Freetown Travel Guide
Freetown, the capital and largest city in Sierra Leone, earned its name when it was founded in 1792 as a colony for freed slaves. Today, it's a commercial centre and offers visitors a base from which to explore the rest of the country.
While the tourist infrastructure is underdeveloped, there are some wonderful attractions for visitors to enjoy. The history of Freetown can be discovered at the Sierra Leone Museum, the National Rail Museum, the Cape Sierra Leone Lighthouse, and the colonial stilt houses at Hill Station.
For those that crave the outdoors, the Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary is a must-see, located 40 minutes outside of town. However, the trip must be planned in advance, as both a 4x4 and an appointment are necessary to visit.
One of the best things to do in Freetown is to hit the beach. Beautiful and largely unspoilt, beaches such as Lunley and Lakka offer accommodation and great amenities. Nearby, the community-driven shops and restaurants at No. 2 River Beach are also worth a visit, as well as the historical fishing villages at Kent Beach.
Violent civil war in the 1990s took its toll, but today Freetown is working to regain its vibrancy, and the tourist industry is sure to grow as travellers find this hidden treasure on the West African Coast.
Things to do in Freetown
Getting Around
Public transport in Freetown is somewhat informal. Shared taxis run along fixed routes and can be hailed on the street; fares are cheap and it is possible to negotiate a price with the driver. Travellers can also ask their hotel to call a private taxi for them. These vehicles are generally more comfortable than the shared taxis, but also more expensive.
Poda-podas are shared minibus taxis which can easily be found on every main road in Freetown. The start point and final destination of the vehicle is displayed in the front window. The travelling conditions in poda-podas are not very comfortable as drivers often overload their vehicles and drive quite erratically.
Travellers also have the option of hiring a car in Freetown, which can be arranged through car rental companies. Rental cars in Sierra Leone generally come with a local driver, which will remove the stress of dealing with the chaotic driving conditions. People travelling outside Freetown are advised to hire a 4x4 vehicle, as it will be better equipped to handle rural roads.
Freetown Climate and Weather
Similar to the rest of the country, Sierra Leone's capital of Freetown has a tropical monsoon climate with a rainy season from May to November, and a dry season from December to April. Naturally, during the monsoon season rainfall levels are higher and range between 7 to 31 inches (177 to 787mm) per month. Throughout the year, there is very little variation in Freetown's temperatures, which range from 74F (23C) to 97F (36C). However, during the monsoon season, humidity levels rise considerably. The best time to visit Freetown is from November to February, when the climate becomes more comfortable due to the gentle Harmattan trade wind, which blows down from the Sahara.
Sierra Leone travel info
Electricity
Electrical current is 230 volts, 50Hz, but supplies are erratic and power failures common. Round three-pin plugs or rectangular three-blade plugs are used.
Language
English is the official language, although each ethnic group has its own tribal language, used more widely in the interior of the country. Krio is a form of Pidgin English that is widely spoken in Freetown.
Money
The official currency is the leone (SLL), which is divided into 100 cents. Foreign currency can be exchanged at banks, foreign exchange bureaux or hotels. Banks are open on weekdays only. The use of credit cards is very limited, although a few top hotels and restaurants in Freetown might accept them for payment. Not all ATMs accept foreign cards, but some major banks, such as Ecobank and United Bank for Africa (UBA), accept foreign cards.
Tipping
A service charge of about 10 percent is included in restaurant and hotel bills, but otherwise tipping is optional.
Health
Sierra Leone is one of three countries that has been at the heart of the Ebola outbreak in previous years, causing serious alarm in West Africa. The WHO officially declared Sierra Leone Ebola transmission free on 17 March 2016, and the FCO no longer advise against all but essential travel to Sierra Leone. However, travellers are advised to familiarise themselves with the disease and current health and travel advice for the country before travelling to Sierra Leone. Some travel restrictions may be in place due to the Ebola outbreak.
Health policies require that all travellers arriving from a yellow fever area have a vaccination certificate, but yellow fever is a risk throughout the country and immunisation is recommended for all visitors. Other recommended vaccinations include Hepatitis A, typhoid, rabies, and polio. Malaria and dengue fever are high risks and precautions against mosquito bites are advised, as well as prophylaxis for malaria, which occurs throughout the year.
