Guides › Africa › Sierra Leone
City guide

Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone, officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country on the west coast of West Africa. It is bordered to the southeast by Liberia and by Guinea to the north.

Type CityPopulation 8,460,512

Why go

  • Country in West Africa.
  • Served by Yengema Airport (WYE).

History

Sierra Leone, officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country on the west coast of West Africa. It is bordered to the southeast by Liberia and by Guinea to the north. Sierra Leone's land area is 73,252 km2 (28,283 sq mi). It has a tropical climate and environments ranging from savannahs to rainforests. As of the 2023 census, Sierra Leone had a population of 8,460,512. Freetown is its capital and largest city.

Airports

Bo Airport (KBS) 78 km to the centre
Bo, S, SL — Indoor waiting areas, but some gates board by bus or on foot across the apron — plan for the weather on the day.
Indoor | Outdoor
Yengema Airport (WYE) 87 km to the centre
Yengema, E, SL — Indoor waiting areas, but some gates board by bus or on foot across the apron — plan for the weather on the day.
Indoor | Outdoor
Tongo Airport 97 km to the centre
Tongo, E, SL
Outdoor

Where to stay

Roland Kamara Drive, Off Robombeh Highway, Makeni, Sierra Leone · expatriateinn.com
Indoor
Teko Road, Makeni, Sierra Leone · wusumhotel.com
Indoor
Bondo Water Block factory, 29 Turay Street, Newton, Sierra Leone
Indoor
M42W+874, Matotaka, Sierra Leone
Indoor
19 Magburaka Road, Makeni, Sierra Leone
Indoor
Magburaka, Sierra Leone
Indoor
15, Off Teko Road, Makeni, Sierra Leone
Indoor
136 Azzolini Highway, Makeni, Sierra Leone
Indoor
RWWV+8JQ, Makeni, Sierra Leone
Indoor
M42W+94X, Matotaka, Sierra Leone
Indoor
P3G4+Jhg, Magburaka, Sierra Leone
Indoor
P3F2+G22, Magburaka, Sierra Leone
Indoor
P3G3+H85, Magburaka, Sierra Leone
Indoor
G498+R6P, Petifu RH, Sierra Leone
Indoor
G49V+848, Petifu RH, Sierra Leone
Indoor
HX9V+W8Q, Yonibana-Magburaka Road SL, Magboke, Sierra Leone
Indoor
P3G4+Jhg, Magburaka, Sierra Leone
Indoor
M5XW+VJF, Sera, Sierra Leone
Indoor
H48J+C73, Mamano, Sierra Leone
Indoor
J27G+44W, Yonibana-Magburaka Road SL, Magbenki, Sierra Leone
Indoor

Where things are

Full geo-intelligence in Better Mapping →
Local search powered by Geoverts and geo-intelligence by Better Mapping base map © OSM

Photographs

When to go

Tourist season
May – September

The warmer, longer-day half of the year is the safest bet for a first visit.

Shoulder season
April, October

Cooler and quieter, with fewer visitors and better value.

Worth avoiding
Deep winter

Short days and the coldest weather — check local conditions before travelling.

Getting there & around

Getting there. The nearest airport on record is Yengema Airport (WYE); 2 other airports serve the wider area. Check rail and road links from the tourism sources below.

Getting around. Use the map above to orient yourself; nearby hotels, attractions and places to eat are listed from the live Ultimate data for Sierra Leone. Local transit details will be added as the guide is expanded.

Private aviation

On-demand charter, jet cards and the semi-private scheduled carriers that serve this city.

Broker · Any aircraft via operators worldwide · Global charter broker with 30+ offices; private jets, group charters and cargo.
FBO, charter, management · Managed fleet · FBO network and management across Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia-Pacific.
Fractional, jet card · Embraer Praetor, Bombardier Challenger & Global, Gulfstream · Fractional ownership and jet cards in North America and Europe.
Charter, management · Large-cabin & VIP airliners · Geneva-based operator known for large-cabin and VIP airliner charters.
Charter, management, FBO, MRO · Managed fleet worldwide · General Dynamics company: charter, completions and FBOs in Europe, the Middle East, Asia and the US.

Tours & experiences

Sightseeing