Sierra Leone Adventure: History, Culture & Nature

Sierra Leone's tourism industry is still in its infancy, and there are some challenges to overcome, like a lack of infrastructure in some locations, reliable systems, and trained leaders and guides. Even the most experienced leaders are still very new to group travel. Sites are occasionally closed with little or no notice and restoration work is common. You’ll need to have a degree of flexibility when travelling here.

We've sourced our accommodation very carefully and picked the best possible hotels in line with the Intrepid style of travel, but service levels and accommodation in West Africa may differ from standards at home. In certain regions, electricity may be available only during specific hours. Hot water and air conditioning can be unreliable and Wi-Fi access is not widely available.

Ramadan is an annual month-long festival, during which travel can be a rewarding cultural experience. However, some regular services may not be available during the day, such as restaurants or cafes, and occasionally, travel can be disrupted by events. Your leader will adjust the itinerary accordingly, but please consider this when selecting your travel dates. You’ll find dates and further information in the ‘Climate and seasonal information’ section of the Essential Trip Information.

1. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement applies to all nights of your trip and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
2. A complimentary airport arrival transfer is included; valid if you are arriving on Day 1 or if you have booked pre-tour accommodation through us. You must provide your flight details to your booking agent at least 14 days prior to travel.

What you need to bring will vary according to the countries you are visiting, the time of year you are travelling, and your personal preferences. We recommend that you pack as lightly as possible (max 15-20 kg) and make sure that you are able to carry your luggage and walk with it for short distances.

Most travellers carry their luggage in a backpack, duffle bag or medium to small suitcases with wheels. We recommend bags with carry straps to make handling easier. You'll also need a day pack/bag for hikes and day trips.

The weather in Sierra Leone is quite hot and humid all year round. We recommend lightweight, breathable fabrics like cotton, linen, and moisture-wicking/quick-dry synthetics designed for hot weather. Avoid materials that are heavy, non-breathable, and retain heat or moisture, such as nylon, polyester, and denim. You will have opportunities to do laundry during your trip.

Ex-military or military-style clothing and equipment is prohibited in West Africa.

ESSENTIALS:
- Sleeping bag – lightweight/summer or sleep sheet
- A smaller backpack to take with you on excursions
- Lightweight long shirts and pants for protection against the sun and insects
- Comfortable clothing for hot weather; shorts, t-shirts, activewear
- Closed-toed comfortable walking shoes to protect your feet in wilderness areas
- Sandals suitable for beach/water activities
- Light waterproof/windproof jacket for rain and wind
- Fleece or jumper/sweater for cooler mornings/evenings
- Sunscreen – biodegradable and waterproof if available
- Lip balm with SPF
- Sun protection – sunglasses and sunhat
- Swimming costume and cover-up
- Biodegradable shampoo, conditioner, soap, moisturizer, etc
- Torch, flashlight or headlight for potential power outages
- Toiletries- toothbrush, toothpaste, razor, nail clippers, etc
- Reusable water bottle
- Insect repellent

RECOMMENDED:
- Personal medical kit. Your guide will carry a large kit, but we recommend you carry items such as mild painkillers, electrolytes, anti-diarrhea, antibacterial gel, wet wipes, after-sun, bandaids/plasters, etc.
- Spare batteries or power bank
- Binoculars
- Dry bag
- Camera

OPTIONAL:
- Sarong or pareo – beach towels are provided by the hotels
- Book, journal, music, podcasts, etc.
- Ear plugs

PERSONAL MEDICATION
Please ensure you travel with all required medications that you may need while in West Africa. If you are prone to motion sickness, you might want to pack some preventative medication. You are travelling to quite a remote destination, and even though there are pharmacies, they may not stock your required medication.

DRESS CONSIDERATIONS FOR WOMEN AND GENDER-DIVERSE TRAVELLERS:
In certain parts of Africa, we recommend women and gender-diverse travellers dress in a way that respects local customs and traditions. While there’s a wide range of cultural practices, we recommend packing a few items like skirts or shorts that reach just above the knee, tops that cover the shoulders, or cover-ups when stepping off the beach in coastal areas. Your leader will be able to advise you on when it is appropriate to dress more conservatively.

VALUABLES:
Please try to avoid bringing unnecessary valuables and use your hotel safe. It’s also a good idea to purchase a money belt or pouch that is easily hidden. We strongly recommend that you photocopy all important documents e.g. air tickets, passport, vaccination certificate, etc. and keep the copies separate from the originals. While not valid, a photocopy makes it very much easier to obtain replacements if necessary.

BATTERIES/POWER:
This trip has access to power throughout to recharge phones, cameras, laptops, etc. However, due to occasional power outages, we recommend that you carry an extra batteries or a power bank just in case. We recommend that you bring a universal adapter that covers Types C, E, D, and G for this trip. Additionally, make sure your devices are compatible with the 220-240V range, or use a voltage converter if necessary.

Hotel Barmoi, 75C Cape Road, Aberdeen, Freetown, SIERRA LEONE

Alternate Joining Point

A complimentary airport arrival transfer is included; valid if you are arriving on Day 1 or if you have booked pre-tour accommodation through us. You must provide your flight details to your booking agent at least 14 days prior to travel.

For your pre-booked arrival transfer, you will be met at the airport terminal exit by a transfer representative holding an Intrepid sign. If you are unable to locate your representative or if your flight is delayed, please call our hotline at +23279406129 or +23276258258. Please note that neither the driver nor any representative should request additional payment from you.

If you are you are making your own way from Freetown International Airport to the joining-point hotel, we recommend using the Sea Coach Express ferry. Tickets cost approximately USD 45 and can be purchased at the Sea Coach desk outside the airport terminal. A shuttle will transfer you to the jetty for a 30-minute boat ride to Aberdeen, Freetown. From there, taxis are available outside the terminal exit. The journey to the hotel takes about 15 minutes and costs approximately USD 20 per person.

