January, 12, 2022
By Audrey John
The New York Times, a popular American daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership has listed Sierra Leone as the 21st out of 52 places in the world to visit in 2022 for its richness in eco-tourism.
In the 1980s, the sandy, palm-fringed beaches of Sierra Leone used to attract high-flying tourists from Europe and beyond, but visitors disappeared when civil war broke out in the 1990s. Today, after nearly 20 years of peace and nearly six years after an Ebola outbreak ended, most have yet to return.
This small but rich in natural resources nation has an enormous amount to offer adventurous visitors. Authorities hope that tourism will be a more sustainable resource than diamonds or gold. Visitors to Sierra Leone can spend night in a jungly eco-lodge at the Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary where they can enjoy a cold beer and fresh lobster on the beaches of the Western Peninsular, learn about a painful chapter in history on a tour of the ruined slave fort on Bunce Island and make the three or four-day expedition to the top of 6,381-foot Mount Bintumani, the country’s highest peak.
This commendation by an International Press (New York Times) comes after the Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Dr. Memunatu Pratt has made tremendous strides in changing the narrative of the Tourism sector.