Sierra Leone2024-02-20T12:41:26+01:00

Sierra Leone

Travel tips for Sierra Leone

Top 5 experiences

With palm-fringed beaches, breath taking mountains, tropical rainforests and a vibrant culture, Sierra Leone is one of West Africa’s most exciting destinations. Highlights of the country include:

Wildlife & Chimpanzees

There are several wildlife viewing opportunities in the country – Including chimpanzees, hippos and numerous bird species. The well-known Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary project is located in the dense rainforest of the Western Area National Park and is home to primates, dianama cats and rare pygmy hippos.

National Parks

Whether rainforest, lake plateau or mountainous landscape, there are many national parks and wildlife sanctuaries to explore. These include the Outamba-Kilimi National Park, the Gola National Park, the Loma Mountains and the Tiwai Wildlife Sanctuary, where the country’s greatest biodiversity can be found.

Active tours

In addition to a beautiful coastline, there are many opportunities for hiking. These range from „easy to manage“ to „challenging“. Recommended are Mount Bintumani in the Loma Mountains, with its 1945 m the highest elevation in West Africa, the Wara Wara Mountains in the Koinadugu District and Picket Hill in the Western Area Peninsula Forest National Park.

Beaches

Sand as white as powdered sugar, crystal clear water and natural islands – this is the untouched coast of Sierra Leone. Away from mass tourism, the beaches invite to surf and sunbathe. Especially Lumley Beach, Sussex Beach, River Number Two Beach, Tokeh Beach and Bureh Beach are worth a visit. If one has enough of the mainland, a stop at Banana or Turtle Island is suggested.

Cultural Heritage

The Tiwai Heritage Trail in the Tiwai Island Wildlife Sanctuary is a great way to immerse in the country’s cultural and historical heritage. In eight communities, including Mapuma, Boma, Giema and Segbewema, one gets an insight into authentic village life and the daily routine of the inhabitants.

Tourist infrastructure

Sierra Leone has an extensive air network, with the capital Freetown being the starting and ending point of all international connections. Within the country, there are sufficient domestic flights to the provinces. The country’s remaining tourist infrastructure is still under construction. Road conditions can vary depending on the region, but are generally rather difficult to drive on. There are some paved roads in and around Freetown, but uneven and rocky roads are the standard in the rest of the country.

There is a basic portfolio of accommodations, which will be expanded in the future. In particular in the tourist regions around Freetown and along the coast, accommodation in various categories is available.

Climate and travel season

With a tropical humid climate, especially along the coast, Sierra Leone is one of the wettest regions in West Africa. The climate can be divided into two seasons: a rainy season from mid-May to mid-November and a dry season from December to April. The months of December and January are characterized by a strong wind from the Sahara, which brings cool air and lots of sand. This is followed by the hottest months with the least rainfall in February, March and April.

In the north of the country, the average temperature is about 25.5 °C, in the south between 20 – 37 °C, and on the coastline and in Freetown it settles between 23 – 32 °C. Especially in the rainy season it is very humid due to the high humidity of 90%. In general, the coastal climate around Freetown is somewhat milder and more pleasant than the inland.

The best time to travel is between the rainy and dry season, i.e. between mid-November and mid-December. During this time, the landscape is very green and the dusty Sahara wind does not yet blow across the country.

Visa and entry

German, Austrian and Swiss citizens need a passport valid for at least six months at the time of entry as well as a visa, which must be applied for in advance at the responsible authorities in the respective country.

Since the regulations can change at any time, all information are non-binding and without guarantee. Please observe the visa regulations and the current information of the Federal Foreign Office / Federal Ministry European and International Affairs / Federal Department of Foreign Affaires at all times.

Impressions from Sierra Leone

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Our partners for Sierra Leone

Visa, Entry, and Updates

Federal Foreign Office ➝

Federal Ministry European and International Affairs ➝

Federal Department of
Foreign Affairs ➝

Information of the
Tourism Board ➝

Country information

Current accessibility

  • Information on entry:

    The borders of Sierra Leone are open to travelers from Germany, Austria and Switzerland and entry is possible via the international airport in Freetown. Entrants must register in advance via the Sierra Leone travel portall. In addition to the proof of registration, a negative PCR test, which must not be older than 72 hours, must also be presented at the departure airport. Upon arrival, a further PCR test and an RDT test are mandatory. The costs for this (approx. 80 EUR) are to be paid when registering online via the travel portal. Unvaccinated travelers have to enter a quarantine at their own expense until the negative PCR test result is available. Everyone entering from a „high-risk area“ must enter a quarantine of at least eight days. Germany, Austria and Switzerland are currently not among the high-risk areas. Also before the return journey, travelers must register on the travel portal and present a negative PCR test result, which must not be older than 72 hours before departure. The land and sea borders are closed to tourists.

