Sierra Leone
Africa · Freetown · SL
Sierra Leone is the small, Atlantic country of the coast of West Africa, the republic of the palm-lined peninsula, the rivers and the mountains of the Lion Mountain, whose name the Portuguese navigators gave to the roar of the surf of the shore. The country, rebuilt with enormous courage and dignity after the terrible civil war of the turn of the century, holds the beautiful capital of the Freetown with its mountain backdrop and its long beaches, the wild interior of the rainforests and the oldest settlements of the freed slaves of the continent. The islands and the turquoise bays of the south, the forests of the primates and the warm, irresistibly friendly people of the country complete the picture of the gentle, undefeated Atlantic republic. Green, beautiful and staggering in its resilience, Sierra Leone is the warmest heart of the whole of the West African coast.
Overview
Sierra Leone is a country in Africa. Its capital is Freetown and the international dialling code is +232. Languages commonly used in everyday life here include English. Local currency is the Sierra Leonean Leone (SLL). We also list 1 city in Sierra Leone: Freetown.
The Capital of the Freetown and the Mountains of the Peninsula
The capital of the Freetown, the crowded city of the coast that spreads along the peninsula of the country between the sea and the high mountains of the interior, is the great heart of the republic, named for the freed slaves who founded it and loved it as the home of the liberty. The city, which climbs the green slopes of the mountain and runs along the beaches of the southern coastline, holds the historic landmarks of its foundation, the cotton tree of the settlers, the churches and the cathedrals of the missionary era and the museums of the national history. The market of the capital, the city of the port and the everyday commerce of the jam-packed streets, complete the picture of this loud, warm, utterly alive capital of the West African coast, where the welcome of the people is as legendary as the beauty of the shore.
The Beaches of the Peninsula and the Palms of the Ocean
The peninsula of the capital, the beautiful headland of the country that ends in the lighthouse of the Cape of the country, is ringed by some of the most beautiful undeveloped beaches of the whole of West Africa, the long sweeps of the golden sand fringed by the coconut palms and washed by the clean Atlantic surf. The beaches of the peninsula, from the famous crescent of the River Number Two with its lagoon and the film-star beauty of the shoreline to the quieter coves and the resorts of the south of the cape, offer the visitor the swimming, the surfing, the palm-fringed shade and the beach bars of the laid-back Atlantic world. The nesting of the sea turtles on the outer beaches of the peninsula and the fishing villages of the bays, with their canoes and their warm welcome, complete the picture of the paradise coast of the country.
The Forests of the Interior and the Chimpanzees of the Sanctuary
The interior of the country, the green forested land of the hills, the rivers and the diamond-bearing soils of the region, holds the wild heart of the natural world of Sierra Leone. The sanctuary of the Tacugama, the celebrated chimpanzee rescue centre that lies in the forest of the western area, cares for the orphaned chimpanzees of the region and gives the visitor the moving encounter with the great apes of the country, and the forest reserves of the interior, with their diana monkeys, their birds and their forest elephants, hold the last wildlife of the land. The national park of the south, the protected area of the rivers and the savanna, with its hippos, its antelopes and its enormous flocks of the birds, completes the full wild circle of the natural Sierra Leone.
The Islands of the Banana and the History of the Atlantic
The islands of the great bay of the south of the country, the islands of the Banana and the islands of the Sherbro that scatter across the turquoise Atlantic off the southern coast, are the beautiful, remote and historic corners of the maritime world of the republic. The islands, inhabited by the communities of the freed descendants of the recaptives of the colony, were the scene of the traffic and the freedom of the Atlantic era, and the villages of the islands, with their wooden houses and their deep sense of the history of the ocean, welcome the visitor to their extraordinary story. The beaches and the reefs of the islands, the fishing and the relaxing of the island world of the Atlantic, complete the picture of the slow, the deeply historic and the pristine southern seascape of the country.
The Music and the Markets of the People of the Country
The music of the country, born of the deep drumming of the peoples of the interior and the high-life, the palm-wine guitar and the modern pop of the coast, is the soundtrack of the everyday life of the republic, celebrated in the clubs and the concerts of the capital. The street music, with its famous solo guitar of the palm-wine tradition, its danceable highlife and the bounce of the contemporary songs, celebrates the indomitable spirit of the people, and the markets, from the great markets of the capital and the provincial towns to the tiny produce markets of the villages, run the daily life of the republic. The life of the country, the unhurried, laughing rhythm of the street and the football of the evening, completes the picture of the warm, modern African society of the Atlantic.
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- Capital
- Freetown
- Currency
- Sierra Leonean Leone (SLL)
- Languages
- English
- Calling code
- +232
- Internet TLD
- sl
Entry requirements
Check who can enter →See which passports travel visa-free or need a visa to enter Sierra Leone.
Which nationalities can enter Sierra Leone?
Current visa status for tourism for the origins we cover, with links to the detailed requirements.
Cities (1)
All cities →Frequently asked questions
Do I need a visa to visit Sierra Leone?
For the origins we track, Sierra Leone requires a visa for tourism (Morocco: e-visa). Entry rules depend on your passport, so confirm the current requirements for your own nationality with our entry requirements tool.
What is the capital of Sierra Leone?
Freetown is the capital of Sierra Leone, and the country sits in Africa.
What currency is used in Sierra Leone?
You pay with Sierra Leonean Leone (SLL) in Sierra Leone. Exchange rates move day to day, so check the current rate before you change money or use your card abroad.
Which languages do people speak in Sierra Leone?
The languages we list for Sierra Leone are English. A couple of greetings in the local language go a long way when you travel, even in cities where another language is widely used.
What is the international dialling code for Sierra Leone?
The dialling code for Sierra Leone is +232 — keep the plus sign when you save the number.
Which cities in Sierra Leone do you cover?
Our guide lists 1 city for Sierra Leone: Freetown (capital).