Located at the outskirt of Freetown, regent village specifically is hosting Tacuguma Chimpanzee Sanctuary the most visited and widely known site in Sierra Leone. Freetown is in itself a touristic avenue to begin your traveling and visit sites such as the Lumley- Aberdeen beach with a nice view of the sun heading home coupled with beautiful Caribbean hotels.
A cocktail of frantic port activity while the city is home to one of the largest natural deep-water harbors on the globe and laid-back beachside living, this is something Sierra Leone is proud of. Cascading down the green hills of the Western Area, right to the edge of its own horseshoe bay, where mind-boggling primates will swing out to the industrial sprawl of the suburbs.
Visitors heading to the Sanctuary are required to mask-up covering nose and mouth, and early arrival is appreciated. Booking to visit the site is a must!
Due to the slippery nature of the hill, vehicles with 4-wheel drive are required to drive into the sanctuary or walk 100m uphill to the entrance.
Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary, is a perpetual zoo paradise for chimpanzees. Its breathtaking green scenery, coupled with human and ape cohabiting in an emotional and passionate intimacy, within an atmosphere devoid of noise and pollution, will leave one ecstatically enthralled with goosebumps. The Tacugama chimpanzee sanctuary is in its expansion projects across Sierra Leone. Its touristic sanctuary, possesses a potent and lucrative attraction fit for investors all over the world to come invest in, as compared to the Safari Wildlife in Kenya, South Africa, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe. Its terrestrial spans over fifty (50) hectares of land scape.
During Easter, Christmas, and major holidays in Sierra Leone, Locals throng in to tour the paradise of apes. The first family of the nation, were enthralled last year, by the renditions the amiable apes performed during their visit.
Mambo Waterfall
At the start of the trip one will be discouraged to further embark on such high ground climb. Trekking to this breath taking waterfall is not easy. It is bound to drain you of sweat. In the scorching sun, you will be gasping for breath when you finally arrive. Then the urge to plunge in the flowing water gliding over outcrop of rocks becomes so tempting. Atop the hill of the spring you have a vantage view of the Atlantic Ocean beneath. The cozy breeze you will be so refreshing and a relief. This is Mambo community for you located at Godreich, in the western rural sector of Freetown.
Youth in the community have taken advantage of the natural spring to generate income for themselves from the visitors who go there. Alhassan Sesay, community chairman said,” since we discovered this waterfall our community have been benefiting from people visiting and the little amount we collect are used to take care of those protecting the touristic site.”
They have set their own rules in a way that sort tend to maintain the sanity and integrity of the waterfall. Sesay added “with difficulties accessing Mambo waterfall due to poor road network, our community is calling on the respective authorities to look into this issue.”
However, government needs to harness the potential of Mambo waterfall to enhance its touristic value.
#2 River
About half an hour ride from Mambo junction will get you to number two (#2) river, another attractive and charming site to be. It is known for its unique qualities such as white sand, tidiness, environmentally friendly, fresh water facilities, delicious seafood.
Speaking with #2 Development Association Chairman (NDA), Francis K. Kappia he said “the beach has maintained its beauty and tidiness and will continue to attract more foreigners to explore.” Mr. Kappia outlined numerous challenges facing the community amongst which he said poor road leading to the beach sometimes discouraged people who are allergic to dust. He expressed optimism that the problem will soon be rectified. On the security aspect, “the beach has 24hrs security, we also have local security, state security personnel, and local lifeguards or rescuers to watch over the beach,” Kappia disclosed.
The facility accommodates all shades of class, and with its bungalows, classic wines and varieties of country side music to give guest good relaxing moments. At the end of your visit you will be tempted to buy beautiful locally made cloth from the local tailors and buy fresh cocoanuts or mangoes from your front porch. Once you get here, you’ll never want to go.
It is located in the Peninsula region of Western Sierra Leone and is one of the most beautiful places on earth — white sandy beaches, bright red hibiscus, blue water, golden sunsets, jumping fish and a backdrop of rolling green hills. Order shrimp or fresh lobster from the beach and eat it while you watch the sunset. Go fishing for barracuda with the experience guides.
The beach is really perfect. They are rock free with gentle waves. The slope of the beach is gradual and there’s a lagoon with flocks of nesting white birds (picathartes) for those who prefer to swim with more shelter or have young children.
Tokeh Beach
If you are a lover of sea food- your worries are over, Tokeh Beach is the suitable venue to witness upon your visit to Sierra Leone.
The beach is engulfed with natural endowment such as bamboo parasols that rustle in the Atlantics breezes, sands shimmer in gleaming yellow-golden hues; the salty whitecaps of the ocean buffet the palm-peppered shore.
Tokeh beach has been noted for its touristic potential since 1960, and till date its beauty is a thing to reckon with within the sub region.
Community residents are commonly known for their fishing activities, both young and old. Community fisher man, Abu Sankoh said “when we go out into the sea we are hopeful for good catch and when we return lovers of sea food will come around to lay hands on lobster, crimps, barracuda, crabs and many others.” Enjoy sun bathing in the sand.
