How West Africa's best-kept secret is preparing to welcome more tourists

Sierra Leone’s natural environment makes it a tempting draw for adventurous travellers, with surfing on Bureh Beach, diving at the remote Turtle Islands and hiking Mount Bintumani (the highest peak in West Africa) all highlights.

There are also plans for a new eco-tourism circuit that includes Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary and Mt Bintumani. The route will comprise regenerative and community-led tourism projects that both create opportunities for local people and help protect the local environment. The Tacugama team has provided training for 21 eco-guards to patrol in Loma Mountains National Park, providing livelihood support and helping educate on how to safeguard chimpanzees. 

Hamid Carew says: “When new visitors arrive in Sierra Leone, many are struck by just how friendly and safe the country feels. The past’s challenges have built a real resilience and tolerance in the Sierra Leonean people, who have a positive outlook on the future of the country.”

The government is working to promote domestic tourism and to engage and invest local communities in the array of opportunities offered by tourism. Hamid Carew explains: “One core way that we are working to develop this is through our domestic scheme, Tourism for All. The programme includes a wide range of events and initiatives, including discounted entry to Sierra Leone’s top cultural and natural attractions for local people. We hope that Tourism for All will instil a sense of pride in Sierra Leone, which in turn will encourage more to work within the tourism sector, driving the economy.” 

An example of local engagement is the Freetown the Treetown project, a 2023 Earthshot Prize finalist, which aims to reverse the deforestation caused by urban development in the city. The city has enlisted tree guardians to plant and monitor trees, which are tracked via an online platform. Since inception, nearly one million trees have been planted. 

Book it: Rainbow Tours’ 10-night Sierra Leone Made Simple starts from £3,045pp; rainbowtours.co.uk. Undiscovered Destinations’ eight-day Forts, Chimps and Beaches starts from £2,085pp; undiscovered-destinations.com