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Travel Guide
Visiting Sierra Leone
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Discover
Top Attractions in Sierra Leone
The most iconic and unmissable experiences this country has to offer.
UNESCO World Heritage
Tiwai Island Wildlife Sanctuary
This 12-square-kilometre island in the Moa River was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2025 as part of the Gola-Tiwai Complex, and is home to one of the world's highest concentrations and diversity of primates, including western chimpanzees, the Diana monkey, and the king colobus. Pygmy hippopotami wade the surrounding waters, and over 135 bird species inhabit the forest canopy. Visitors stay at an ecotourism camp run by a local NGO, with all revenue directed back into conservation and community development.
Bunce Island
Set in the Sierra Leone River about 30 kilometres upstream from Freetown, Bunce Island is the site of a British slave fort that operated from the 1670s until 1807 and dispatched tens of thousands of captive Africans to the Americas. The ruins of the fort, slave yard, watchtowers, and magazine remain on this small island, which sits on UNESCO's Tentative World Heritage List and was Sierra Leone's first officially protected historic site. Boat trips from Freetown bring visitors to one of West Africa's most significant sites of transatlantic slavery history.
Wise
Your bank marks up every USD you spend in Sierra Leone. Wise doesn't.
- No foreign transaction fees
- Free ATM withdrawals up to your limit
- Pay in local currency at the real rate
4.8 ★ App Store·4.8 ★ Google Play
Airalo eSIM
Your phone plan was built for home. This one was built for Sierra Leone.
- No SIM swapping
- No data roaming charges
- Active in minutes
4.7 ★ App Store·4.6 ★ Google Play
Health & Safety
Health & Emergency Info
Before You Travel
Before you travel check that: your destination can provide the healthcare you may need you have appropriate travel insurance for local treatment or unexpected medical evacuation This is particularly important if you have a health condition or are pregnant. Emergency medical number Call 117 and ask for an ambulance. Ambulance services are unreliable in Freetown and unavailable throughout most of the country. Staff are not usually trained paramedics and often have little or no medical equipment. Some private hospitals, particularly in Freetown, operate their own commercial ambulances. Injured or
Full health advice (FCDO) →Emergency Numbers
Police999
Ambulance999
Fire999
Health information sourced from UK FCDO. Always consult a travel health professional before departure.
Practical Info
Travel Essentials
Travel Guide
Frequently Asked Questions About Visiting Sierra Leone
Entry requirements vary by passport. Check the requirements for your specific passport on the Sierra Leone page at Yoogo.
Sierra Leone uses the Leone (ISO code SLE), introduced in 2022. Cash is the dominant means of payment outside of a handful of upmarket hotels and restaurants in Freetown, so it is advisable to carry sufficient local currency, which can be obtained at banks and bureaux de change in the capital.
Sierra Leone is a peaceful country and many visitors travel without incident, but it is advisable to stay aware of your surroundings, avoid displaying valuables, and check current government travel advisories before your trip. Petty theft is the most commonly reported issue, particularly in busy markets and ferry terminals in Freetown.
Within Freetown, shared taxis and poda-podas (minibuses) are the main forms of public transport, alongside okada motorcycle taxis and three-wheeled keke taxis. Travel between towns is served by poda-podas and shared taxis departing from poda-poda parks; journeys to the provinces are on largely unpaved roads, so journey times can be long, particularly during the rainy season.
The dry season from November to April is generally considered the best time to visit, with the months of November through January offering the most pleasant conditions for sightseeing and beach travel. The wet season from May to October brings heavy rainfall, with July and August seeing the most intense downpours that can make some roads impassable.
English is the official language and is used in government, education, and formal business. Krio, a creole language descended partly from English and spoken by the majority of the population as a first or second language, serves as the common tongue across ethnic groups, and learning a few basic phrases such as 'kusheh' (hello) and 'tenki' (thank you) is warmly appreciated.
A yellow fever vaccination certificate is mandatory for entry and will be checked on arrival. Malaria is a high risk throughout the country, so antimalarial medication should be taken as prescribed; other commonly recommended vaccinations include hepatitis A, typhoid, and polio. Travellers should consult a travel health clinic at least four to eight weeks before departure.
Tipping is appreciated but not obligatory; in mid-range and upmarket restaurants a tip of around 10 per cent is appropriate if a service charge has not already been added to the bill. For tour guides, drivers, and hotel staff, a modest tip in local currency is a well-received gesture for good service.