Outamba Kilimi National Park
Outamba Kilimi National Park is said to be oldest park situated in the far North of Sierra Leone. In the Tambaka chiefdom the landscape begins to change from rainforest to Savanna and the park is home to a rare abundance of biodiversity that can be seen in other part of the world.
To access Outamba Kilimi using the Makeni district route its 60m drive to Kamakwie district then from Kamakwie to Kabba River (little Scarcies) 7 miles. Crossing the Little Scarcies either with wooden boat or Kabba ferry will take the life in you till you get to the other end of the river, and from the other side of the river to get to the actual park its 14m drive using motor Bike.
The commander of the forest guard, Emmanuel Kalokoh said “we have discovered Lion in the park since 2017, Leopard and many other species.”
He further revealed that some animals are friendly and others are not, but that has not derailed them from caring and maintaining the park. He encouraged visitors before heading to the park to seek permit from the main office located in Makeni as that will help them prepare to give a better guard tourist.
“We know to get to this point takes a whole lot of bumpy ride, river crossing, and that’s the more reason we give orientations about the park to visitors and allow them to rest in our cozy bungalow before tour time,” said Kalokoh.
Another guard, Abubakarr Sillah said that it is challenging with limited cameras to detect new species surfacing the park and the risk involve is another ball game.
He said the park is faced with several challenges to maintain the animals such as the threat of wild fire, illegal hunters from neighboring Guinea, timber logging the noise pollution can affect elephants and many other bio diversities.
Sillah also applauds the efforts of the government for being prompt with their monthly wages this has helped them to stay in the park without distractions, and that recently government has recruited over 500 rangers to protect various parks in the Country.
The Outamba Kilimi Park is a home to the widest array of species of any area in Sierra Leone. It is home to 13 of Sierra Leone 16 species of primates, and five species of wild cats like Lion, Leopard. The park also holds the largest remaining population of Hippopotamus and elephants in the country.
Outta Kilimi Park is located at the extreme north of Sierra Leone, unfolding close to the border with the Republic of Guinea in a mosaic of savannah and woodland, groves of gomers teaks and hills that poke just above the canopies.
Today, hundreds of Safari comers are heading there to see hippos in the muddy waters of Kilimi River, elephants in the forests, bongo antelopes on the ridges, chimpanzees and swinging mangabeys then reach for Outta Kilimi National Park.
Bunce Island
Deep in the recesses of Tagrin Bay, just a short ferry ride from the jetties of the capital at Freetown, the rock that is Bunce Island offers a glimpse into the darker days of West African history.
Even though the island is small, its strategic position at the limit of navigation for ocean-going ships in Africa’s largest natural harbor made it an ideal base for European slave traders.
Just one of 40 individual citadels that were raised by the Europeans along the shoreline of the region during the heyday of the slave trade, the spot is known to have been one of the primary points where British vessels laden with captured people departed for the colonies of South Carolina and Georgia across the Atlantic.
Late General Colin Powell, then Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, visited Bunce Island on an official trip to Sierra Leone. Powell spoke of his feelings in a farewell speech he made before leaving the country; “I am an American … but today, I am something more … I am an African too … I feel my roots here in this continent.”
Like him and many others are visiting to see the preserved Castile, and learn all about this sobering episode of Sierra Leone’s past.
Banana Island
Although it cannot reveal all the beauty of this exotic and extraordinary destination, it provides a clear perspective of the culture, history, natural surroundings, accommodation, guided tours, sport fishing, scuba diving, excursions and beach sports in of one of the most beautiful islands in West Africa, and one of the main tourist attractions in Sierra Leone.
The beauty of the country with unspoiled beaches, friendly people, exciting tourist activities, charming beach resorts and rewarding encounters while traveling, will make Sierra Leone a truly memorable experience.
Languishing off the coast of the Western Area, south from the capital at Freetown, the finger of land that forms Banana Island has all the shimmering, alabaster-hued beaches and lush rainforest you’d expect of a place so deep in the tropics.
You can also head inland, and seek out the vine-clambered ruins of old colonial depots and slave processing centers.
Tiwai Island
In the heart of Sierra Leone’s Southern Province engulfed by the weaving, winding capillaries of the Moa River as the main channels splits. Tiwai Island remains one of the most famous conservation spots in the country.
A rare draw away from the coast, the riparian land is home to some of the last remaining virgin rainforest in Sierra Leone.
And the wildlife is equally as totemic, with Diana monkeys and pygmy hippos, tool-using chimpanzees and curious pangolins all making the reserve their home.
Sierra Leone is still a hidden gem waiting on the edge to be exposed worldwide and to attract tourist who are ready to tap its beauty. Amongst the mentioned areas, there are other places such Sherbro Island, Turtle Island, Gola Forest Reserve, Bo town, Lungi, Kabala, and Kamboi Hills Forest Reserve waiting to be unraveled.