Arrive to Freetown’s Lungi International Airport, which is one of the world’s most uniquely situated airports, located on the northern coast of the Freetown Estuary. On arrival, disembark and enter the arrivals hall for baggage reclaim. You will be met by our local representative who will have a signboard with your tour name on it after customs. They will be available to deal with any immediate questions then get you on your private vehicle for transfer to the dock from where you take the 30-minute boat ride and make a charismatic entry to the city catching a glimpse of the towering hills over Freetown.
Today we start the day by having our first look around the vibrant city and make a sweep through its historical core. With the car and guide at your disposal you will visit sites such as the Railway Museum, St. Georges Cathedral, National Museum, Peace Monument, the Maroon Church, the Cotton Tree, The Gateway to the Old King's Yard and Fort Thornton (where the Presidential State House now stands).
After the Bunce & Tasso Island tour, you will go on a short tour of some of the peninsula beaches, arguably the best in the sub-region. You’ll stop at Lakka, Hamilton and River Number 2 beach for photos before having an early dinner at a beach of your choice.
In the evening, you're transferred to your hotel.
This morning, you will take an early breakfast and depart at 6:30am for a trip to the Picathartes breeding colony. You will spend most of your day birding the Guma Valley Dam area which will expose you to various species of biodiversity such as the endangered Yellow-headed Picathartes, Yellowbill, Narina Trogon, bronze-naped pigeon, Sierra Leone red-footed squirrel etc.
After lunch, you're transferred to Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary.
You will see the amazing work being done by Bala and his team. Chimpanzees are often cruelly or ignorantly kept as pets, or sometimes hunted for their meat. Today however, more than 100 primates find haven at Tacugama, swinging from branches, hooting with happiness, throwing things at passers-by with the petulance of children, nuzzling each other with tenderness of mothers attending to newborns, and picking bugs out of each other furs with the attention of Madonna’s manicurist, even the least animal-friendly of visitors gets sucked into the magic within the moments.
Apart from the Sanctuary there are other attraction sites available in this area to occupy your time among which is the viewing of over 100 bird species that have been identified in and around the Tacugama Forest Reserve. Overnight at one of the elegant thatch huts know as the Lodge amid the green forest canopy and calls of the chimps all around.
Rise early to go on a bird-watching tour. After the tour, you have breakfast and rest at your lodge.
In the late afternoon, you will hike to Mount Benet - hike for 2km through beautiful swaths of forest following the Mount Gabon trail south for the first half until it separates.
After the hike, you will rest at your lodge.
In the morning we drive from Freetown to Kenema, departing 7AM. Breaking for lunch in the grounds of the Pastoral Center, Kenema while guide picks up National Park permits. We then drive from Kenema to Lalehun, arriving Lalehun c. 3.30pm. Rest at Lalehun Lodge, soaking up the tranquility of the surrounding forest. Take a late afternoon stroll into the forest, should you desire.
In the evening we will be welcomed to Lalehun with the traditional mask dance of the Gola people, with dinner.
The Gola Forest is the largest area of lowland rain forest remaining in Sierra Leone, and is one of the most important sites for the conservation of threatened wildlife in the country. The Gola Forest is the largest tract of closed canopy, lowland rain forest in Sierra Leone.
It’s a fantastic site to visit for bird enthusiasts in particular and recent bird surveys recorded 294 species in the project zone bringing the total to 327, which is among the highest of the Upper Guinean Forests. The birds that occur in the project zone include flagship species such as White-necked Picathartes, Rufous Fishing-Owl, White- breasted Guinea fowl and Gola Malimbe.
In addition to birds there are opportunities to see mammals e.g Upper Guinean Red Colobus, the Western Pied Colobus and the Diana Monkey.
Option 1 (particularly for keen birdwatchers):
-Arise early and enter the forest to observe the many endemic bird species in Gola at dawn. Rest at the lodge for the remainder of the morning, departing after lunch c. 2pm to arrive at the large White-necked Picathartes (Picathartes gymnocephalus) colony (10 nests) in time to observe the birds returning to nest (16km round-trip, c. 5 hrs inc observation time). Dinner at lodge.
