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Warning: Sierra Leone can be a very dangerous country.
Check with your nearest embassy or consulate before attempting
to plan a trip here.
A developing country that has suffered a decade of civil
war, and is still struggling for stability, therefore it is
not recommended as an ideal destination for the traveller.
It is a beautiful country all the same, with lush national
parks and the imposing Mount Bintumani is a must-see
features.
With its impressive diamond mines, you'd expect Sierra
Leone to be thriving community. The reality is a nation divided,
between the two warring factions, the RUF (Revolutionary United
Front) and the Government (the Civil Defence Force).
People
About a third of the population comprises of the northern
Temne and a third Mende in the south. The Krio's
number about 2%, the rest being other ethnic and expatriate
compositions, mainly residing in the Freetown area.
Language
You will find the dialect Krio widely spoken in Sierra
Leone, although English is the official language.
Food
Chop bars in Sierra Leone serve delicious rice and
plasas, made out of cassava leaves, cooked
with palm oil and fish or beef. Street food is available,
dishes such as okra sauce, groundnut stew and pepper
soup.
Cash
Sierra Leone operates on a cash only economy; you will not
be able to find ATM's or many places accepting cards. The
unit of currency is the leone. There are also few places to
exchange travellers' cheques, and street vendors are extremely
risky, so it's best to bring currency into the country with
you.
Visas
Visitor visas must be obtained in advance for travel to Sierra
Leone, and you will be required to produce this, along with
your passport at customs. Ensure you are up-to-date with your
yellow fever vaccinations and carry evidence.
Health
Malaria is a serious risk to travellers to Sierra
Leone, so arrange precautions before departure. Due to the
poor medical facilities and supplies within Sierra Leone,
travel is inadvisable to those with conditions that may require
treatment or medicines.
Travel
Safety and security in Sierra Leone is improving, making the
country more hospitable, however, there is still a long way
to go and anyone considering travel to the area is urged to
seek current guidelines on the situation. Crime is a significant
factor, especially for Western foreigners, as they are seen
as affluent targets. Road travel within the country is poor,
with improvements being made in Freetown, however, outside
the capital, a four-wheel drive is generally required. Public
transport follows these guidelines - don't bother. The bush
taxis in Sierra Leone are called poda-poda, they are
typical of the region, unsafe, and unreliable.
Air travel into Sierra Leone is possible from Brussels, London,
and some West African cities, however the service can be unreliable
at best, non-existent at worst. Always reconfirm flights and
check the latest information. You may be delayed or have to
pay for alternative methods of transport, so remember to budget
accordingly.
You can also travel overland from Guinea and Liberia, but
check current political situations in these countries, especially
Liberia.
Sierra Leone highlights:
Sierra Leone produces many valuable mineral resources, such
as gold and diamonds. These resources belong
to the state, and if you fancy a bit of gold mining, you must
obtain a permit first, you will have trouble exporting these
items home on exit, so be aware of this when bringing precious
gems into the country also.
The capital is Freetown, although you will be hard
pushed to find many facilities or things to do even here.
You will find some of Sierra Leone's best beaches here, check
out Lumley Beach or River No2 Beach. Outside
of Freetown, the facilities leave a lot to be desired, and
Westerners are advised to exercise caution. It is known for
unofficial roadblocks to be set up and travellers made
to pay for passage. If you do dare to venture out, however,
Bo, Bunce Island and Kenema are interesting places to
visit, and the national parks, Tiwai Island and
Outamba-Kilimi are breath-taking if you have a 4x4.
Travellers Tips
As with many others countries in this part of the world,
you should always ask permission to photograph people or buildings,
the military and police are very sensitive about government
and religious buildings, airports, bridges in particular.
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