Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Sierra Leone is generally safe, although the biggest dangers are the roads and the tides,
both of which can claim travellers who aren't vigilant about safety. Read up on rip tides
before you travel, and be sure to wear a seatbelt whenever possible: driving safety stand-
ards aren't always the highest. Avoid walking on Freetown's beaches alone - you should
be fine on the peninsula - and it's best to walk in a group at night. Motorbike taxis are not
the safest way to travel, especially in Freetown and other places with smooth roads.
TOURIST INFORMATION
The
National Tourist Board
(
www.welcometosierraleone.org
)
might be helpful, but the best source of
pre-departure information is Visit Sierra Leone (
Click here
).
VISAS
Everyone from outside Ecowas (Economic Community of West African States) countries
needs a visa. Prices and rules vary widely by nationality of applicant and embassy of issu-
ance, but generally you need a plane ticket and a letter of invitation (a hotel reservation
should suffice), and your passport needs one year of validity, rather than the typical six
months. The regulations are generally more relaxed in embassies of neighbouring coun-
tries.
Some people manage to get visas on arrival for an extra fee, but this is unofficial and
you risk being turned away.
Visa Extensions
10am-3.30pm Mon-Fri)
in Freetown.
223220; Rawdon St;
Getting There & Away
AIR
British Airways
( 076-541230;
www.flybmi.com
;
14 Wilberforce St)
flies to London for around £700
076-333777;
www.brusselsairlines.com
; 30 Siaka Stevens St)
serves its hub in Brussels.
13 Lamina Sankoh St)
flies from Nairobi for around US$1300 return and
Royal Air Maroc
076-221015;
www.royalairmaroc.com
; 19 Charlotte St)
flies
from Casablanca for around £600.
For regional flights, Asky routes go via its hub in Lome and Arik Airlines flies to Dakar
(and onwards to London).
