Sierra Leone - Info & Facts

Suggested Length of Stay

The recommended length of stay including visits to Freetown and National Parks is from 5-12 days, this depends on your interests and activities you would like to participate in.

 

 

Modes of transport

Roads

Most main roads in Freetown are narrow and paved but have potholes. Extremely narrow unpaved side streets are generally navigable. Most roads outside Freetown are unpaved and are generally passable with a four-wheel drive vehicle. However, certain stretches of mapped road are often impassable during the rainy season, which usually lasts from May to September. During the rainy season, add several hours to travel time between Freetown and outlying areas. There is a major road repair and resurfacing program going on throughout the country that is slowly improving the quality of roads.

Trains

Sierra Leone’s national railway ceased operation in the 1970s.

Taxis

Bush taxis and poda-podas (minibuses) link most towns; however, except for departures to and from Freetown and between Bo and Kenema, you’ll find that traffic is usually pretty sparse, especially on Sunday. Buses will usually cost a little less, but they are slower.

Flying

There is no internal flight network in Sierra Leone.

 

Health Precautions

Sierra Leone is one of three countries that has been at the heart of the Ebola outbreak in previous years, causing serious alarm in West Africa. The WHO officially declared Sierra Leone Ebola transmission free on 17 March 2016.

Health policies require that all travellers arriving from a yellow fever area have a vaccination certificate, but yellow fever is a risk throughout the country and immunisation is recommended for all visitors. Other recommended vaccinations include Hepatitis A, typhoid, rabies, and polio. Malaria and dengue fever are high risks and precautions against mosquito bites are advised, as well as prophylaxis for malaria, which occurs throughout the year.

 

 

Food and Drink

Sierra Leone is known for its cuisine, and every town has at least one cookery (basic eating house) serving chop (meals). Rice is the staple and plasas (pounded potato or cassava leaves, cooked with palm oil and often fish or beef) is the most common sauce. Other typical dishes include okra sauce, groundnut stew and pepper soup. Street food, such as fried chicken, roasted corn, chicken kebabs and fry fry (simple sandwiches), is easy to find.

Freetown has the country’s best bars and nightclubs, many of which keep going until dawn at the weekend, though there’s also a lively scene in Bo and Makeni. Star, the top-selling beer, is reasonable. Poyo (palm wine) is light and fruity.

 

 

Money

The official currency is the Leone (SLL), which is divided into 100 cents. Foreign currency can be exchanged at banks, foreign exchange bureau or hotels. Banks are open on weekdays only. The use of credit cards is very limited, although a few top hotels and restaurants in Freetown might accept them for payment. Not all ATMs accept foreign cards, but some major banks, such as Ecobank and Access Bank, accept foreign cards.

 

 

Time Zone

Local time is GMT.

 

 

Visas

You’ll need a visa to enter Sierra Leone. Visa and other entry and exit conditions (such as currency, customs and quarantine regulations) can change at short notice. Contact an Embassy or Consulate of Sierra Leone for up-to-date information. http://sierraleonecgtc.org.au/passports/

 

 

Embassy & Consulate contacts For Sierra Leone

Australia doesnā€™t have a diplomatic mission in Sierra Leone, please contact the Australian High Commission in Ghana for assistance.

Australian High Commission Ghana

2, Second Rangoon Close, Accra

Tel: +233 302 216 400

Email: Accrahc.Enquiries@dfat.gov.au

Sierra Leone Embassy & Consulate contacts in Australia

Consulate General of the Republic of Sierra Leone

Level 6, 16 O’Connell Street

Sydney NSW 2000 Australia

Tel: +61 2 8964 8851

Email: info@sierraleonecgtc.org.au

 

 

Electricity

Sierra Leone there are two associated plug types, types D and G. Plug type D is the plug which has three round pins in a triangular pattern and plug type G is the plug which has three rectangular pins in a triangular pattern. Sierra Leone operates on a 230V supply voltage and 50Hz.

 

 

Getting there (stopovers)

Emirates and connections with ASKY airlines fly 3 times a week to Freetown with connections in Dubai and Accra.

 

 

Tipping

A service charge of about 10 percent is included in restaurant and hotel bills, but otherwise tipping is optional.

 

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