Sierra Leone Travel Guide

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Country Facts

Location

West Africa.

Language

The official language is English. Krio is also widely spoken. Local dialects are Mende, Limba and Temne.

Area

71,740 sq km (27,699 sq miles).

Time Zone

GMT.

Electricity

220/240 volts AC, 50Hz. Supply subject to fluctuations.

Population

6.1 million (official estimate 2007).

Population Density

85 per sq km.

Capital City

Freetown. Population: 921,000 (UN estimate 2003).

Government

Republic. Gained independence from the UK in 1961.

Head of State

President Ernest Bai Koroma since 2007.

Religion

Animist (40%), Islam (40%) and Christian (20%).

Recent History

Elections took place in August and run-off elections in September 2007. President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah of the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) stepped down following the results, after serving two terms in office. The opposition leader Ernest Bai Koroma of the All People’s Congress party took over the presidency after winning 54.6% of the vote while his rival Vice-President Solomon Berewa of the SLPP obtained 45.4%.

Communications

Telephone

Country Code: +232. The are no public telephones away from the Western Area of Sierra Leone and the service is generally poor.

Mobile Telephone

Mobile telephone coverage is limited to Freetown and environs. Local SIM cards are available.

Internet

Public access outlets are increasingly popping up, especially in Freetown where access is also available through the British Council.

Media

Media freedom in Sierra Leone is limited, especially when it comes to reporting corruption; Broadcasters face many challenges, such as unreliable electricity supplies, a shortage of funds and a lack of advertising revenue. The Sierra Leone Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC) was created in April 2010 and operates television and radio services. There are a number of other radio providers; private stations include Kiss FM and SKYY FM and FM relays of BBC World Service and Radio France Internationale are on the air in Freetown. Freetown-based newspapers include Awoko, The Democrat and Concord Times.

Post

Airmail to Western Europe takes about five days. A number of internaitonal and local postal/courier services operate in Sierra Leone.

Public Holidays

Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2011-December 2012 period.
2010
25 Dec Christmas Day
26 Dec Boxing Day

2011
1 Jan New Year’s Day
15 Mar Maulid-un-Nabi (Birth of the Prophet)
22 Apr Good Friday
25 Apr Easter Monday
27 Apr Independence Day
30 Aug Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan)
6 Nov Eid al-Adha (Feast of the Sacrifice)
25 Dec Christmas Day
26 Dec Boxing Day

2012
1 Jan New Year’s Day
4 Feb Maulid-un-Nabi (Birth of the Prophet)
6 Apr Good Friday
9 Apr Easter Monday
27 Apr Independence Day
19 Aug Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan)
25 Oct Eid al-Adha (Feast of the Sacrifice)
25 Dec Christmas Day
26 Dec Boxing Day
Muslim festivals are timed according to local sightings of various phases of the moon and the dates given are approximations. During the lunar month of Ramadan that precedes Eid al-Fitr, Muslims fast during the day and feast at night and normal business patterns may be interrupted. Many restaurants are closed during the day and there may be restrictions on smoking and drinking. Some disruption may continue into Eid al-Fitr itself. Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha may last anything from two to 10 days, depending on the region.

Contact Information

National Tourist Board of Sierra Leone

Street address: Cape Sierra Hotel, Room 100, Aberdeen, Freetown, Sierra Leone
Postal address: PO Box 1435, Aberdeen, Freetown, Sierra Leone
Tel: (22) 236 620.
Website: www.welcometosierraleone.org

High Commission for the Republic of Sierra Leone in the UK

41 Eagle Street, Holborn, London WC1R 4TL, UK
Tel: (020) 7404 0140.
Website: www.slhc-uk.org.uk
Opening hours: Mon-Thurs 1000-1300 for visa submissions and 1430-1530 for collections.

Embassy of the Republic of Sierra Leone in the USA

1701 19th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20009, USA
Tel: (202) 939 9261/2.
Website: www.sierra-leone.org