Things to do in Sierra Leone

Beaches that rival anywhere in West Africa, a capital whose name literally means 'Freetown' for the freed and formerly enslaved people who settled it, and a country actively rebuilding its tourism identity after a difficult recent past.

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What's worth your time in Sierra Leone

Relax on River Number Two Beach

Nature

Consistently ranked among the finest beaches in West Africa, with fine white sand and calm water near Freetown's Western Area peninsula.

Explore Freetown's founding history at the Cotton Tree

Culture

A massive, centuries-old tree at the heart of the capital, symbolically tied to the 1792 arrival of freed formerly enslaved settlers.

Visit Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary

Nature

A respected rehabilitation center for orphaned and rescued chimpanzees, set within a forest reserve just outside Freetown.

Relax on Bureh Beach, a surf-friendly stretch of coast

Nature

A community-run beach known for consistent surf breaks and a laid-back, locally owned tourism model distinct from larger resort development.