Tour Overview
| Duration | 8 Days / 7 Nights |
|---|---|
| Country | Sierra Leone — Sweet Salone |
| Price From | $1,895 per person (twin share) |
| Tour Style | Cultural / Wildlife Explorer |
| Data Source | VSL Travel / Visit Sierra Leone — 2026 |
Itinerary Highlights
Day 1: Arrive Freetown — Salone Welcome
Arrive at Lungi Airport. Speedboat across the bay to Freetown. Check into your hotel. Afternoon at leisure on Lumley Beach. Evening: try poyo (palm wine) and grilled fish at a beach bar. Overnight in Freetown.
Day 2: Freetown — Krio Heritage & History
Full day exploring Freetown’s rich history. Visit the National Railway Museum, the historic Cotton Tree, St. George’s Cathedral, and the National Museum. Walk through the historic Krio neighborhoods and visit Fourah Bay College, founded in 1827 as the first university in West Africa. Afternoon at Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary — guided forest walk and close encounters with rescued chimps. Overnight in Freetown.
Day 3: Bunce Island & Peninsula Beaches
Speedboat to Bunce Island, the 18th-century British slave fortress. This powerful and sobering site is essential to understanding Sierra Leone’s history and the African diaspora’s roots. Afternoon beach-hopping on the Freetown Peninsula: River Number Two (voted one of West Africa’s best beaches) and Tokeh Beach with its dramatic mountain backdrop. Overnight in Freetown.
Day 4: Tiwai Island — Primate Paradise
Drive into the interior through Sierra Leone’s green heartland. Arrive at Tiwai Island Wildlife Sanctuary. This 12-square-kilometer island on the Moa River is one of West Africa’s most important primate conservation sites. 11 primate species live here, including chimpanzees, Diana monkeys, and the rare red colobus. Afternoon canoe safari on the Moa River — spot monkeys swinging through the trees and listen to the symphony of the jungle. Overnight in Tiwai jungle camp.
Day 5: Tiwai Island — Full Day Wildlife
Full day exploring Tiwai. Dawn forest walk — the best time for primate spotting. Visit the research station and learn about ongoing conservation work. Afternoon guided nature walk to spot butterflies (over 300 species), birds, and if you’re extremely lucky, the rare pygmy hippopotamus that still survives in these waters. Evening campfire with local guides sharing stories of the forest. Overnight in Tiwai jungle camp.
Day 6: Gola Rainforest — Guinea’s Green Jewel
Drive to the edge of Gola Rainforest National Park, Sierra Leone’s largest remaining tract of Upper Guinean rainforest and a global biodiversity hotspot. Guided forest walk with bird specialists — Gola is home to 330+ bird species including the rare white-necked picathartes. Afternoon visit to a local community to see the cocoa and coffee cooperatives that are providing sustainable alternatives to logging and mining. Overnight near Gola.
Day 7: Return to Freetown — Farewell Salone
Drive back to Freetown. Afternoon at the Sierra Leone Peace and Cultural Monument. Visit Big Market for last-minute souvenirs — country cloth, woven baskets, and wood carvings. Farewell dinner at a Freetown restaurant featuring groundnut stew, cassava leaves, and fresh-caught barracuda. Overnight in Freetown.
Day 8: Depart Freetown
Morning at the artisan market. Speedboat to Lungi Airport. Sweet Salone, see you again.
Inclusions
- 7 nights (Freetown hotels + Tiwai jungle camp)
- Daily breakfast + 4 dinners
- Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary (2 visits)
- Bunce Island excursion with guide
- Tiwai Island 2-day program (all park fees, canoe safari)
- Gola Rainforest guided walk
- Community cooperative visit
- All ground transport in private vehicle
- English-speaking guide throughout
- Airport transfers (speedboat + vehicle)
Why Sierra Leone
- Tiwai Island — 11 primate species on one magical river island
- Tacugama — meet the chimps of Sierra Leone’s beloved sanctuary
- Bunce Island — face history at West Africa’s most significant slave fortress
- Gola Rainforest — one of the last strongholds of the critically endangered pygmy hippo
- River Number Two — West Africa’s most beautiful beach