Option 2:
-Depart the lodge c.9am. Enter the forest and walk the to the African Buffalo Field, for the chance to see African Buffalo and duikers. Take in, also, the ancient gravesite of Gola chiefs, and hear the many medicinal uses of the trees and plants. Return to the lodge for lunch and rest through the afternoon (c.12km round trip, 4hrs with observation time). Dinner at lodge.
A visit to this tropical rain-forest is undoubtedly one of Sierra Leone’s wildlife highlights. Enriched by the lazily flowing waters of the Moa River you are immersed in the sights and sounds of this safe haven. There is some of the most diverse chimpanzee and monkey populations and more than 700 species of plants life, not to mention the elusive pygmy hippo, a squat little nocturnal beast found only in Liberia, Ivory Coast, Guinea and Sierra Leone.
Depart Gola for Tiwai Island, departing 9AM, with an option of taking an early lunch in Bo. Arrive at Tiwai Island at 1 pm, with time to rest at camp following transfer to Tiwai Island by boat from Kambama.
After arrival and a bit of a rest, take a late afternoon/early evening boat trip up the Mao River in an engine-powered boat. Take in spectacular views of Tiwai Island and the neighbouring mainland, looking out for monkeys jumping between the trees, some 135 species of birds and, of course, the occasional crocodile and the very elusive Pygmy Hippo.
In the evening eat dinner cooked by camp staff and rest at camp. Night walks can be arranged at additional cost.
In the morning, walk the forests of Tiwai Island accompanied by a local guide, experiencing the thrill of tracking the 11 different species of primates, 135 species of birds and some 800 species of butterfly, as well as the footprints of mammals such as mongoose, wild pigs and that Pygmy Hippo. Not to mention the incredible plant life.
Departing after an early lunch, take a boat back to the mainland and explore the fascinating culture and heritage of the rural villages of Kambama and nearby Nianiahun (20 min drive), including sites of traditional sacrifice, meeting points for the rituals of village elders, birth ceremonial sites and the ‘blood stream’ hiding place for the knives and weapons of ancient warriors.
In the evening take a stroll into the forest to watch for monkeys, birds and gaze at the treetops. Eat dinner cooked by camp staff and rest at camp. Night walks can be arranged at additional cost.
This morning, we head to Kent Village on the Freetown peninsula to catch a boat to Banana Island, for a chance to explore this scenic paradise. Three islands make up the Banana Islands: Dublin and Ricketts are linked by a stone causeway. The third Mes-Meheux is uninhabited. We will be going to Dublin, with its backyard gardens, big breadfruit trees and rare and delightful butterflies. You will be welcomed by the sleepy but friendly community and go on a tour of this quiet paradise.
These pristine islands are a wonderful place to experience laid-back Sierra Leone and there will be various optional activities available for everyone, including hiking, snorkeling, scuba diving, fishing and or a scenic boat trip around the island. This is an opportunity to have an insightful land tour of the island and set aside some time to explore on our own around this virtually unknown area of West Africa. Lunch will consist of locally-caught fresh fish, prawns and lobsters (all subject to availability)
Spend the full day exploring the Banana Islands, you can take the two hour hike to Ricketts, go fishing with local fishermen or go snorkeling. Alternatively, you could always just chill on the beach.
Accommodation: Bafa Resort or Similar
After breakfast, depart Banana Island for Tokeh via a stop at Bureh Beach to talk to the guys at Bureh Beach surf club before settling down for seafood lunch. At your own time depart for Tokeh Beach.
Tokeh is a small coastal village settled on the Western Area Peninsula has one of the most beautiful beaches Sierra Leone has to offer. Tokeh beach has a backdrop of lush, green mountains and the old wooden pier that runs into the sea make this place a visual spectacle. You can explore the area or spend your time on the beach or pool area.
York is a distinctly Krio village with a rich history though the village also comprises of various other tribes. Prior to the arrival of the liberated slaves, the Sherbro were settled in the area and the village as called Momimi. York village is over 200 years old, predominantly Christian with old churches and beautiful layout and fauna. York is also the rural district headquarters for the region. The layout of the town and architecture of the houses are reminiscent of those in the deep south of the United States, a testament to the early settlers and re-captives who were starting a new life in the 19th century.
Depart after breakfast for a tour of York with your guide. You can continue exploring the peninsula area or return to your resort for some downtime on the beach.
