Where’s the best surf, sun and sea in West Africa? You might very well find seaside paradise on the beaches of Sierra Leone.
With a 250-mile (400-km) coastline, there are plenty of places to take a dip. If you’re a newbie to Sierra Leone, here are a few of the classic sands near Freetown:
Lumley Beach
Freetown’s party playground is Lumley Beach – its white sands fringed by cool cafés, bars and eateries, hotels and swaying palms. Spend the evening relishing a soul-stirring sunset with a refreshing drink, watch fishermen landing their catch, or join the locals for game of beach football.
River No. 2 Beach
As a river threads its way across powdery white sands into the Atlantic, beach lovers can spend the day or overnight relaxing in paradise. Accommodation is rustic and restaurant facilities serve up local favorites and refreshments. Be sure to buy something at the craft market as a memento of your visit.
York
Set between Tokeh Beach and Bureh Beach, York fishing village offers plenty of Krio history. Among the many relics of colonial days and the freed slaves who once settled here are the Foriwater “Slave” Cave, the Portuguese Stone Bridge, the King’s Yard and architecture reminiscent of the 18th-century houses in the American South. Nature lovers should visit during the whale season when migrating humpbacks and dolphins inhabit adjacent Whale Bay.
