Responsible tourism
Tourism Is Life believes travel should create meaningful experiences while respecting the people, communities, culture, wildlife and landscapes that make West Africa unique.
Local expertise
Destination-led knowledge
Responsible experiences
Nature, culture, community
Wildlife & conservation
Responsible encounters
West Africa
Local destination knowledge
Why it matters
Responsible tourism is part of how Tourism Is Life designs and runs its journeys, not a layer added afterwards. Three ideas hold it together.
Four pillars
Natural places are the reason people come to Sierra Leone. We ask travelers to look after them: taking care with waste, using natural areas responsibly, and choosing experiences that suit protected environments.
Environment selected
What it looks like
Real journeys from our catalogue, and what each one asks of the traveler.
Showing 9 of 9 experiences
WildlifeWestern Circuit
A half-day visit to Tacugama in the forested hills above Freetown, pairing conservation with peninsula views.
Responsible travelVisitors follow the sanctuary's viewing rules and wear closed shoes.
Explore Experience
NatureEastern Circuit
Three days in Gola Rainforest National Park, in pygmy hippo country, with hornbills and one of West Africa’s last lowland rainforests.
Responsible travelA national park explored on foot, so the forest sets the pace.
Explore Experience
CultureFreetown, Western Circuit
A guided introduction to Freetown’s Krio heritage, harbour, and city landmarks, the same city tours Tourism Is Life is known for.
Responsible travelModest dress is asked for at religious sites.
Explore Experience
HeritageBunce Island, Western Circuit
River journey to Bunce Island’s fort ruins and neighbouring Tasso, history at the heart of the transatlantic story.
Responsible travelUneven ruins call for steady footing and an unhurried visit.
Explore Experience
CoastalWestern Circuit
The Banana Islands lie off Yawri Bay, south-west of the Freetown Peninsula. Dublin and Ricketts are linked by a stone causeway; Mes-Meheux is uninhabited. Access is by boat from Kent.
Responsible travelReached by boat from Kent, so travel light and leave the shore as you found it.
Explore Experience
CoastalWestern Circuit
Beaches of the Western Area peninsula: golden and white-sand coves including well-known stops such as River Number Two and Black Johnson.
Responsible travelSun protection and care at the water, and leave the coves as you found them.
Explore Experience
CommunityBo, Southern Circuit
A three-day stay in Bo, Sierra Leone’s second city and southern gateway.
Responsible travelA multi-day stay in a working city, with time to eat, shop and learn locally.
Explore Experience
NatureMount Bintumani, Northern Circuit
Expedition to Mount Bintumani, the highest peak in Sierra Leone, a signature Tourism Is Life trek.
Responsible travelAltitude and remote conditions mean preparing properly and travelling with insurance.
Explore ExperienceNatureWara Wara Mountains, Northern Circuit
A three-day highland trek in Koinadugu District’s Wara Wara range.
Responsible travelPrior trekking experience is recommended so the group moves carefully on the trail.
Explore ExperienceHow you can take part
Small, practical habits, before, during and after a journey.
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For tour operators
Tourism Is Life is a destination management company. Here is how we can support a programme that takes responsible tourism seriously.
Work With Tourism Is LifeA Freetown DMC that knows Sierra Leone from the inside, with Guinea and Liberia available on request.
Tell us the responsible-travel expectations of your programme and we will plan around them.
Where appropriate, we work with local businesses and service providers rather than around them.
Clear, practical guidance for your guests, so they arrive knowing how to behave in each place.
Ground handling, manifests and group logistics from a team based in the destination.
What guides us
Transparency
We do not claim a formal sustainability certification. This is where we are, and where we intend to go.
Journeys use licensed guides, and each tour page lists the practical rules travelers are asked to follow, such as sanctuary viewing rules and modest dress at religious sites.
We keep reviewing operational and environmental practices, listening to local partners and improving traveler guidance.
We intend to develop measurable sustainability goals over time. None are set or published yet.
The aim is greater local participation and more responsible practice year on year. This is a direction, not a claim of results.
A written policy has not been published yet. Until it is, this page describes our approach. If you need more detail for a programme, ask us.
Explore Sierra Leone and West Africa through meaningful experiences shaped by local knowledge, culture, nature and responsible travel.
