The capital
Almost every trip begins in Freetown, the hilly Krio capital founded for freed Africans in 1792. It has the museums, the markets, Lumley Beach, the best hotels and the boat trips to Bunce Island.
The coast
The Freetown Peninsula runs south from the city in a chain of white sand beaches backed by forest: Lakka, River Number Two, Tokeh, Bureh and Kent. Off the tip lie the Banana Islands, three small islands of fishing villages, reefs and history.
The rainforest
In the east, Tiwai Island on the Moa River is one of the best places in West Africa to see primates, and the nearby Gola Rainforest is a birding hotspot. Bo and Kenema are the gateway towns.
The north
Kabala sits among granite hills in the cool north and is the base for treks towards Mount Bintumani and the Loma Mountains.
How to combine them
A week covers Freetown, the peninsula and the Banana Islands. With ten to fourteen days you can add Tiwai Island or the north. Use the free trip planner to shape a route that fits.