Heart of Sierra Leone Expedition

Eleven days across the country's headline sites: Freetown's museums and monuments, Bunce and Tasso Islands, Tacugama, Tiwai Island on the Moa River, the peninsula beaches, and Banana Island.

Duration: 11 days / 10 nights
Group: On request
Difficulty: moderate
Languages: English

Highlights

Bunce Island, the largest British slave castle on the Rice Coast, founded around 1670
Tiwai Island and the heritage trail, including Boma village and Nainiahun
Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary, a 100-acre reserve established in 1995
Peninsula beaches and two nights on Banana Island

Itinerary

Day 1
Arrival
Met and assisted at Lungi International Airport, then transferred to Freetown by boat. Overnight at Country Lodge Complex.
Day 2
Freetown city tour
The Railway Museum, Old Fourah Bay College, the site of the recently fallen Cotton Tree, the Peace and Cultural Monument, the National Museum, the Sierra Leone Peace Museum, and the Gateway to the King's Yard. Lunch at the rooftop restaurant of the country's tallest building, passing State House and the Parliament building.
Day 3
Bunce Island and Tasso Island
Bunce Island was the largest British slave castle on the Rice Coast of West Africa. Founded around 1670, it exported tens of thousands of African captives to North America and the West Indies until Parliament closed it in 1807. A four and a half hour return boat ride plus the tour, followed by Tasso Island.
Day 4
Tacugama
Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary, about 40 minutes from central Freetown, rescues and rehabilitates orphaned and abandoned chimpanzees. Established in 1995, the chimps live semi-wild across a 100-acre reserve.
Day 5
Tacugama to Tiwai Island
Travel to Tiwai by way of the heritage trail, stopping at Boma village on the Moa River near the small island of Nainiati. Boma is the only community on the trail led by a woman chief.
Day 6
Tiwai Island
Walk to Nainiahun along bush trails through rice, cocoa and kola nut plantations. Nainiahun means Sand Village in Mende and is a site of artisanal diamond mining. Visit Kote Wulehun, the cultural heritage site the community shares with visitors.
Day 7
Tiwai Island to Tokeh
An early start into dense forest to look for chimpanzees and other monkey species, some 135 bird species, and the occasional crocodile, before returning to camp for breakfast and departing for the coast.
Day 8
Tokeh and the peninsula beaches
River Number Two for sunbathing, with the option of a 25-minute walk along the white sand, and visits to other peninsula beaches.
Day 9
Tokeh to Banana Island
An early departure by boat to Banana Island, a former slave island with remnants of Portuguese infrastructure from the 1800s and home to a Krio community. Time with locals and water activities.
Day 10
Banana Island
Snorkelling, watersports and sport fishing.
Day 11
Departure
Depart Banana Island by sea coach.