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Sierra Leone Practical information Sierra Leone

 
 
Area : 27699  sq.mi - Population 6294774 hab.
Sierra Leone

Our expert Sierra Leone

map

map Sierra Leone

Weather

Practical information Sierra Leone

superficie

Area

27699  sq.mi
vol

Flights

Sierra Leone is approximately 3,060 mi from London. Few airlines fly to the country. The flight takes a minimum of 16 hrs 30 mins, anticipate several connections. Time difference: -1 hr in the summer and no time difference in the winter.
decallage horaire

Jet Lag

population

Population

6294774 hab.
aeroports proche

Airports

Freetown airport is 15 and a half miles (45 mins) from Freetown, at the other end of the bay. There are no international car rentals. Some hotels have shuttle buses from the airport. If your hotel does not have a bus, take a taxi. The fare to Freetown is 35 USD. You can also get to Tagrin ferries terminal for 5 USD. Crossing the bay to the capital in business class costs 2 USD and 1 USD in economy class. The express ferry service costs 10 USD.
securite

Security

Sierra Leone has lived through a violent civil war. You are strongly advised to visit only the regions of Freetown, Lokomasama, Bo and Kenem and not any of the other regions. All your trips must be organised down to the smallest detail.
langue

Languages

The official language is English, spoken by a small number of educated people. Krio (English-based creole) is understood by 95% of the population. Mende is mostly spoken in the north and Temne in the south.
formalites

Requirements

100 ?.
religion

Religion

50% of the population is Muslim, 35% Animist and 15% Christian. The main tribes are Mende and Temne, each representing 30% of the population. About 10% are Creoles.
monnaie

Currency

The national currency is the Leone (SLL). 1 pound Sterling equals approximately 5,899 SLL. Dollars are accepted but pounds are not widely accepted. MasterCard, Diners Club and Visa are hardly accepted anywhere, although American Express is more widely accepted. Travellers cheques are virtually unheard of and cash machines are few and far between, so you'll need to bring a good quantity of dollars with you in cash. You will have to declare your money upon arrival, and cash imports and exports in excess of US$5,000 must be approved by the Bank of Sierra Leone. Banks are open Monday to Friday, from 8:00am to 1:30pm, and closed on Saturdays.
transports

Local transportation

With the current road infrastructure, it is difficult and dangerous to move around the country. Besides the major roads between the big cities, roads are in a pitiful state. You are advised to get a 4x4 and to not drive around at night. The traffic flows more freely in the capital. Note that you drive on the right in Sierra Leone and that you need an international driving license. You will find a few local chauffeur-driven cars to rent which means that you will not have to drive. Shared vehicles are bush-taxis and buses. Taxis have no timers. Short journeys in to town cost 0.30 USD. You will often share the taxi with other people. For longer journeys, try to negotiate the price. A journey to the town-centre and the beaches in Freetown costs 15 USD. The buses are uncomfortable, dangerous and they do not follow a timetable. The fares also vary from one bus to other.
sante

Health

It is important to check that your vaccination booklet is up to date. A certificate of your vaccination against yellow fever will be requested upon arrival. It is also strongly recommended that you protect yourself against cholera, which is rife at different periods. Malaria is still very present in the country. Chloroquine and proguanil are the best treatments. Consult a doctor who will give you first aid medication. Contact a good medical repatriation insurance company. Only drink bottled water with the lids firmly screwed on the bottles and be prudent about the food that you eat. Only well-cooked dishes are reliable.
electricite

Electricity

220 V. adapter needed.
frequentation

Flood of tourists

taxe

Taxes and tips

telephone

Telephone

To call Sierra Leone from the UK, dial the international code 00 (232) + the 8-digit number. To call the UK from Sierra Leone, dial 00 + 44 + the 10-digit number without 0 at the beginning. Note that numbers often change.