Sierra Leone has about 11,700 km of roads, of which fewer than 1,000 km are paved. The main highways connecting Freetown to Bo, Kenema, Makeni, and the Guinea border are mostly paved and in reasonable condition. Secondary roads become mud in the rainy season and can close entirely.
Within Freetown
Poda-podas (minibuses) and shared taxis are the main local transport. They're cheap and go almost everywhere in the city but are slow and often overcrowded. Kekehs (three-wheelers) are useful for short hops. Okadas (motorcycle taxis) are everywhere but carry real accident risk — the US embassy strongly advises against them. Private taxis are available for hire; agree on a price before you get in.
Between towns
The Sierra Leone Road Transportation Corporation (SLRTC) runs buses from Freetown's Wallace Johnson Street terminal to all major towns and across the border to Conakry. These are the most reliable option for long-distance travel. Bush taxis (shared Peugeot 504s) are faster but less comfortable. Both fill up before departing, which means waiting around.
Up-country travel
Getting to Tiwai Island or the Gola Forest in the southeast, or to Kabala in the north, requires either a long bus or taxi journey followed by a short boat crossing (for Tiwai). A 4WD vehicle is essential if you're going anywhere beyond the main roads during the rainy season. Several tour operators in Freetown offer guided trips to these destinations.
Domestic flights
There are no scheduled domestic flights at present.