Outbreaks of Lassa fever is endemic in the east. HIV/AIDS is prevalent. Diarrhoea and dysentery are common complaints and water should be treated before drinking. Cholera is also a concern. Travellers should bring adequate supplies of personal medication to the country, as supplies are often not available in pharmacies. Medical care is limited in Freetown and almost non-existent elsewhere. An emergency hospital is located near Freetown, but the bad road makes it difficult to get there; there is no ambulance service in the country. Comprehensive travel insurance is advised, which includes emergency evacuation.
Safety
Most visits to the country pass without trouble, though a small number of incidents involving British nationals being robbed, sometimes at knifepoint, have been reported. The incidents were reported around Congo Cross, Wilkinson Road, Lumley Beach and Aberdeen, and visitors are advised to be cautious in these areas after dark. Petty crime is more common, with pick-pocketing and other opportunistic crimes prevalent throughout the country. Visitors should take care not to flash valuables or cash.
Travel outside of the Western Area that includes Freetown can be difficult, as roads are poor and transport unreliable. All road or sea transfers from the airport to Freetown should be done in daylight hours due to safety concerns. Political demonstrations and large gatherings should be avoided, as these have the potential to turn violent.
Local customs
Sierra Leoneans are extremely polite and manner-conscious, and elders are especially respected. There is a strong Muslim culture among locals, who expect visitors to be sensitive to religious customs, particularly during the month of Ramadan, when eating, drinking, and smoking during daylight hours should be discreet. Visitors should be aware it is illegal to buy or export diamonds, gold, or ivory without the necessary licenses; homosexuality is illegal.
Doing business
Punctuality is not necessarily expected, especially if the delay relates to traffic or if it concerns the person who called the meeting. English is the most common language for business and most business meetings require only casual comfortable clothing. Shaking hands for men and women is the most common form of introduction and business cards are exchanged. It is acceptable to address colleagues by their first names at business meetings. Business hours are generally 8am to 12pm and 2pm to 5pm Monday to Friday.
Duty free
Travellers may bring 200 cigarettes or 225g tobacco, and 1 litre of wine or spirits into the country without paying customs duty. Narcotics are strictly forbidden.
Communications
The international dialling code for Sierra Leone is +232. The outgoing code is 00 followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 0044 for the UK). Most good hotels and some restaurants offer free WiFi, and mobile phone service is good, with SIM cards being widely available.
Passport & Visa
Anyone travelling to the country for a purpose other tourism, a visit or business will need to get a visa before they arrive. It is highly recommended that visitors' passports have at least six months' validity remaining after the intended date of departure from their travel destination. Immigration officials often apply different rules to those stated by travel agents and official sources.
Entry requirements
US nationals require a visa and a valid passport.
UK nationals require a visa and a valid passport.
Canadians require a visa and a valid passport.
Australians require a visa and a valid passport.
South Africans require a visa and a valid passport.
Irish nationals require a visa and a valid passport.
New Zealand nationals require a visa and a valid passport.
Useful contacts
National Tourist Board, Freetown: +232 77 347810 https://ntb.gov.sl/
999 (Police)Embassies / consulates in other countries
Sierra Leone Embassy, Washington DC, United States (also responsible for Canada): +1 202 939 9261.
Sierra Leone High Commission, London, United Kingdom: +44 20 7404 0140.
Consulate General of Sierra Leone, Sydney, Australia: +61 2 8964 8851
Sierra Leone High Commission, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (also responsible for South Africa): +251 1 710 033.
Sierra Leone High Commission, Beijing, China (also responsible for New Zealand): +86 10 6532 1222.
Embassies / consulates in Sierra Leone
United States Embassy, Freetown: +232 22 515 000.
British High Commission, Freetown: +232 76 541 386.
Canadian Embassy, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire (also responsible for Sierra Leone): +225 2 030 0700.
Australian High Commission, Accra, Ghana (also responsible for Sierra Leone): +233 (302) 216 400.
South African Embassy, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire (also responsible for Sierra Leone): +225 2 244 5963.
Irish Embassy, Abuja, Nigeria (also responsible for Sierra Leone: +234 9 462 0611.