Getting There And Around

Getting There & Around

Most visitors enter Sierra Leone by air, flying into Lungi Airport in Freetown (FNA). There are regular flights to destinations in Europe and other African cities – Air France, Brussels Airlines, Royal Air Maroc, Turkish Airlines, and Kenya Airlines and several other African airlines all fly to Lungi Airport.

To know more about flight operations and arrival and departure procedures in Freetown International Airport please visit www.slaa.sl

Lungi Airport is located on the mainland opposite Freetown – the easiest way to travel between the airport and Freetown is by boat, and travel time is about 20/30 minutes. Two companies offer water crossings between the city and the airport: Sea Coach Express and Sea Bird Express. Price is $45 inclusive of transfer from the airport to the dock.

To learn about water taxi operations to and from the airport please visit www.seabirdsl.com

It is also possible to enter Sierra Leone by land from Guinea and Liberia. From Guinea, the main route is via Pamelap – there are frequent bush taxis connecting Freetown to Conakry, and government buses also run 4 times a week. Travel time is between 8 and 10 hours.

To get to Liberia, there are taxis and poda poda (minibuses) connecting Bo and Kenema to the border at Gendema (travel time can be up to 12 hours in the wet season). After crossing the border on foot, travellers will find frequent taxis to Monrovia.

Getting Around

To get around Freetown, it is possible to take keke (rickshaws), okada (moto taxis) or poda poda (minibuses). The latter run on fixed routes, which may be hard to figure out for first-time visitors. If you opt for moto taxis, make sure to ask your driver if they have a spare helmet.

Most tourists charter a taxi to take them around Freetown and surrounding areas, at a price of approximately 30,000 Le per hour.

Main cities around Sierra Leone are connected by bush taxis, poda poda and buses. However, departures can be irregular and travel times are very long, especially in the rainy season.

To reach national parks and destinations away from the cities, the only option is to hire a 4X4 with a driver, at a cost of around $150 USD per day.

Visa

Most nationalities can get a Visa on Arrival at their port of entry, at a cost of $25 for African Union nationals and $80 for others. Citizens from 16 countries are not charged for Visas on Arrival due to reciprocal agreements - please find an updated list and more information on visas on the official website of Sierra Leone’s Immigration Department.

Visas on Arrival are valid for one month, for tourism, family, academic and religious reasons, and can be extended once in Sierra Leone. Those travelling to Sierra Leone for business, employment, academic or diplomatic purposes should obtain a visa before their departure.

Getting There And Around

Getting There & Around

Getting Around

Visa

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