Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
DEPARTURE TAX
The airport departure tax is US$40, payable in dollars, pounds or leones.
LAND
Guinea
The main route to Guinea is via Pamelap. Bush taxis from Freetown to Conakry run regu-
larly. The journey usually takes eight to 10 hours, depending on the season and the state of
the roads.
From Kamakwie to Kindia (Guinea) there's little transport on the Sierra Leone side,
where the road is quite bad. 4WDs usually leave Kamakwie every two or three days
(US$10, eight to 10 hours). Alternatively, hire an
okada
to the border (they'll ask for
US$20), where it's about a 1.5km walk to Medina-Oula in Guinea, which has plenty of
transport.
The road from Kabala to Faranah (Guinea), is also in bad shape and only has 4WDs
(US$13.50, four to eight hours, twice weekly).
Okada
drivers will take you to Faranah for
US$50 in four hours or you could stop in Hérémakono to get a taxi.
Liberia
You can reach Liberia via the Mano River Bridge by Bo (Waterside), provided the raft
ferry is running (otherwise you'll have to leave your car and take a pirogue, which is not
recommended for safety reasons). Taxis (US$13.50) and sometimes
poda-podas
(US$12)
depart from Bo and Kenema to the border post at Gendema (taking six to eight hours in
the dry season and 10 to 12 hours in the wet), where you walk over to Liberia and contin-
ue in one of the frequent taxis to Monrovia. If you have your own 4WD, you can reach
Monrovia in 10 to 12 hours from Freetown.
Getting Around
BOAT
Pam-pahs
(large cargo and passenger boats) operate to several towns, most notably
between Mattru Jong and Bonthe.
Speedboat hire costs from US$300 per day while slower
pam-pahs
(which hold up to
20 people) cost around US$165. In Freetown, inquire at Man o' War Bay, Government
Wharf, Kissy Terminal and the Conservation Society of Sierra Leone.
CAR
