Travel Essentials

Sierra Leone: What To Know Before You Go

Plugs: Types D and G, 230 V. Emergency: One number for everything 117. Tipping: Not expected, but rounding up or 5-10% in restaurants and small tips for guides and drivers are appreciated. Tap water: Drink bottled or treated water..

Open The Sierra Leone Trip Kit

Plugs And Power

Types D and G, 230 V

Emergency Numbers

One number for everything

117

Tipping

Not expected, but rounding up or 5-10% in restaurants and small tips for guides and drivers are appreciated.

Water And Health

Tap water: Drink bottled or treated water.
Vaccines: Routine vaccines, hepatitis A, typhoid, yellow fever; rabies and hepatitis B for some travelers.
Malaria: Risk throughout the country; ask about preventive tablets.

Apps To Download Before You Go

Sea Coach Express: Book the speedboat between Lungi airport and Freetown, the standard way across the estuary.
WhatsApp: Guesthouses, guides, drivers and boat operators arrange everything through WhatsApp.
Orange Money: The most widely used mobile money service, accepted by shops, taxis and market sellers across the country.
Afrimoney: Africell's mobile wallet, the main alternative for transfers and payments.
Sierra Leone Taxi / Ride SL: Small local ride-booking services in Freetown; most trips are still by shared taxi, keke (tuk-tuk) or okada (motorbike) hailed on the street.
Orange SL / Africell: Apps of the two mobile operators for buying prepaid data bundles.
Freetown Food Delivery apps (e.g. Eazy Eats): A few local delivery services operate in Freetown, though most restaurants take orders by WhatsApp.

Customs And Etiquette

Greetings. Greetings are warm and unhurried; a handshake and polite inquiry about family or health is expected before business.

Dress modestly. Modest, casual dress is appropriate; swimwear should be reserved for beaches and pools, not town centers.

Respect for elders. Elders are shown particular deference; greet older people first and use respectful titles.

Safety And Scams

Sierra Leone is generally safe for travelers who take standard precautions, though it remains a developing country with infrastructure challenges and occasional petty crime concentrated in Freetown's markets and transit hubs.

Fake tour guides. Self-appointed guides may charge inflated prices or lead tourists to unsafe areas; book through a reputable operator or your hotel.

Overpriced taxi rides. Drivers unfamiliar routes or rates may overcharge unfamiliar visitors; agree on a fare before starting.

Currency exchange scams. Street money-changers may pass counterfeit or outdated notes; exchange at banks or licensed bureaus instead.

Women travelers. Women travelers should dress modestly and remain cautious in crowded markets and after dark; harassment is not a major reported issue but vigilance is advised.

LGBTQ+ Travelers

Criminalized

Same-sex sexual activity is illegal and punishable by up to ten years' imprisonment; the environment is hostile to LGBTQ+ people and there is no safety for being openly LGBTQ+ in Sierra Leone.

What Things Cost

Coffee (café)	SLE 40	$1.80
Local bus or metro ride	SLE 3	$0.13
Mid-range restaurant meal	SLE 350	$16
Hostel bed / budget room (night)	SLE 300	$13
Mid-range hotel (night)	SLE 1,600	$71
Daily budget, mid-range traveler	SLE 2,800	$125

2026-09

Best Time To Visit

The dry season, November to April, is best, with December-January especially popular for warm but not overwhelming heat; January-February brings hazy Harmattan winds, while the May-October wet season can flood roads and limit access to beaches and parks.

Phrases

Basic English phrases · Basic Krio phrases · Basic Temne phrases