Sierra Leone offers a variety of stunning landscapes and sceneries to explore. One of the must-visit places is the pristine beaches along the coastline. With golden sands, crystal-clear waters, and palm trees, these beaches provide the perfect …
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Backpacking Sierra Leone in 2025
A complete guide for backpacking in Sierra Leone with best places to go, best time to visit, what to bring and safety advice.
Visit Sierra Leone
Discover the unexplored charm of Sierra Leone, where vibrant culture and pristine beaches await adventurous backpackers. Pros? Immerse in warm hospitality, explore lush landscapes, and enjoy budget-friendly accommodations. Sierra Leone offers an authentic African experience with fewer crowds. However, limited tourist infrastructure and occasional transportation challenges may be encountered. For backpackers seeking an off-the-beaten-path destination rich in culture and natural beauty, Sierra Leone stands out as a unique and rewarding gem, where each moment unfolds as a genuine and unforgettable adventure.
Why to go?Why backpacking in Sierra Leone
Scenery
Wildlife
Sierra Leone is great for seeing wildlife because of its diverse and rich ecosystems. The country is home to several national parks and reserves that offer a wide range of wildlife viewing opportunities.
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Uniqueness
Exploring Sierra Leone is a unique and off the beaten track experience due to its rich cultural heritage, stunning natural landscapes, and the opportunity to witness the country's post-war recovery. Unlike more popular tourist destinations, Sierra …
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💡 HighlightsTop-5 things to do in Sierra Leone
- Visit the stunning beaches: Sierra Leone is blessed with pristine beaches, such as Lumley Beach and Tokeh Beach. These beaches offer breathtaking views, crystal-clear waters, and the opportunity to relax and unwind in a tropical paradise.
- Explore the Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary: This sanctuary is home to over 100 chimpanzees rescued from the illegal pet trade and deforestation. Visitors can learn about the conservation efforts and get up close to these incredible primates.
- Discover the historic Bunce Island: This former slave trading fort is a haunting reminder of Sierra Leone’s history. Guided tours provide insight into the transatlantic slave trade and the impact it had on the region.
- Go on a safari in Outamba-Kilimi National Park: This national park offers the chance to spot a wide variety of wildlife, including elephants, hippos, and various bird species. It’s a great opportunity for nature lovers and wildlife enthusiasts.
- Experience the vibrant culture in Freetown: The capital city of Sierra Leone is a melting pot of cultures and traditions. Explore the bustling markets, try local cuisine, and immerse yourself in the vibrant music and dance scene.
But Sierra Leone offers more...
🌤️ When to go?Best time to go backpacking Sierra Leone
The best time to visit Sierra Leone for backpacking is during the dry season, which typically runs from November to April. During this time, the weather is generally sunny and dry, making it easier to explore the country's natural attractions and go hiking or trekking. Additionally, the dry season is also the best time for wildlife viewing and visiting the beautiful beaches along the coastline. However, it's important to note that Sierra Leone can be visited year-round, and the country's tropical climate means that rain showers can occur even during the dry season.
Risk level: medium (50%)Safety advice for Sierra Leone
- Avoid demonstrations, protests and areas where large gatherings are taking place. Public protests and demonstrations can turn violent with little or no notice and result in serious injury or casualties. Follow the instructions of local authorities and check local media for information on ongoing demonstrations.
- Crime levels are high, including in Freetown. Common crimes include armed robbery, violent assault, burglary, pickpocketing and bag snatching. Crime increases at night. Criminals sometimes target foreigners. Don't walk in isolated areas or along dark streets. Lock your doors, even when you're inside.
- Online friendship, romance or business scams often start in West Africa, including Sierra Leone. People who travel to meet someone they've met online are at risk of kidnapping, assault or robbery. Be wary of contact from people you don't know in Sierra Leone. Don't send money to anyone in Sierra Leone until you've confirmed their identity.
- Refugees and displaced people cross the border between Sierra Leone and Guinea. Smugglers and criminal gangs operate in border areas. Violent clashes can occur. There's also unrest near the border with Liberia.
source: smartraveller.gov.au
Sierra LeoneMy tips to get you on the way!Does Sierra Leone sound like your next backpacking destination? Use these steps to get you on the way.
Get inspiration 📚
While guidebooks used to be the backpacker’s holy grail for finding accomodation, nowadays that’s more conveniently accomplished online. However, guidebooks remain an excellent resource for familiarizing oneself with the country, gaining inspiration, and discovering itineraries. I enjoy reading them before my travels and then leaving them behind at home when I embark on my journey.
While guidebooks used to be the backpacker’s holy grail for finding accomodation, nowadays that’s more conveniently accomplished online. However, guidebooks remain an excellent resource for familiarizing oneself with the country, gaining inspiration, and discovering itineraries. I enjoy reading them before my travels and then leaving them behind at home when I embark on my journey.
