Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
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Food & Drink
Sierra Leone is known for its cuisine, and every town has at least one
cookery
(basic eat-
ing 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 typ-
ical 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.
Star, the top-selling beer, is reasonable.
Poyo
(palm wine) is light and fruity, but getting
used to the smell and the wildlife floating in your cup takes a while.
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Environment
Sierra Leone's coast is lined with cracking beaches, mangrove swamps and many islands .
The Freetown peninsula is one of the few places in West Africa where mountains rise near
the sea. Inland are sweeping plains punctuated by random mountains, including Mt Bintu-
mani (1945m), one of West Africa's highest peaks. About 30% of the country is forested
and significant patches of primary rainforest remain in the south and east.
Outamba-Kilimi National Park (which still has elephants) in the north, and Tiwai Island
(incredible for primates) in the south are worth a visit, but don't expect East African-style
wildlife encounters.
