Country 11/196: Sierra Leone
Destination: Freetown
Sierra Leone, especially its capital city, seems to be a lovely honeymoon destination! 😉 Beautiful beaches, tropical nature, great food, and an unbelievably picturesque city.
The people are very friendly and welcoming, the streets are lively and colorful, and the landscape is incredibly diverse. We really loved it. 🙂
But most of all we love and respect the fact that this country, which was troubled by war and disease for a very long time, has finally found peace.
Things to see and things to do
Some of the top attractions inside of the city and just outside of it include:
- The Cotton Tree (the symbol of Freetown)
- Sierra Leone National Museum
- Sierra Leone National Railway Museum
- Sierra Leone Peace Museum
- St. John’s Maroon Church
- Lumley Beach
- Lakka Beach
- Freetown Amusement Park – Victoria Park
- Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary
- Bunce Island
- Banana Islands
- Sugar Loaf Mountain
Where to stay
In Freetown, we were staying at the amazing Sierra Palms Resort – a modern hotel with cozy rooms, a great restaurant, and a wonderful view overlooking the ocean.
Are you planning a trip to Freetown? Here you can get a room with a 10% discount!
Budget
The prices in Sierra Leone are somewhat higher than in some of the neighboring countries. The average daily budget is around 50 USD to 100 USD (43 to 85 EUR), however, you can save quite a lot of money by traveling and eating like a local.
Best time to visit
The best time to visit Sierra Leone is from November to April, during the dry season, even though there is an increased chance of sandstorms and the dry harmattan wind from December to February. The heavy rains last from June to October and reach their peak in July and August. The temperatures are highest in March and April (reaching up to 40°C).
Environmental issues
The rapid population growth is pressuring the country’s environment. Due to the increasing need for food, agricultural lands are gradually replacing forestlands. Deforestation and soil exhaustion, which are some of the biggest environmental problems in Sierra Leone, are also caused by overharvesting of timber, expansion of cattle grazing, and slash-and-burn agriculture. Water pollution due to mining by-products and sewage is also a significant concern. Only 46% of the rural population has access to potable water. Increasing agricultural activities have resulted in soil depletion, and in coastal areas, overfishing is becoming a major concern. Moreover, the long-lasting civil war depleted the country’s natural resources.
Romance and adventure
There are lots of romantic and adventurous activities in and near Freetown. Adventurers may enjoy visiting the popular Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary, hiking the Sugar Loaf Mountain, exploring a tropical island off the shore of the city, or checking out the Freetown Amusement Park. Romance-seekers, on the other hand, may prefer spending a couple of relaxing days at one of the most popular beaches in the area.
196xLOVE
Found lots of LOVE in Sierra Leone. 😉 ♥
Honeymoon rating of the visited destinations: ♥♥♥♥♥♥♡♡♡♡
Honeymoon in charming Sierra Leone? Why not! 🙂
* Note: This is NOT a general rating of the country, it is merely our personal opinion of the mentioned site(s) as honeymoon destinations, based on the level of tourism development, the number and quality of romantic and adventurous activities and sites it offers, and safety. We strongly believe that every country is beautiful in its own way, they may simply be more or less honeymoon oriented/friendly.
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