SIERRA LEONE TRAVEL REPORT

  

In Sierra Leone there is 1 hour of time zone, compared to Italy, 2 hours when in Italy there is daylight saving time

 

Entry visa: required, to be requested at the diplomatic / consular offices of Sierra Leone in Italy or abroad. It is possible to apply for an entry visa online and thus obtain a visa upon arrival at Freetown airport, or at all land borders. For the procedures relating to registration and payment, consult the website: https://www.visitsierraleone.org/visiting-sierra-leone/getting-there/visa-application, where it is necessary to enter the travel data, upload passport scannings, round trip flight reservations and hotel reservations (online booking through classic sites such as booking.com is sufficient, even for the first night only). Then you have to pay 120 USD, by credit card. In this way, after about 2 or 3 days, the E-VISA is received, to be printed, together with the receipt of payment and to be presented at Freetown Airport or at all land borders, where the actual visa is obtained on the Passport. Keep in mind that on the E-VISA, even if you have declared that you want to enter Sierra Leone, by land, you will be written that the port of entry is Freetown Airport, but this is not a problem, but it is the practice. Then remember to print at least 3 copies of the E-visa and the receipt of payment, which could be requested at the numerous checkpoints in the country.

 

In Sierra Leone the official language is English and therefore almost everyone speaks English.

 

Religions: Muslims 60%, animists 30%, Christians 10%

 

Once you have obtained the visa and the entry stamp you have to show the Yellow Fever certificate and here I met my problem, as the 2 bold young people eager to get some money from a foreigner, tried to convince me that to enter the Cholera vaccination was mandatory in the country, as there was an epidemic in place and therefore they would have stamped me the vaccination at a cost of 30 USD, without getting the vaccination. Logically all false and I objected but in the end after evaluating their persistence and arrogance I had to pay 20 USD, getting a 10 USD discount. Before leaving the border, another employee wanted a tip. I got away with 10,000 SLL.

 

From Bo in Liberia I took a motortaxi which first took me to the one in Sierra Leone, waiting for me to obtain an entry visa and then to the Kambama Village at a price of 200,000 SLL. The 90 km journey, almost entirely unpaved (a new asphalted road is under construction), of which the last 10, in poor condition, last a scant 3 hours.

 

There are several checkpoints, where you need to show your passport for registration. The Police are almost always polite and generally don't ask foreigners for money, but sometimes they ask your Motor driver, who will then logically make you pay.

 

If you need to stock up on food, you can do it in Potoru Town.

 

In Kambama Village, the young Village Chief will help you organize your excursion to Tiwai Island, on the Moa River, at a cost of SLL 200,000, which includes the cost of the motor boat or the rowing dugout, accommodation in a tent on the Island and the Guide (30,000 SLL) needed to spot the numerous bird monkeys present on the Island. To this it is desirable to tip at least 20,000 SLL.

 

Tiwai Island offers a unique ecosystem in the world where numerous species of primates and birds live in harmony. However, sighting them is not easy because they live on very tall trees.

 

From Kambama Village, Sierra Leone, I took a motortaxi that took me to the town of Bandajuma for a price of 75,000 SLL. The journey of 40 km, scarce, of which the first 10 dirt roads in poor condition, while the remaining almost all asphalted, lasts for an abundant hour.

 

From the taxi rank of Bandajuma, located in the center, when they are full, some collective taxis leave for Bo, in Sierra Leone. The cost of the ride is 15,000 SLL. The journey of 53 km, all paved, takes about 1 hour.

 

The aforementioned taxi ends its journey near the roundabout between Prince Williams Street and Tikonko Road, right in the center of Bo.

 

If you want to go to Freetown, you have to reach the minibus and bus stand, located on the western outskirts of Bo. To do so, get a motorbike for the price of 5,000 SLL.

 

From the aforementioned Bo parking, frequent minibuses leave when they are full to Freetown, the capital of Sierra Leone. The cost of the ride is 40,000 SLL. The journey of 230 km, all paved, takes about 4 hours.

 

In Freetown if you are heading to Lumley you have to get off at Hastings, 12km south-east of downtown Freetown, cross the road and take another minibus.

 

Otherwise it is necessary to stay on the minibus until you reach the center of Freetown, which appears safe from sunrise to sunset, while afterwards it is advisable to move by motorbike, Tuc Tuc or taxi.