Prepare your trip ✅
Before embarking on your journey, several essential checks are crucial: passport, visa, vaccinations and insurance. Some countries mandate that your passport remains valid for 3 to 6 months post your return. Additionally, it is important to verify the specific visa requirements for Sierra Leone. These differ per country of origin. While you can handle visa arrangements independently, online visa services streamline the process as they know exactly what’s needed for each country. Sierra Leone may require certain vaccinations. Make sure to timely check which ones you still need. Lastly, if you don’t have a travel insurance yet, Safety Wing is a good choice as they are tailored for backpackers.
Before embarking on your journey, several essential checks are crucial: passport, visa, vaccinations and insurance. Some countries mandate that your passport remains valid for 3 to 6 months post your return. Additionally, it is important to verify the specific visa requirements for Sierra Leone. These differ per country of origin. While you can handle visa arrangements independently, online visa services streamline the process as they know exactly what’s needed for each country. Sierra Leone may require certain vaccinations. Make sure to timely check which ones you still need. Lastly, if you don’t have a travel insurance yet, Safety Wing is a good choice as they are tailored for backpackers.
Book your flight ✈️
The flight may be the most expensive part of your trip. Therefore it’s worth spending a bit of time finding the right one. Flight search engines like Skyscanner and Kayak are the best to compare all possible options. A good tip is to be flexible with your exact travel dates. Traveling one or two days earlier/later may save you some bucks. Also booking about three months in advance can help making the best deal for you (though I’m not the best one myself to follow this advice as I tend to decide last-minute). A final tip would be to check airports in neighbouring countries. Not necessarily for cost saving but it can be intriguing to journey into Sierra Leone, travel overland to one of its neighbours and fly back home from there.
The flight may be the most expensive part of your trip. Therefore it’s worth spending a bit of time finding the right one. Flight search engines like Skyscanner and Kayak are the best to compare all possible options. A good tip is to be flexible with your exact travel dates. Traveling one or two days earlier/later may save you some bucks. Also booking about three months in advance can help making the best deal for you (though I’m not the best one myself to follow this advice as I tend to decide last-minute). A final tip would be to check airports in neighbouring countries. Not necessarily for cost saving but it can be intriguing to journey into Sierra Leone, travel overland to one of its neighbours and fly back home from there.
Book your first night(s) 🛌
Depending on your travel style, you can either plan a detailed day-to-day route and pre-book your accommodations, providing peace of mind, or opt to book them spontaneously, offering greater flexibility to adjust your plan. Personally, I am a big fan of the latter approach, but I always ensure to book the first night(s) in advance.
Depending on your travel style, you can either plan a detailed day-to-day route and pre-book your accommodations, providing peace of mind, or opt to book them spontaneously, offering greater flexibility to adjust your plan. Personally, I am a big fan of the latter approach, but I always ensure to book the first night(s) in advance.
My personal packing list 🎒
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Over the years, I’ve learned the importance of packing minimally. It’s so much easier to jump on the back of a truck or squeeze yourself into the last spot of a minibus without that supersized backpack. If you’re headed to a warm destination, leave your winter jacket at home; for colder regions, opt for thin thermal underlayers. Instead of packing your entire wardrobe, bring just three sets of clothes, as laundry facilities are available everywhere.
Money & Documents
Clothing
Electronics
Health
Others
Over the years, I’ve learned the importance of packing minimally. It’s so much easier to jump on the back of a truck or squeeze yourself into the last spot of a minibus without that supersized backpack. If you’re headed to a warm destination, leave your winter jacket at home; for colder regions, opt for thin thermal underlayers. Instead of packing your entire wardrobe, bring just three sets of clothes, as laundry facilities are available everywhere.Money & Documents
Clothing
Electronics
Health
Others
Moneybelt
[Amazon]
“Best way to carry your important documents”
Quick dry pant
[Amazon]
“Nothing beats these quick dry and light pants when traveling”
Light rain jacket
[Amazon]
“Hiking in rainy season? These keep you dry”
Thermo underwear
[Amazon]
“Less weight and volume than bulky sweaters or jackets”
Quick dry towel
[Amazon]
“Normal towels get smelly and heavy when traveling”
Power bank
[Amazon]
“Pick a small and light one, with 10.000mAh or more”
Travel adapter
[Amazon]
“Needed as each country has its own electricity plugs”
Number lock
[Amazon]
“No chance of losing your key; handy for lockers in dormitories”
Packing cubes
[Amazon]
“Keep your wet or dirty clothes separate from the rest”
Travel pillow
[Amazon]
“Light and great for flights and long bus journeys”
last page update: 28 September 2024