Visit Sierra Leone

Travelling to Sierra Leone requires a fair amount of planning and we advise arranging as much as possible in advance. Visas, insurance, vaccinations, hotels, what to bring - you need answers to all these questions, and we are here to help. Let us help you put the pieces together and make your travel experience a pleasurable one.

Visas and Travel Documents

All persons entering Sierra Leone must have a valid passport or travel document. Citizens of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) do not require a visa to enter the country, but citizens of all other countries do. You cannot get a visa on arrival. Visas are issued at Sierra Leone's overseas missions but if you want to do it the easy way then have a look at our visa service page. 

Health Requirements

A vaccination certificate for yellow fever is required if traveling to and from certain areas. Consult the National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) (http://www.nathnac.org/travel/index.htm) or the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (http://www.cdc.gov/travel/) for up to date travel health information.  You should take anti-malaria tablets and consult your doctor or specialist travel clinic at least six to eight weeks prior to travel regarding other health precautions for traveling to tropical regions. If you travel outside of Freetown, there will be fewer opportunities for health care, particularly in remote regions. Even in Freetown services are significantly more limited than you would have at home.

Travel Insurance / Medical Insurance

We advise that visitors purchase comprehensive travel insurance covering injury, illness, death, delayed lost or damaged baggage and personal belongings. A medical evacuation policy should be added to your coverage.

Credit Card Use in Sierra Leone

Credit card use in Sierra Leone is very limited. You can now withdraw cash (Le250,000 at a time) from Pro-Credit Bank ATMs (Lumley, Kissy Road and Rawdon Street) and visa machines (POS) are being installed at some select business. However, the majority of transactions are done in cash. All services provided by Visit Sierra Leone can be settled in advance using your credit card.

Hotels and Other Accommodation Options

The best hotels in Sierra Leone would probably be 3-star hotels if ranking internationally. Bear in mind that even though you may be staying at one of the more expensive hotels, the service can still be a bit suspect. Other options include renting a room with a Sierra Leonean family, or staying in one of the cheaper guesthouses in the centre of town. 

Local People and Customs

The people of Sierra Leone welcome visitors and are proud to show off their country. There are few social restrictions, though sensitivity is suggested in the more rural areas. English is widely spoken in Freetown though Krio and tribal languages are more prevalent in the countryside. Translators are available.

Always ask permission before taking pictures of nationals. In most cases they will be happy to comply, especially if you promise to send them a copy of the picture!  But if you promise, be sure to follow through!

If you have more questions, check out our forum's "Travel Advice" section, where someone from our community is likely to have almost any answer you need.