Active Adventures in Sierra Leone

From wildlife safaris and boat trips to hiking, biking and 4×4 adventures, Sierra Leone offers lots of ways to get your adrenalin pumping.

Hiking & Trekking

With diverse scenery and terrain, Sierra Leone offers several epic hikes. While it’s certainly possible trek these trails on your own, guided hiking tours are another option.

One of the most sought-after hiking spots is Sugarloaf Mountain overlooking Freetown, named for its unique conical shape. The hike begins beneath a dense forest canopy before eventually transitioning to more challenging rocky slopes. Views range from a bird’s-eye-look glimpse bustling Freetown to the nearby Western Area Forest Reserve.

Hiking to Mambo Waterfall is yet another adventurous undertaking. The walk is suitable for the whole family, taking travelers through Hamilton and Mambo villages and up lush hillsides to the misty waterfall itself.

Biking & 4×4 Exploration

Cycling is popular in Sierra Leone, although not so much a leisure activity as a critical means for getting around. For visitors, it’s an ideal way to appreciate the country’s beauty and get a close-up view of the rural communities and daily life.

If four-by-four is the preferred mode of transport, there are plenty of off-road trails to pursue and backcountry adventures to be had. A well-known 4×4 hotspot is Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary, where visitors can view the country’s national animal.

Boat Excursions

Whale watching trips take place from August to December in the Atlantic waters around the Banana Islands. Eagle-eyed visitors can spot mainly humpback whales but sometimes sperm whales as well. Pods of dolphins sometimes accompany the boats.

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