Freetown
From Wikitravel
Freetown is the capital city of Sierra Leone and is the heart of the Western area. It is located on a peninsula on the south bank of the estuary of the Sierra Leone River. The city lies at the foot of the peninsula mountains and faces one of the best natural harbours on the west coast of Africa. The peninsula is home to some of the finest beaches in Africa - Lumley beach, Lakka beach, No. 2 river beach and Toke beach are some examples.
| Table of contents |
Understand
Freetown, like the rest of Sierra Leone has endured some very difficult times during the civil war. It was occupied by rebels twice and the resident population and infrastructure suffered badly. As stability returned to Freetown, many Sierra Leoneans fled the rural areas to the city to escape the carnage. Though the country has been peaceful since 2002, the population of the city is still much higher than it was prior to the war. This has put pressure on land and local services. Many areas of jungle have been cleared to house the new residents. The US government has not helped the situation with their new embassy development at Leicester. Some blame the new developments for severe flooding of the city during the rain season.
Get in
By plane
The international airport is at Lungi, the other side of the estuary from Freetown. A short helicopter ride is required on Paramount Airlines old Russian MI8's to the Aberdeen part of Freetown ($37 in March 2005). Alternatively a ferry runs to the main part of Freetown and a hovercraft sometimes runs. By road it is 2-3 hours to the city.
By train
Sierra Leone's public railway service was closed in 1974. A new railway museum is due to open during 2005 at Cline Town. Many of the original railway buildings and signs can still be seen in and around Freetown, particularly at Hill Station and Congo Cross. It is also possible to walk along much of the track bed, starting near the Hill Station Club (http://www.capitalradio.sl/hsc.htm) and dropping down the hill via Congo Cross into Freetown.
By car
By bus
By boat
Get around
Local taxis, which run fixed routes and are shared - often with several people cost about Le500. These vehicles tend to be very old and in poor condition. Taxis can be hired for a complete journey, which could cost Le5000-10000 depending on negotiation. Hotel taxis are usually in much better condition and are regulated. These will also cost up to Le10000.
Car hire is possible and can normally be arranged through the hotels. They will normally come with a driver. Journeys outside of Freetown may require a 4 wheel drive vehicle and will cost more.
See
- No. 2 River beach - Beautiful and unspoilt. The road is bad, but it is worth the 40 minute drive.
- Lakka Beach
- Toke Beach
- National Rail museum, Cline Town
- Bunce Island
- Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary (http://www.tacugama.com/)
- Charlotte falls
- Sierra Leone Museum, Cotton Tree, Freetown
- Hill Station Club (http://www.capitalradio.sl/hsc.htm) - Gentleman's club dating from colonial times.
- Colonial houses on stilts at Hill Station. Most are in a poor state but offer an insight into how people lived in the past.
A visit to the Aberdeen part of Freetown will give a break from the
busy city center. A short drive from any part of Freetown by car/taxi.
The roads are good but watch the speed bumps on the beech road and Sir
Samuel Lewis road. There are small stalls outside of Alex' bar selling
'tourist' fare. There is a fashion boutique at Family Kingdom. Various
other stalls can be found on the Lumley beech road and in the area of
the Mammy Yoko heliport. There are plenty of hawkers on the beach selling
sunglasses, fruit, peanuts, clothes etc.
The beaches are beautiful and unspoilt. Driving to the more remote ones such as Lakka and No. 2 river beach will require a good vehicle because the road is bad. Lakka takes about 20 minutes. Here there are some bars - Pierre's (formally the Cotton Club) is popular for food and drink. Driving further, for another 20 minutes will get you to No. 2 river beach. The local villagers have set up a management company to look after this stunning beach and river outfall. There are some small craft shops and a bar serving cold drinks and fresh fish/lobster. Toke beach is best reached by driving the other way round the Freetown peninsular along the new road.
Do
- A round of golf at the club just off the beach at Lumley.
- Gamble at the Casino in Aberdeen.
- Walk along the route of the old railway line, from Hill Station, via Congo Cross to the centre of Freetown.
Learn
Work
Buy
Eat
Freetown is not short of high quality restaurants. Being on the Atlantic coast, some excellent seafood is on offer. Barracuda, grouppa and lobster are readilly available. Freetown has a large Lebanese community. Consequently, some very good Lebanese food is available at most restaurants.
Budget
- Fresh peanuts from the local sellers on Lumley beach
Mid-range
- Alex', Man of War bay, Aberdeen
- Angels Delight, Family Kingdom, Aberdeen
- Cape Club, Man of War bay, Aberdeen
- Crown Bakery Restaurant, Freetown Centre
- Paddy's bar, Aberdeen road
Splurge
- Country Lodge Hotel (http://www.countrylodgesl.com/) Restaurant, Hill Station
- Mamba Point Restaurant, Wilberforce
- Sierra Lighthouse Restaurant, Man of War bay, Aberdeen
- Atlantic Restaurant (on the beach at Lumley)
- Indochine Restaurant, Aberdeen road
- Balmaya Arts Restaurant, Congo Cross
- Francessco Restaurant, New England
Drink
Apart from the hotels and restaurants there are many bars on the beaches. Particularly at the Aberdeen end of Lumley beach. Also a "must see" for any visitor is Paddy's on the road into Aberdeen. This bar is famous and was the only place to be consistently open during the war. Get a cold Star and enjoy the atmosphere. Also worthy of a visit is the Hill Station Club (http://www.capitalradio.sl/hsc.htm) at Hill Station. This old gentleman's drinking club was looted during the war but the building itself survived and the bar will be opened for visitors. If you are lucky you will be allowed to see the snooker room, where the tables appear untouched for many years and old champions names are still on the sign boards.
Sleep
Freetown now has some high standard hotels. All in the splurge section will offer air conditioned rooms with power available 24 hours per day. Most will also have Internet access, with some providing high speed wireless access too. Hotels in the Aberdeen area are closest to Lumley beach.
Budget
Mid-range
- Solar Hotel, Aberdeen
- Blackheath Guest House - Wilkinson Road Freetown. Tel:(UK) +44(0)7946 886849
Splurge
- Bintumani Hotel, Aberdeen
- Cabenda Hotel (http://www.hotelcabenda.com/), Congo Cross
- Cape Guest House, Aberdeen (behind the Cape Sierra Hotel)
- Cape Sierra Hotel, Aberdeen
- Country Lodge Hotel (http://www.countrylodgesl.com/), Hill Station
- Family Kingdom, Aberdeen
- Kimbima Hotel (http://www.hotelkimbima.com/), near Man of War bay, Aberdeen
- Lacs Villa, Brookfields
- Mamba Point, Wilberforce
- Sierra Lighthouse Inn (http://www.sierralighthouse.com/), Man of War bay, Aberdeen
Contact
Stay safe
Violent crime is very rare in Freetown. However, petty crime is common. Take care of possessions and be wary of leaving valuables in rooms.
Cope
Get out
External links
- Visitors guide (http://www.visitsierraleone.org/) - Unofficial visitors guide to Sierra Leone
- Capital Radio (http://www.capitalradio.sl/) - FM Radio station in Freetown.