Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary
Up and over Sugar Loaf Mountain, Sri Lankan founder Bala created Tacugama Chimpanzee
Sanctuary ( 076-611211; www.tacugama.com ; adult/child US$10/3.50; tours by appointment 10.30am & 4pm)
, a leafy, waterfall-framed hideaway set up with the purpose of educating humans about
one of our closest relatives. This excellent sanctuary remained operational throughout the
war.
You can sleep here, bedding down in tree houses (from US$90) that overlook the sanc-
tuary, or you can come for the day, watching rescued chimps lark around in enclosures or
spotting those who have been released to a larger area in the mountains beyond. Ninety-
minute tours of the sanctuary run by appointment at 10.30am and 4pm each day and you
can follow walking trails around the area.
A short drive from Freetown in the Peninsula Mountains, Tacugama is off the Regent/
Bathurst road. The last stretch of the route follows a rough, unpaved path through the rain-
forest that can only be reached by 4WD or on foot (20 minutes).
TO & FROM THE AIRPORT
Sierra Leone has something rare: a journey to and from the airport that is arguably more spectacular than the
views you'll see from the air. Lungi International Airport is located across the Sierra Leone River on an island,
and you have five options to reach it: choppers (when they're running), a slow ferry (ditto), hovercraft, speedboat
and water taxis.
Lungi International Airport is inconveniently located across the Sierra Leone River from Freetown. The fastest
way to town is by UTAir OFFLINE MAP GOOGLE MAP ( 033-807420; one way US$80) helicopter,
followed by Diamond Hovercraft OFFLINE MAP GOOGLE MAP ( 076-614888) . Both drop and
depart at Aberdeen, but they don't meet every flight. Sea Coach Express ( 033-111118; one way US$40)
runs slower, smaller boats to Aberdeen Bridge for every flight. Allied Marine OFFLINE MAP
GOOGLE MAP ( 033-664545; one way US$40) uses buses and ferries to take you to Government Wharf
in the city centre. Other companies also plan to enter the airport transport game.
The helicopters are by far the most expensive (in more than one way) option, with prices starting at US$80 for
the five-minute ride, and there have been several crashes throughout the years. Then there's the hovercraft, which
can be booked at the Visit Sierra Leone office for US$40 one-way. Speedboats arranged through Pelican or Sea
Coach Express cost US$40 and the boats are well maintained with life-jackets for all. They run in coordination
with the airport's flight schedule. The two-to-three-hour ferry was not running at the time of research, and there
were several other water taxi companies beginning operations.
You can find a taxi from any of the landing sites, although you might want to book ahead if you're arriving
early or late.
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