Best Tours in Sierra Leone 2025 — Top Attractions, Day Trips & Excursions

Sierra Leone packs extraordinary diversity into a small country: pristine Atlantic beaches, chimpanzee sanctuaries, colonial history sites, rainforest wildlife, and one of West Africa's most vibrant capital cities. These are the tours and attractions worth planning your trip around.

Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary

Sierra Leone's most visited wildlife destination, 45 minutes from Freetown in the Western Area Peninsula National Park. Home to 100+ rescued chimpanzees. Guided forest walks, chimpanzee viewing, and overnight stays available. Book at tacugama.com. USD 35–50 per person. Combine with a beach stop at the peninsula's southern end.

Bunce Island — Atlantic Slave Trade History

The ruins of Bunce Island, 25km up the Sierra Leone River, are one of the most significant slave trade historical sites in West Africa. Enslaved people from here were transported to the Carolina rice coast in the Americas. A deeply moving and important visit. Boat trips arranged through Freetown tour operators.

Banana Islands — Untouched Paradise

Three islands (Dublin, Mes Meheux, Ricketts) accessible by fishing boat from Tombo village (~1 hour south of Freetown). Crystal-clear water, coral reefs, centuries-old cemetery from the freed slave era, and almost no tourists. Overnight stays possible in basic guesthouses. Budget USD 20–40 for the boat charter.

Outamba-Kilimi National Park

Sierra Leone's premier wildlife park, 6 hours north of Freetown near the Guinea border. Chimpanzees, hippos, forest buffalo, 300+ bird species. Accommodation basic but available. Best visited November–April in dry season. A proper expedition requiring 2+ days.

Tokeh and Bureh Beach

Tokeh Beach, 45 minutes from Freetown, has white sand, warm Atlantic water, and a handful of beach bars and resorts. Bureh Beach (90 minutes) is wilder and less developed, popular with surfers. Both accessible by poda-poda (bush taxi) or private hire.

Day Tours from Lungi

From Lungi Airport base, accessible day trips include: Bunce Island via speedboat from Tagrin, the Lungi Peninsula beaches, Makeni town (4 hours north), and cross-estuary Freetown day trips. SaloneKart can arrange guided day tours. Contact via the tours page.