Book cheap flights to Freetown

Like most of its fellow West African cities, Freetown boasts consistently high temperatures, which generally hover between the mid 20˚Cs and mid 30˚Cs with little variation throughout the year. However, the months of July to August stand out as the city’s peak rainy season. This time of year is ever so slightly cooler, but the high levels of rain nonetheless mark this out as the low season for tourists. It’s the best time to come if you’d like to avoid the crowds and take advantage of lower prices, but you’d best have your raincoat. By contrast, December to March marks the drier season; and though it remains warm, it offers ideal seaside weather that makes it prime tourist season. Schedule your visit for around this time if you fancy a beach holiday, but be prepared to weather out some heavier crowds and higher prices.

South Africans will require a visa to enter Sierra Leone. Sierra Leone has no direct representation in South Africa itself, but further details can be found online

The South African Honourary Consulate in Sierra Leone is located in Freetown, at 20 Siaka Stevens Street, in Leone House. They can be emailed at southafricanconsulatesl@yahoo.com

Yellow fever poses a threat in Sierra Leone, and local government requires proof of vaccination for anyone wishing to enter the country.

In addition, the Centres for Disease Control recommends that visitors, besides ensuring that all of their routine vaccinations are up to date, also receive immunisation against malaria, and take steps to prevent mosquito bites. A third disease, zika, also poses a threat, and the CDC recommends that pregnant women discuss any travel plans with a medical professional.

Violent crime is uncommon in Freetown; petty crime, however, is a recurring issue, and visitors should practice proper caution in their daily conduct, keeping their valuables close to their person at all times, and avoiding wandering the streets late at night.

Freetown is noted for boasting a number of high-level four- and five-star accommodation establishments, whose prices range as high as over 1882040 Le. More affordable establishments, though rarer, are available, offering prices at a minimum of around 427736 Le. In general, all of these establishments are located at or around the shoreline, rather than the centre of town.

Like in many African urban centres, shared taxis are one of the leading transport options in Freetown. Generally they can be flagged on more or less any street corner and are highly affordable, assuming one does not mind sharing with other passengers.

However, should one flag down an empty taxi, one can also charter them for personal use – this is locally referred to as “cha cha”. This will ensure that you receive more dedicated service, though it may also prove somewhat pricier. Sierra Leone does not have a very strictly enforced taxi fare rate, and negotiation with the drivers is encouraged.

However, if you would prefer something with a slightly more predictable rate, many of the local hotels also offer taxi services, and a number of car rental companies offer their services.