Bo's central market is the commercial heart of the Southern Province and one of the most active markets in Sierra Leone outside Freetown. Produce from the surrounding agricultural districts — rice, palm oil, cassava, peppers, groundnuts — arrives here daily, and the market also trades in second-hand clothing, electronics, hardware, and the diamonds that flow from the mining areas further east.
The market is lively and crowded and gives a vivid picture of how commerce works in the region. The atmosphere is generally welcoming to visitors, though you should be sensible about cameras and valuables in any crowded market. The surrounding streets have the mechanics, tailors, and traders that service a mid-sized West African city.
The market is busiest in the morning and on market days. Local transport — shared taxis and okadas (motorcycle taxis) — converges on the market area, making it a useful orientation point for getting around the city.