On the southwest coast of West Africa, you’ll find an small, yet incredible country home boasting tropical weather and stunning beaches. Sierra Leone home to around eight million people is an absolute gem yet to be discovered by many. The beautiful African country has been dubbed the Hawaii of Africa thanks to its variety of sandy stretches, rich bio-diveristy, and cultural heritage.
Sierra Leone is a land full of remarkable landscapes and so activites to enjoy. Whether you enjoy a holiday full of activites, prefer to relax, or seek adventure, then Sierra Leone is the place for you as it offers opportunites of all three and more. With the country only welcoming tens of thousands of tourists every year, its worth visiting soon as you get the ultimate getaway without all the crowds.
The country’s River Number Two Beach is generally considered to be one of the most popular across the country. The palm-fringed beach that boasts white powdery sand and emerald waters is located 25 kilometres from the capital, Freetown.
The beach is a great for swimmers, with a lagoon located on the southern end which even beginners and those learning to swim can even make use of.
Rated an impressive 4.4 out of five stars on TripAdvisor, one person said: “Love the beach, love the view! It’s the best beach in town and it’s absolutely beautiful. You can order some food there and if I remember correctly one of the guys that worked there said you could go surfing but I didn’t try that out though.”
The country is also to plenty of national parks and reserves, perfect for nature and animal lovers. The Gola Forest Reserve spans 350,000 and according to Sierra Leone’s tourism board, it is one of West Africa’s most important biodiversity hotspots.
It boasts an amazing selection of wildlfe from 49 mammal species, including the pygmy hippo and forest elephant, to 327 bird species, such as the Nimba flycatcher and Gold Malimbe. It also has over 200 species of tree, and is home to over 60 threatened species like the western colobus monkey, zebra duilker and rufous fishing-owl.
Hiking and trekking across the country’s terrain is the perfect way to really explore every corner of Sierra Leone, as you get to pass some of its most famed spots including the Sugarloaf Mountain which overlooks Freetown, and the stunning Mambo Waterfall.
Whatever kind of holiday experience you are looking for, you will certainly find it in Sierra Leone.