Sierra Leone, despite its well-publicized problems, is a physically beautiful country, with a wooded countryside spread across mountains and plateaus to the east and mangrove swamps along the coastal belt to the west.
Sierra Leone weather: The country has a tropically humid climate, with an average temperature of about 27 C (80 F) year round. The climate is very dry November-April, with cooler temperatures in coastal areas and hotter temperatures inland. In December and January, the Harmattan wind sweeps in from the Sahara Desert, creating sand and dust storms across the country. The rainy season, May-November, often brings monsoon rain and makes Sierra Leone one of the wettest western African countries.
Sierra Leone's population of about 5.5 million is divided among the Temne, Mende and other native African tribes. The official language of Sierra Leone is English; it is used primarily in government and business settings. Krio, an English-based Creole, is also widely spoken and is understood by about 95 percent of the population. Other dialects spoken include Limba, Mende (in the south) and Temne (in the north). Sierra Leoneans of Muslim faith account for 60 percent of the population, 30 percent have indigenous beliefs and 10 percent are Christian.
Since the early 1990s, Sierra Leone has been mired in a civil war between supporters of the constitutional government and an opposition movement called the Revolutionary United Front (RUF). The two sides agreed to a cease-fire and peace agreement in 2000. General and presidential elections in May 2002 transpired peacefully. A United Nations (U.N.) peacekeeping force is in the process of pulling out. The civil strife and other factors, such as a rapidly growing population, environmental stress, underutilization of agricultural assets and over-fishing, have made Sierra Leone one of Africa's poorest countries.
The instability has driven many nations to withdraw embassy staff and to advise against any travel to Sierra Leone. Although the U.N. force has restored some order to Freetown, travel in rural areas remains hazardous. Incidents of street and petty crime are prevalent throughout the country, even in major cities.
Major highways are paved but pocked with potholes. Side streets are generally unpaved and frequently impassable, especially during the rainy season. Unauthorized roadblocks outside of Freetown are common; travelers will be asked to pay for safe passage. Sierra Leone does not have a passenger rail service or a subway. A national and urban bus service is operated by the Sierra Leone Road Transport Corporation. The national bus service connects all major cities. Pre-arranged taxis are recommended within Freetown, as the city bus service is considered erratic and unsafe.
The phone system is marginally reliable. Cellular telephone networks are available, primarily in and around Freetown, but are not well developed. A satellite telephone or local cellular telephone provider is recommended. Public telephones are rarely available; where they are, payment is with a calling card. Internet services in Sierra Leone are in their infancy, but Freetown has some Internet cafes. There are 10 radio stations - one AM and nine FM - and two television stations. Sierra Leone, including Freetown, experiences random power outages.
For a free map of Sierra Leone and more detailed information, be sure to click on the Destination Brief above.
Please note: the situation in Sierra Leone can be volatile and dynamic. You are encouraged to purchase an Intelligence Brief ($7.50) or Destination Tracker ($25) for complete, up-to-the-minute information on the Country, Security and Health, Local Travel Alerts, Entry/exit requirements, Transportation, Communications/Technology, Legal and Financial situation, Environmental concerns and Language in Sierra Leone.