Old Yagala Village

Old Yagala is a stone-and-mud hilltop settlement 216 km north of Freetown, built by the Limba people in the 18th century as a defensive refuge against slave raiders. Three sub-towns — Yagala, Katombo, and Katenteye — were built on elevated ground under Limba kings (Lamina, Koko, Yembeh) who used the height as a strategic advantage against the slave trade.

The old houses, royal graves, and a single water source hidden under a great stone are still visible. Gradually deserted in the 20th century as the Limba descended to New Yagala below, Old Yagala stands today as a silent testament to the African communities who chose resistance over submission.

On Day 6, after visiting Old Yagala, the group travels to Makeni for an overnight stay before the journey south.