Historical Richness
Museums and monuments stand in testament to the complex, often troubled, and yet fascinating history of this little nation.
Freetown, with its population of just over 1,050,000, is a city that has already begun to emerge from the ashes of its dark history. Perched on the tip of a peninsula that boasts some of the finest beaches in Africa, Freetown proves to its visitors that the fog of unrest has given way to reveal a hidden paradise.
Cheap flights to Freetown are now available, so seize your chance to visit this coastal African beauty! Freetown is home to Lungi International Airport (FNA), serving a number of international airlines, including Kenya Airways and Brussels Airlines. The airport is separated from the city itself by an estuary; a number of cross-water transport services, including ferries and water taxis, are locally available. The journey, on average, takes about an hour and a quarter.
Flight Route | Airline | Trip Type | Travel Dates | Searched | Price From |
---|
Museums and monuments stand in testament to the complex, often troubled, and yet fascinating history of this little nation.
Take a stroll along soft white sands and feel the caress of the Atlantic Ocean on some of the most gorgeous beaches in the world.
Boasting tropical lushness and a substantial chimpanzee population, the land beyond the city limits is a must-visit for lovers of nature.
Essential details you need to know before your trip
Country | Sierra Leone |
---|---|
Currency | Leone |
Exchange Rate | 1 ZAR = 574.87 SLL |
Language | English / Krio |
Hub Airport | Lungi International Airport (FNA) |
Airline | Sierra National Airlines |
Time Zone | GMT+0 |
Travel Adaptor | Type D & G |
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.
Average temperature (°C) & rainfall (mm) per month
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Low °C | 24°C | 23°C | 24°C | 24°C | 24°C | 25°C | 25°C | 25°C | 24°C | 25°C | 25°C | 24°C |
High °C | 35°C | 35°C | 36°C | 35°C | 33°C | 32°C | 31°C | 31°C | 32°C | 33°C | 35°C | 35°C |
Rainfall (mm) 22 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 121 | 179 | 364 | 1078 | 415 | 177 | 119 | 50 |
With its sunny, sandy shores and its warm and welcoming populace, Freetown is a sadly overlooked showcasing of the singular beauties of the West African coast. Despite its frequent association in international media with unrest and instability, Sierra Leone is, in truth, a nation that has taken considerable strides in its efforts to move away from its grim and troubled past. Now peaceful and teeming with life, Freetown is a city prepped to share its vibrant wonders with the world.
Wander the beautiful beaches, peruse the city’s unique history at its local museums, or sample a variety of locally and internationally influenced dishes. Whatever sort of getaway you may pursue, you’ll soon grow familiar with the paradisal wonder of Freetown – it’s nothing like the movies.
Compare several airlines, and book your cheap flights to Freetown online at Travelstart!
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.
Item | Cape Town | Johannesburg | Freetown |
---|---|---|---|
Meal inexpensive restaurant | R 100.00 | R 100.00 | R 47.00 |
Domestic beer (0.5 litre draught) | R 25.00 | R 25.00 | R 9.00 |
Cappucino (regular) | R 23.00 | R 23.00 | R 35.00 |
Taxi 1km (normal tariff) | R 10.00 | R 10.00 | R 2.00 |
Packet of cigarettes (Marlboro) | R 40.00 | R 40.00 | R 12.00 |
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.
Explore our Hotel listings:
Need help with your booking? Contact our expert Travelstart Live agents for guidance and booking assistance.