Explore Sierra Leone

Set deep within Sierra Leone's Upper Guinea Rainforest on the Moa River, Tiwai (Mende for "Big Island") hosts one of the world's richest concentrations of primates — 11 resident species — alongside pygmy hippopotami and over 100 bird species. Run as one of the country's first ecotourism projects by the Environmental Foundation for Africa, it offers guided forest walks, community visits, boat tours, and overnight stays in a riverside camp.

Eight miles east of Freetown in the Sierra Leone River Estuary, Tasso served as a plantation feeding captives held on Bunce Island and the British troops stationed there. The island today supports about 5,000 Temne residents across four towns, a rich birdlife of two dozen species, and an agricultural heritage of cashew, coconut, and pineapple. Eco-lodges and short-tour activities (canoe trips, bird-watching, island walks) are available.

A 1995-founded sanctuary on the outskirts of Freetown that rescues, rehabilitates and protects critically endangered Western chimpanzees. Now home to nearly 120 chimps, Tacugama runs conservation education, alternative-livelihoods programs, and an eco-tourism site with sanctuary tours, jungle hikes, and six eco-lodges nestled in dense rainforest.

Sierra Leone's second national park, declared in 2010 from the Gola North, East and West forest reserves. At 71,070 hectares the largest tract of rainforest in the country, home to 330+ bird species (14 threatened), 650+ butterflies, 49 mammals, including 300+ chimpanzees, pygmy hippos, and a remnant forest elephant population. Mende-majority communities ring the park.

296 km north of Freetown along the Guinean border, this 110,900-hectare park combines grassland, woodland and gallery forest. Home to pygmy hippos, crocodiles, and a population of wild chimpanzees. Features a perennial lake (Lake Idrissa) and is drained by the Mongo, Little Scarcies, and Great Scarcies rivers. Eco-lodges and trained guides run forest tours and bird-watching.

At 1,945 metres the highest peak in West Africa after Mount Cameroon, Bintumani rises from the Loma Mountains south-east of Kabala. The full climb takes a minimum of three days through diverse fauna and flora; you must access via Sinekoro or Kondemabia and bring your own tent, water, and food. The Kuranko people who live near the foothills collect a customary access fee paid to village chiefs.

Sharp hills reaching 1,000 metres just north-west of Kabala, dominated by elephant grass and woodland savannah. Limba traditional belief holds that whoever wishes to become Paramount Chief of Wara Wara Yagala Chiefdom must enter its sacred cave. The Ministry of Tourism has built eco-accommodation here; from the summit, the topography of Kabala spreads out below.

Sierra Leone's largest inland lake, sitting 850 metres above sea level in the Diang Chiefdom 350 km north-east of Freetown. Home to 115 bird species (mostly herons and egrets) and threatened Savannah Buffalo. The Kuranko community are its custodians; visitors should obtain a blessing from the Paramount Chief or village elders before approaching the lake.

Built in 1822 by Jamaican Maroons who had been deported to Nova Scotia after the Second Maroon War (1796) and then resettled in Freetown in 1800, where they helped colonial authorities suppress a Nova Scotian rebellion. A small white Methodist church on a granted plot between Percival and Liverpool Street. The Maroons maintained their independence from the Methodist establishment until 1900.

Opened in 1827 as the first institution of higher learning in modern sub-Saharan Africa. The four-storey laterite building — foundation stone laid in 1845 by Sierra Leone's first coloured Governor, William Fergusson, and construction supervised by Reverend Edward Jones — was for over a century the only alternative to Europe and America for British West Africans seeking a degree. Earned the title "the Athens of Africa".

A 200-year-old Krio village 23 miles from Freetown, originally a Sherbro settlement called Momimi. The name "York" may come from a Sherbro word meaning "to carry people" or "strangers" — both interpretations point to the slave trade. Highlights include the Bobor Kombo (a male-slave bathing point), the King's Yard, the colonial cemetery, the Fori water cave, and old colonial lampholders.

Stone steps leading down from Wallace Johnson Street in central Freetown, completed in 1818, with the adjoining Guard House built in 1819 — both during the governorship of Charles Macarthy. Often misnamed "Portuguese Steps", though they were built centuries after the Portuguese left. A monument to the slave-trade era when captives were marched between the wharf and the city.

Freetown's oldest market, dating from the 18th century, near the Central Police Station in the Western Urban District. Two storeys: ground-floor stalls sell Raffia bags, the celebrated shukublai baskets traditionally made by the Temne, locally produced cloth and traditional medicines; upper floor focuses on arts and crafts portraits depicting Sierra Leonean culture and notable historical figures.

Coastal resort town 20 miles east of Freetown on the western peninsula, with one of the largest and most attractive beaches in West Africa. Home to a predominantly Muslim Krio (Oku) community alongside Temne, Loko, Sherbro, Mandingo, Limba, Mende and Fula residents. Mountains, forests, resort hotels, and the uninhabited Tokeh Island just offshore.

30 miles east of Freetown, a 1.2-km expanse of fine golden sand bordered by trees and coconut palms, divided from Kent village by a small creek. Boats to the Banana Islands depart from the southern edge. A rocky headland separates the main beach from two coves with beach resorts and good swimming. The Banana Islands are visible from shore.

Famous since the 1980s when it featured in a Bounty Bar commercial, this beach near the River No.2 estuary is divided in two by the river itself, with locals ferrying visitors across by canoe. The southern lagoon is calm and ideal for beginner swimmers. Managed by the Sankofa Complex, a community association that reinvests tourism income locally.

Long stretch of golden sand on the southern peninsula, named after Bai Bureh — a Sierra Leonean leader of the 1898 Hut Tax War against the British. Home to Sierra Leone's only surf club. Frequent winds make for excellent surfing conditions; quieter coves and rock pools at the headlands offer gentle splashing.

In the heart of Freetown, founded in 1829 to house recaptive Africans freed by the British Royal Navy West Africa Squadron. The white-sand Aberdeen-Lumley Beach stretches along the western part of the peninsula, lined with up-scale restaurants, hotels, nightclubs and tourist facilities.

At Siaka Stevens Street and Pademba Road, the National Museum is Sierra Leone's primary cultural institution, opened in 1957 in the old Cotton Tree Telephone Exchange building. The collection traces Sierra Leonean cultures, traditions, ceremonial regalia, and portraits of historical leaders. Trained museum guides walk visitors through the permanent and visiting exhibits.

Opened in 2013 on the site of the Special Court for Sierra Leone, dedicated to preserving the history of the 1991-2002 civil war and honouring its victims. Houses an unparalleled archive of conflict-era documents including SCSL public records and Truth and Reconciliation Commission materials. A national institution dedicated to peace and justice.

In Cline Town, eastern Freetown, opened in 2005 in the former Sierra Leone Government Railway workshops (the SLR closed in 1974). The collection survived the civil war and was restored from 2004 onwards, including the Governor's coach and a coach prepared for Queen Elizabeth II's 1961 visit. Open Monday-Saturday, 10am-4pm.

A 564-metre vantage point above the Sierra Leone River Estuary, offering the best panoramic view of Freetown — the colourful rooftops, the Western Area Peninsula National Park, the warm waters of the estuary, the remnants of the 2017 landslide site, and the beaches beyond. Now hosts most of the city's telecoms and broadcast antennae.