  • Information on return:

    Since March 30, 2021, all travellers, no matter from which country they are coming and which means of transportation they use, must present a negative PCR or PoC test, a proof of complete vaccination, for instance the digital Covid-Certificate from the EU (Green Pass), or a proof of recovery from a Covid-19 infection, which was completed at least 28 days ago and is maximum 6 months old, before entering the Federal Republic of Germany. The PCR test must be performed at the earliest 72 hours and the PoC-test 48 hours before the start of the return journey. In addition, travellers must register their entry at the entry portal www.einreiseanmeldung.de➝ before arriving in Germany and carry proof of the corresponding registration with them. For stays in high risk areas classified by the RKI➝ there is a 10-day quarantine obligation. The quarantine can solely be prevented when a proof of complete vaccination or a proof of recovery from a Covid-19 infection, which was completed at least 28 days ago and is maximum 6 months old, was submitted on the entry portal. After five days at the earliest, travellers who are not vaccinated or did not recover from a Covid-19 infection can undergo a Covid-19 test. With a subsequent negative result, the quarantine obligation can be ended early. For stays in virus mutation areas a negative PCR-test, which must be performed at the earliest 72 hours before entering, needs to be shown before return and a fourteen-day quarantine must to be entered without possibility to shorten it.

    All travellers older than 12 years, must present a negative PCR or PoC test, a proof of complete vaccination, for instance the digital Covid-Certificate from the EU (Green Pass), or a proof of recovery from a Covid-19 infection before entering Austria. The PCR-test must be performed at the earliest 72 hours and the PoC-test 48 hours before the start of the return journey. Since January 15, 2021, travellers must register their entry here ➝ („Pre-Travel-Clearance“) before arrival. With the above mentioned certifications a quarantine can be fully prevented when entering from a country classified as safe. The certifications can be handed in 24 hours later if no hotel stay is planned. For vaccinated people arriving from countries not classified as safe or from virus mutations areas the quarantine does not apply neither. Non-vaccinated people however need to present a negative Covid-test or a proof of recovery as well as enter a 10-day quarantine. After five days at the earliest, travellers can undergo a Covid-19 test. With a subsequent negative result, the quarantine obligation can be ended early.

    All air as well as transit passengers who are not fully vaccinated or did not surpass a Covid-19 infection within the past 6 months must register their entry on www.swissplf.admin.ch before or during arrival in Switzerland and need to carry the generated QR-code with them. Air passengers older than 16 years must present a negative PCR or PoC test, a proof of complete vaccination, for instance the digital Covid-Certificate from the EU (Green Pass), or a proof of recovery from a Covid-19 infection before entering. The PCR-test must be performed at the earliest 72 hours and the PoC-test 48 hours before the start of the return journey. Air as well as transit passengers who are not fully vaccinated or did not surpass a Covid-19 infection as well need to enter a 10-day quarantine and present a PCR-test. In addition, they need to inform their corresponding cantonal authority latest within two days after arrival. After seven days at the earliest, travellers can undergo a Covid-19 test. With a subsequent negative result, the quarantine obligation can be ended early. The obligation to test or enter quarantine does not apply to fully vaccinated people who can present a certificate such as the EU Digital Certificate or a Swiss Covid certificate.

Für Einreisende in die Bundesrepublik Deutschland, die sich in den letzten 10 Tagen vor Einreise in einem Risikogebiet aufgehalten haben, besteht seit dem 08. November 2020 die Pflicht, sich unverzüglich in eine zehntägige Quarantäne zu begeben. Darüber hinaus müssen Reisende vor ihrer Ankunft in Deutschland ihre Einreise unter https://www.einreiseanmeldung.de ➝ anmelden und den Nachweis über die entsprechende Anmeldung mit sich führen. Nach frühestens fünf Tagen können sich die Reiserückkehrer Covid-19 Test unterziehen. Mit einem anschließenden Negativergebnis kann die Quarantänepflicht frühzeitig beendet werden.

ACHTUNG: Wer sich in den letzten 10 Tagen vor Einreise in Deutschland in einem Hochinzidenz-Gebiet oder einem Virusvarianten-Gebiet aufgehalten hat, muss bereits bei Einreise einen ärztlichen Nachweis oder ein negatives Testergebnis bei sich tragen und diesen bei Aufforderung der zuständigen Behörden vorlegen können. Der Test darf nicht älter als 48 Stunden vor Einreise sein. Darüber hinaus ist das negative Testergebnis auch vor Antritt der Rückreise dem entsprechenden Beförderer vorzulegen. Sollte es den Einreisenden aus etwaigen Gründen in einem Hochinzidenzgebiet oder einem Virusvarianten-Gebiet nicht möglich sein, sich vor Abreise testen zu lassen, können die entsprechenden Beförderer vor Abreise einen Schnelltest durchführen und bei Negativergebnis die Beförderung vornehmen. Der Beförderer darf den Test maximal 12 Stunden vor Abreise durchführen. Dieser Test muss den Anforderungen des RKI entsprechen: https://www.rki.de/tests ➝

Covid-19

Corona Precautionary Measures

  • Restrictions in the country:

    A minimum distance of 1.5 m must be maintained across the country. Currently, there are no further restrictions.

  • Mouth and nose protection:

    Wearing a mouth and nose protection is mandatory throughout the country. Frequent hand washing and disinfection is advised.

  • Hygiene in the country: There is currently no information on an applicable catalogue of measures.

Status: 05.10.2021

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