Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive Freetown
Airport meet-and-greet. Speedboat transfer across the Sierra Leone River Estuary to Freetown. Afternoon: orientation walk — the Cotton Tree, Lumley Beach, and Freetown’s historic neighborhoods. Welcome dinner of groundnut stew and grilled fish. Overnight in Freetown. (D)
Day 2: Freetown → Gola Rainforest National Park
Morning visit to the historic sites of Freetown — the National Museum, the King’s Yard Gate (where freed slaves first entered the colony), and Fourah Bay College. Then depart southeast to Gola Rainforest — Sierra Leone’s largest remaining tract of Upper Guinean rainforest and a biodiversity hotspot of global significance. The forest harbors over 300 bird species, including the rare white-necked picathartes (rockfowl), and the highest density of western chimpanzees in Sierra Leone. Afternoon guided forest walk with Gola’s rangers — learn about the forest’s ecology and the REDD+ carbon project that funds its protection. Overnight in a community eco-lodge near Gola. (B, L, D)
Day 3: Gola Rainforest — Chimpanzee Tracking
Pre-dawn start for chimpanzee tracking. Gola’s habituated chimp communities offer some of West Africa’s best great ape viewing. Follow your ranger-guide through the forest, listening for the distinctive pant-hoot calls. When chimps are located, spend time observing them feed, groom, and interact in the wild — a profound wildlife experience. Afternoon: community visit to a Mende village near the forest edge. Learn traditional rice farming, palm oil production, and basket weaving. Evening: storytelling around the fire — Mende elders share oral histories passed down through generations. Overnight at Gola eco-lodge. (B, L, D)
Day 4: Gola → Tiwai Island
Morning departure from Gola. Drive to the Moa River and canoe across to Tiwai Island. Afternoon: forest walk to spot Diana monkeys, red colobus, and sooty mangabeys. Sunset canoe ride — the Moa River at dusk is magical, with hippos surfacing and fruit bats streaming overhead. Night walk to spot galagos and pottos. Overnight on Tiwai Island. (B, L, D)
Day 5: Tiwai → Bo → Tacugama
Sunrise canoe safari. After breakfast, depart Tiwai and drive to Bo, Sierra Leone’s second city. Visit the central market — one of West Africa’s most colorful — and meet local artisans. Continue to Freetown and ascend into the hills to Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary. Stay overnight at the Tacugama Eco-Lodge, where you fall asleep to the evening pant-hoot calls of chimps settling down for the night. Overnight at Tacugama Eco-Lodge. (B, L)
Day 6: Tacugama → River No. 2 Beach
Morning: behind-the-scenes tour of Tacugama. Meet the dedicated staff who care for over 100 chimps and learn about the threats facing Sierra Leone’s remaining wild ape populations. Afternoon: drive to the Freetown Peninsula’s most beautiful beach — River No. 2 Beach (Tokeh). This crescent of white sand where a river meets the ocean is consistently rated among West Africa’s best beaches. Swim in the river, kayak, or simply lounge on the sand. Fresh seafood lunch at a beachside restaurant. Farewell dinner watching the sun set over the Atlantic. Overnight near River No. 2 Beach. (B, L, D)
Day 7: Departure
Final morning on the beach — one last swim in the warm Atlantic waters that lap this extraordinary coast. Transfer to Lungi Airport. Sierra Leone — raw, real, and unforgettable. (B)
