Top 10 Things to do in Freetown, Western Area

Situated as close as it is to many of the beach hotels, Tambakula remains a hidden treasure of authentic Sierra Leone cultural icons, jewelry, clothing, statues, masks and more. Located directly across the street from Family Kingdom on an access road to a popular bar and restaurant, Alex’s, Tambakula has about ten small shops which are run by artisans and traders. It is a particular pleasure because the traders have adopted a lay-back style of selling; it is one of the few, or perhaps only place you can go in Freetown to peruse the local arts and crafts without being bombarded with persuasion to buy this or that or just anything. The Tambakula shop sellers give you time to look around, ask if you need help, and will then go out of their way to find just the right item for a gift or to meet a business or personal need. And if one shop doesn’t have just the right thing, the owner is happy to suggest another seller who may have it. Their prices are fair and often cheaper than at other venues, and there are folks on hand to change any type of currency. As in many places in Sierra Leone, these women have stories of hardship, war-torn families, orphans, and extremely difficult living circumstances, but you won’t know it from their friendly welcome, easy-going manner, and true desire to enrich your visit to Freetown. And don’t be afraid to ask the history of a particular piece – they will be able to tell you in which part of the country the item is produced, by which tribe, what it is used for or what it represents – or if it is an original design they have made themselves. In walking distance from Family Kingdom, Mammy Yoko, Hotel Bintumani, Hotel Barmoi, Aces and the Sierra Lighthouse Hotel , Tambakula Arts and Crafts Center is the closest and best place to do your cultural shopping in Salone! Tell them Laura sent you for special treatment and great prices.

Premier provider of adventure travel and activities in Sierra Leone. We offer unique experiences including multi-day packrafting, trekking and mountain biking expeditions, and customised day trips including wildlife encounters, jungle trekking, watersports, and mountain climbing. If it is in Sierra Leone and we don't offer it, it is probably not worth doing.

Freetown Keke Tour offers private tours in a Keke (also known as a TukTuk) around Freetown, and has been operating since 2017. Guided tours are available in English and include visits to historical sites, markets and landscapes in Freetown. The friendly and knowledgeable guides provide personalised tours and the Keke offers a truly unique way to experience the fantastic sites of the city.

Since, established in 2004, Visit Sierra Leone (VSL) has been an active player in Sierra Leone tourism offering breathtaking and profound experiences for travelers. Our trips range from hikes and city tours to community experiences in the rural areas.

This project exists for the benefit of the people of Tasso. The project runs weekend boat trips to Bunce and Tasso Islands in the Sierra Leone River Estuary (or by special arrangement at other times for parties). We have a 60 seat restaurant and 6 timber chalets overlooking the beach, together with a bunk house for scouts and youth groups. Guests are encouraged to stay overnight or for short holidays at Kissy Camp. We offer historic tours to the Bunce Slave Fortress National Monument and Pollumant on Tasso, nature trails and canoe trips through the Tasso Mangrove Forests, birdwatching, beach sports, fishing trips and evening cultural dances. The beach is ideal for children and our staff are highly trained to look after guests.

It's hard to imagine there is a proper bouldering centre in the heart of Freetown - but there is! (It's the only one in West Africa). There's a wonderful community with a great mix of locals and expats - it's a great place to meet new people and make friends if you've just arrived. From a climbing point of view, it is a full functioning bouldering centre. Routes range from V0 all the way up to V10 and routes are changed every week to keep things interesting. The routesetting is brilliant and varied. We provide you with shoes and chalk included in the entry price so don't worry if you don't have any or have left yours at home! What are you waiting got - come and visit us!

40 minutes outside of Freetown, Sierra Leone, Tacugama is set high in the hills of the Western Area Forest Reserve. The 100-acre sanctuary is 10 minutes past the historic mountain village of Regent. To come and see the chimpanzees at Tacugama, please reserve a place on one of our guided tours. There are two daily tours available: at 10:30am and 4:00pm, every day of the year. All tours are by appointment only and group sizes are limited. Please contact us in advance to confirm your reservation and arrive in good time to avoid disappointment. Tour prices: Expat adult $15 or Le 65.000 Expat child $ 5 or Le 25.000 SL adult Le 20.000 SL child Le 5.000