Freetown Peninsula beaches
The beaches stretching south of Freetown along the peninsula are genuinely world-class. Tokeh, Bureh, and River No. 2 beach are the most visited — long white-sand sweeps backed by forest with warm water and manageable surf. Bureh is particularly popular with surfers. None of them are crowded. Getting there from Freetown takes an hour or two depending on the road, which can be rough.
Tiwai Island Wildlife Sanctuary
A 12-square-kilometre island in the Moa River in the southeast. In 2025 it became part of Sierra Leone's first UNESCO World Heritage Site alongside the Gola Forest. Tiwai has one of the highest primate densities in the world — 11 species including pygmy hippos, chimpanzees, Western red colobus, and Diana guenons. Guided forest walks and boat tours are available. Getting there from Freetown takes most of a day but it's worth the effort.
Gola Rainforest National Park
One of the last remaining fragments of Upper Guinea rainforest, Gola covers the eastern border with Liberia. It's excellent for birdwatching — over 300 species have been recorded, including several threatened endemics. Facilities are basic but that's part of the point.
Banana Islands
A small group of islands about an hour by boat from the base of the Freetown Peninsula. Quiet, historically significant (one of the earliest European trading posts in Sierra Leone), with good snorkeling in clear water. A day trip from Freetown or an overnight stay.
Freetown
The capital is chaotic and not exactly beautiful, but it has energy. The historic Cotton Tree in the city center is the symbolic heart of Krio identity. The National Museum is small but worth a visit. Aberdeen and Lumley have most of the restaurants and bars frequented by foreigners and the growing local middle class.