 

In Freetown, I stayed at the YMCA, which is one of the cheapest accommodations in the City. It is located in the center, on Fort Street, about 600 meters from the Cotton Tree. The cost per night is 150,000 SLL. Mosquito net, breakfast, WIFI included. Shared bathroom. Tv in the room. Good level of cleanliness and safety.

 

In the center of Freetown, in Siaka Steven Street, near the Central Bank and the Post Office, there are young people who, every day except Sunday morning, change money at the following exchange rate: 1 USD = 8,500 SLL

 

 

To reach Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary (http://www.tacugama.com), located 12km south of downtown Freetown, I took a motorbike for a price of 15,000 SLL. The last good km is on a dirt road in poor condition.

 

Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary, is open every day at 10.30 and 16.00. The cost of entry is 125,000 SLL. Reservations are required only if you are part of a large group. If you are alone or with a few people, you can show up 15 minutes before opening time.

 

At Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary it is possible to see the Chimpanzee for about 1 hour and a half, while they are being fed.

From the Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary, it is necessary to walk a generous 1km downhill before reaching the paved road in Regent, where the means of transport pass. From there I took a motorbike to Kent, covering the 48 km in less than an hour. Price of the journey: 40,000 SLL.

 

From there I rented a motor boat for the price of 150,000 SLL (round trip) for the 20 minute ride to reach Dublin on Banana Island.

 

To set foot in Dublin on Banana Island, I had to pay the SLL 20,000 admission fee.

 

The Boat Driver accompanied me to visit Dublin in Banana Island. In return, I gave him a 10,000 SLL tip.

 

Back in Kent, I rented a motorbike for half a day for the price of 150,000 SLL, which allowed me to see the following Beaches: John Obey Beach, York Beach, Tokeh Beach, River Two Beach and Sussex beach.

 

Entrance to Tokeh Beach costs 5,000 SLL.

 

Entrance to River Two Beach costs SLL 5,000.

 

Admission to Sussex Beach costs 2,000 SLL.

 

The roughly 8km dirt road that separates Tokeh Beach from River Two Beach is in poor condition.

 

Once I finished my tour in Lumley, I took a motorbike, which took me to my Hotel YMCA, covering the 10km in scarcely twenty minutes for the price of 15,000 SLL.

 

The National Museum, located near the Cotton Tree, is open every day except Sunday from 10.00 to 17.00. The entrance fee is 7500 SLL.

 

To get to the Railway Museum, located in Cline Town, 12km east of downtown Freetown, I took a Tuc tuc for the price of 4000 SLL. The vehicle left me at the roundabout on the state road, from which I had to walk for 200 meters. about to reach the aforementioned Museum.

 

 The Railway Museum, located in Cline Town, is open every day except Sunday from 10.00 to 17.00. The entrance fee for foreigners is 5 USD.

 

To reach Kissy Ferry Terminal, located 2.5 km south-east of the Railway Museum, in Cline Town, I took a motorbike for the price of 3000 SLL.

 

 From the Kissy Ferry Terminal a passenger ferry leaves from sunrise to sunset every 2 and a half hours to Tagrin, which crosses the Bay of the same name for 8 km, in about 40 minutes. Price of the journey: 5,000 SLL in second class. I took the ferry at 2.30pm which left 40 minutes late.

 

To reach the Lungi International Airport (FNA), located in Cline Town, 13 km northwest of Tagrin, I took a motorbike for the price of 15,000 SLL. Duration of the ride: 20 minutes. Collective taxis also make the same journey.

 

There are also fast boats that take you to the Airport from Freetown, costing around USD 30.

 

At Lungi International Airport (FNA), I easily get the exit stamp from the country, without filling out any form. There are 2 security checks, the last of which checks your hand luggage by opening it.

 

19.15 flight of the Brussels Ailines Company from Freetown (Sierra Leone) to Malpensa (Va), with a technical stop in Monrovia (Liberia) and a stop in Brussels (Belgium). (multi-route ticket price including taxes from Linate to Abidjan (Ivory Coast) and from Freetown (Sierra Leone): Euro 640.24).

 

My complete travel report with map, photographs and videos is available at this link:

https://vivendosalendo.blogspot.com/2019/04/viaggio-in-costa-davorio-abidjan.html