Lakka Beach is a wonderful option for a quick getaway from Freetown, if you don’t want to travel too far but still want to escape the crowds. This beach has striking golden sand surrounded by trees, a few good swimming spots and an island that can be reached on foot.

Located just off Sherbro Island, the Turtle Islands are actually an eight-island archipelago, renowned for their shallow waters and pristine white sand banks. Beautifully remote and shielded from the trappings of the modern-day, the Turtle Islands provide a rustic island retreat and fascinating cultural experience as visitors get to know the tiny fishing communities that live on these islands.

Slow it right down on Sherbro Island, perhaps most known for its coastal town, Bonthe, a sleepy fishing village which was once a thriving trading post. Visitors will see remnants of its past glory, from the colonial-style villas and traditional Krio board houses to the remains of the United Methodist Church and the graves of British soldiers who died here enforcing the abolition of slavery in the early 19^th century.

Take a boat transfer from Kent across Yawri Bay to the Banana Islands, comprising Dublin, Ricketts and Mes-Meheux. Beyond their beautiful beaches, dense tropical forests and tiny Krio settlements complete this rustic island retreat. Kick back in a hammock underneath the palms, go snorkelling or kayaking, or cool off in the mild waters surrounding the islands.

Most travellers head to Kent to hop on a boat to the Banana Islands, but it’s worth stopping to check out Kent beach, a crescent of fine sand with calm waters surrounded by vegetation – perfect for a swim before or after making your way across.

Are you looking for a pristine beach with very few people, not too far from Freetown? Well, John Obey might just be the place for you. The beach is close to a river estuary creating a lagoon, offering easier swimming conditions compared to the ocean.

This pristine black sand beach is located in the central part of the Freetown Peninsula, where water from the Whale River flows through the rainforest into the sea. Palm trees and rainforest all around complete the picture-perfect image of stunning Black Johnson beach.

With sparkling white sand, palms in the background and shining turquoise waters, Tokeh Beach is as close to ‘picture perfect’ as you get. This beach on the Freetown Peninsula is also home to two of the best beach resorts in Sierra Leone, making it perfect for a weekend getaway from Freetown.

A favourite of surfers ever since the 1990s, Bureh beach is a 4 km crescent of golden sand surrounded by forest and with great waves thanks to the regular winds. The beach is named after Bai Bureh, a village chief and independence leader who led the Hut Tax rebellion against the British colonizers.