Visit Sierra Leone

VisitSierraLeone.org (VSL) is more than just a comprehensive online guide for travellers to Sierra Leone. We are also a local tour operator based in Freetown offering a wide range of travel related services that include the organization of individual trips throughout the country, quick visa processing with minimum bureaucracy, car hire and accommodation (anything from deluxe to budget) for travelers and general logistic support. 

As a tour operator we are ambitious and very customer driven. Since we are convinced that tourism has to be responsible and sustainable, we are always trying to implement this approach and promote Sierra Leone as a holiday destination in a manner that reflects this. 

Since its launch, VSL has been challenging the negative perceptions held of Sierra Leone and continuously promoted the tourism industry and its institutions. In September 2005, VSL took part in the filming of a documentary for the BBC which focused on the industry’s opportunities and challenges. The programme which was shown on the BBC and SLBS TV significantly raised the profile of VSL and our visitor base.

The National Tourist Board of Sierra Leone has endorsed VSL with its official stamp of approval in recognition of the work being carried out by Visit Sierra Leone.

The interactive forum is a dynamic support system and is of particular interest to first-time visitors and investors as they can seek advice on various aspects relating to their trip from the community.

Bradt Travel Guide for Sierra Leone says of Visit Sierra Leone: "The website and lively forum remain the most useful resource around planning a trip to Sierra Leone or researching information"

Lonely Planet West Africa Guide said of our forum community “Tons of travel advice and an active discussion forum where, no matter how obscure your inquiry, someone will probably have an answer”.

The Team

Abimbola Carrol

Bimbola is the founder of Visit Sierra Leone (VSL) and has played a major part in the revival of tourism since 2004. The Bradt Guide for Sierra Leone says "Bimbola Carrol has single handedly done more to promote awareness of Sierra Leone as a tourist destination than anyone else."

In 2005, he took part in a documentary for BBC World which explored the Tourism potential and challenges for Sierra Leone. This later formed the basis of DFID’s Tourism Promotional Video released a year later. Bimbola often provides consultancy and advice to various individuals and businesses seeking information on Sierra Leone tourism industry on a formal and informal basis.

Since launching the site in 2004, he has overseen the growth of Visit Sierra Leone to what is now the most comprehensive website for Sierra Leone Travel Services and Information. He supervises the publication of a monthly online newsletter which contains the latest developments in the travel industry and Sierra Leone in general.

Bimbola is also one half of VSL Property which is a Real Estate Company in Sierra Leone. His background is in Marketing and IT with Internet Marketing being his forte through his web development company Otolo Web Solutions. Following frequent trips to Sierra Leone, Bimbola returned to Freetown in December 2007, to continue developing Visit Sierra Leone as a leading tour operator in Sierra Leone.

Philida Lewis - Finance and Admin Officer

Philida joined Visit Sierra Leone last year on work experience. At end the end of the period she was offered full time employment with Visit Sierra Leone. She is also a student at the Institute of Public Administration and Management (University of Sierra Leone) where she is pursuing studies in Business Administration. She comes with customer service experience acquired as a Supervisor at Beautiful Babes Day Care. She deals with inquiries at Visit Sierra Leone and general administration duties.

Mike Carrol

Mike is the grand overseer of Visit Sierra Leone and ran the Freetown operation whilst Abimbola was in the UK. His business experience is vast and extremely valuable to Visit Sierra Leone. Mike has run his own business as an Importer, Wholesaler and Manufacturers Representative for medicaments and general merchandise since 1994. He is the agent for Kensington International Marketing Company Ltd. - UK. He is currently the Chairman of the Boards of Access Bank (Sierra Leone) Ltd and the National Petroleum Company Ltd; and is a past President of the Sierra Leone Chamber of Commerce. He is a Director of The Pharmacy Board of Sierra Leone, FABRA Construction Company Ltd. and the Vine Memorial Secondary School for Girls. He has extensive links in the business community and provides business advice and consultancy as necessary.