breezes cool off the coastal areas. The hot, dusty Harmattan breeze sweeps down from the Sahara in December and January.
The rain can be torrential between May and September during the wet season. While You should avoid traveling in these months if you are not a rain lover. The temperature normally stays between 27 ° C and 32 ° C throughout the day. Although It can be a little colder in the country center, particularly at night.
Reasons to Travel Sierra Leone
- Relax on pristine beaches
- Immerse yourself in the chaotic capital
- Track wildlife in Gola rainforest
- Visit a former slave island
- Explore the diamond industry
- Get up close with chimps
- Climb Mount Bintumani
- It’s safe and Ebola free
- Sweet Salone
- Fish here is fabulous
- Delicious Food
- Local Star beer
- The world’s most blissful beaches
- Sierra Leone Marathon
History
The history of Sierra Leone stretches way enough. The area surrounding Freetown was used by the British in the late 18th and early 19th centuries to resettle the freed slaves. London’s “Black Trash,” and plenty of American Revolution immigrants from America moved here.
While Since 1808 Sierra Leone has been a colony of the British Crown. The country got freedom in 1961. However, This is the poorest region in the commonwealth countries even today.
The civil war between the government and the United Revolutionary Front (RUF) between 1991 and 2002 resulted in hundreds of thousands of deaths.
Whereas More than 2 million people are homeless & half of them are now refugees in nearby countries.
Packing Tips for Sierra Leone
- Important Documents- passport & Travel map
- Day Bag or Backpack
- Sunglasses and Sun Hat
- Comfortable Clothes
- Breathable tees
- Power Charger
- Travel Adapter
- Toiletries
- Shoes
- Accessories
- Tickets and travel documents
- Swimsuit
- Medical kit
- Sturdy shoes for hiking
- Sandals or flip-flops for the beach
- Strong insect repellent
- A light raincoat
- A torch
- A cotton sweater for cooler nights upcountry
Is it safe to Travel Sierra Leone?
No, Sierra Leone is not a safe country to travel. However, Travelers says it is a friendliest African country. Transport is in poor condition in this country. Buses aren’t reliable and though they cost less than taxis & Safer too. Most of the roads are poorly maintained.
Moving around in Freetown in one piece is a great achievement. Pickpocketing is very common as poverty in Sierra Leone is extreme. if you travel, you should remain extremely careful when handling your valuables. Please don’t carry your money in a purse or a pocket.
You might also face flooding and mudslides as they are regular in this country. Scams like people trying to distract you in order to steal things from you and taxi drivers overcharging you are common in this country. This is not at all a destination for Solo Women Travelers.
if you still travel, Please avoid remote streets, both during day and night. While You should not flash your belongings & avoid handling money in public. Whereas, Kidnapping, rapes & violent crimes are also an issue in this country but not on a bigger level.
Conclusion
However, If you need more information about Sierra Leone Travel Tips ??? Call us at +918860284198 or contact us at [email protected].
FAQs
Good Things about Sierra Leone?
1. Diamonds 2. Nature 3. Beaches
Bad Things about Sierra Leone?
1. Poverty 2. Poor healthcare 3. Bad Infrastructure
Weird Things about Sierra Leone?
1. Meaning of Sierra Leone is Lion Mountains. 2. You will find rice in each meal. 3. Ancient Cotton Tree Of Freetown
Sierra Travel Restrictions?
You need to get permission to enter via online portal with Negative Covid19 report. Land borders are still closed.
How many states in Sierra Leone?
There are total 16 states(districts) in Sierra Leone.
