Forested Atlantic peninsula south of Freetown, known for long beaches backed by hills and villages.
The Freetown Peninsula is a hilly, forested strip of land running about 40 km south of Freetown along the Atlantic coast. It has some of the best beaches in West Africa — long, uncrowded, and backed by forest — and is easy to reach as a day trip from the capital.
River No. 2 beach is probably the most famous, with a river mouth, forest backdrop, and calm conditions. Tokeh has white sand and clear water. Bureh is the surfers' beach, with consistent waves. None of them are crowded by any reasonable standard.
The peninsula interior is hilly and forested, with some good walking. A sealed road runs the length of the peninsula but secondary tracks off it can be rough.
Guide
Getting There
The peninsula begins at the southern edge of Freetown and runs about 40 km along the Atlantic coast. Shared taxis and poda-podas (minibuses) leave Lumley junction for the coastal villages — Lakka, Sussex, Tokeh, and River No. 2 are all served, though the frequency drops sharply south of Tokeh.
For convenience, hire a taxi for the day at Lumley or through your guesthouse. Negotiate before you set off — a return trip to River No. 2 with a few hours at the beach should cost a fraction of the standard tour-operator rate. The road is sealed all the way to River No. 2 and well surfaced beyond, so an ordinary car will manage.