Hotel Barmoi, 75C Cape Road, Aberdeen, Freetown, SIERRA LEONE

Alternate Finish Point

A complimentary departure transfer from our hotel to the airport is available if arranged 10 days before departure. Please advise your departure flight details at least 14 days before your tour start date. If you plan to stay longer, this departure transfer can only be offered in conjunction with post-tour accommodation booked through Intrepid.

If you have booked a post-trip airport transfer, please ask your leader to confirm the time of departure and meeting place. If you have any problems, please call our operations team by phone or WhatsApp at +23276258258 or +23275023481.

If you are making your own way to the airport, please note that ferries and water taxis generally depart Freetown at least 4 hours prior to flight departure. We recommend using the Sea Coach Express ferry. Please speak to your leader if you require assistance arranging transport

Hotel check-out time is 12:00 noon. If your departure is later, you may arrange luggage storage at the hotel.

Breakfasts included: 5

Lunches included: 3

Dinners included: 2

While travelling with us you'll experience the vast array of wonderful food available in the world. Your group leader or local representative will be able to suggest restaurants to try during your trip. To give you the maximum flexibility in deciding where, what and with whom to eat, generally not all meals are included in the trip price. This also gives you more budgeting flexibility. As a rule, our groups tend to eat together to enable you to taste a larger variety of dishes and enjoy each other's company. If you have dietary requirements and/or food allergies, please let your booking agent know prior to departure.

NUT ALLERGIES:
Please be aware that nuts are commonly used in many dishes across West Africa. If you have a nut allergy, exercise caution, as food regulations may be more relaxed than you might be used to, cross-contamination can occur, and not all ingredients may be disclosed. It is essential to communicate your allergy clearly to your booking agent, tour leader, food vendors and restaurants to minimize risk.

Travelling with a food allergy? We have some advice for you here: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/adventures/travelling-food-allergies-south-east-asia/

RESTAURANT WAIT TIMES
In West Africa, you can expect warm and friendly service, but it's important to note that standards can vary, and wait times may be longer than what you're accustomed to.

Sierra Leone has a tropical climate with two distinct seasons: the wet season and the dry season. Temperatures generally range from 24°C to 32°C (75°F to 90°F), with high humidity throughout the year, particularly along the coast. The wet season runs from May to October, bringing heavy rains and lush, green landscapes, while the dry season extends from November to April, marked by hotter days, lower humidity, and winds blowing in from the Sahara.

RAMADAN
The important month of Ramadan is expected to be in progress 16 February to 18 March 2026 and the Eid ul-Fitr festival will be held directly at its conclusion for 3-4 days. Ramadan is a festival of sacrifice where the devout refrain from eating or drinking during daylight hours. During Ramadan, business hours are shortened, including opening hours at some tourist attractions. Alcohol is not permitted during daylight hours and many restaurants will be closed. While you should expect some delays and inconveniences during this period, the month is a fantastic opportunity to travel in a Muslim country and witness this unique period, particularly the nightly celebrations when the sun sets and the fast is broken. Please note that although the Eid ul-Fitr festival can also be a fascinating time to travel it's a period of national holiday. Most government offices and businesses will be closed and some tourist site opening hours may be affected.

While we always endeavour to provide the best possible holiday experience, due to the nature of travel and the areas we visit sometimes things can and do go wrong. Should any issue occur while you are on your trip, it is imperative that you discuss this with your group leader or local representative straight away so that they can do their best to rectify the problem and save any potential negative impact on the rest of your trip.

We recognise that there may be times when your group leader or local representative may not be able to resolve a situation to your satisfaction - if this is the case, please ask the group leader or local representative to speak to their direct manager.

You may also choose to provide details in your online feedback, which we ask you to complete within 30 days of the end of your trip. Please do be aware that it is very difficult for us to provide any practical help after the trip is completed, so informing us while still travelling will give us the opportunity to resolve the issue in real-time.

For general contact details please use the following page: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/contact-us

In case of a genuine crisis or emergency, you can reach our local office on the numbers below:

Muctaru Rogers: +23276877618

The style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline only and may change. On some occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our preferred accommodation. In these cases, we will use a similar standard of accommodation.

Throughout the trip, we request that our properties prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we're arriving prior to normal check-in time. However, this isn't always possible, which means we won't be able to check in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination or, on some trips, have use of shared day rooms until all rooms are available.

ACCOMMODATION:
Some of the accommodation along the way is basic or simple, staying in local guesthouses and community run campsites. In Sierra Leone, electricity supply can be unreliable, with many properties operating on generators for limited hours. Hot water, water pressure, and air conditioning are inconsistent, and Wi-Fi is rarely available outside of Freetown. Mosquito nets may not always be provided. Please also note that many properties outside Freetown accept cash only, so plan accordingly.

ROOM ISSUES:
If you have any issues with your room, please speak to the hotel and your tour leader right away rather than your travel agent so that the problem can be addressed without delay.

TRANSPORT IN WEST AFRICA:
Main roads in West Africa are usually very busy with an assortment of vehicles from the biggest trucks (who always have right of way) down to bikes (and animals!). Overtaking on blind corners at speed is common as is the total use of the horn as a form of communication. Our leaders have complete authority to remove groups from local transport if the driver is not driving safely. Our driver guides are experienced and well trained. If you are ever uncomfortable, please always let your tour leader know immediately. Please ensure you wear your seat belt at all times.

TRAVEL TIMES:
Distances in West Africa do not reflect the driving time and to cover 100km may take much longer than you would expect at home, even if much of the route is on a highway.