Top Tourist Places to Visit in Goderich, Sierra Leone, East Africa, Africa

Top Tourist Places to Visit in Goderich, Sierra Leone, East Africa, Africa

Goderich is one of the localities of the national capital of the African country Sierra Leone, Freetown. It is a prosperous neighborhood, situated in the western part of Freetown, around 20 km southwest of the centre of Freetown. Goderich is rich in infrastructure, home to numerous renowned entertainment centres that are frequented by both locals and visitors. Goderich houses the residence of the president of Sierra Leone, Ernest Bai Koroma and former vice president of the country, Solomon Berewa. Goderich is geographically positioned between 8°26′ N latitude and 13°17′ W longitude.

 

Connectivity to Goderich:

Due to its position within the national capital, Goderich has good connectivity to all around the country by both airway and roadway, not by railway as the railway is not currently active in the country.

The Lungi International Airport, Sierra Leone’s most important airport, is situated around 40 km northeast of Goderich. Taxis are always gettable at the airport and minibuses and rental cars are the other prevalent options for airport travel.

Poda-podas (minibuses) are widely used for local travel in Goderich and taxis and rental cars and bikes are the additional options to get around Goderich and its surroundings.

 

Culture, Food and Shopping in Goderich:

Being an affluent locality of Freetown, Goderich offers a wide range of shops and restaurants for visitors that are spread up all around the area with both traditional Sierra Leonean and Western food and shopping products.

 

Things to do in Goderich:

  • Exploring beaches
  • Shopping
  • Walking

 

What to see in Goderich?

 

Goderich Beach:

The Goderich Beach is one of the highlights, get together point and tourist attraction of Goderich and Freetown. Although beach is not being excellent, its location and lovely environment have made visitors frequent to it.

 

Lakka Beach:

Situated around 5 km southeast of Goderich, the Lakka Beach is really an excellent beach. Along with beach exploration, the Lakka Beach has also become popular among tourists for typical restaurants and clubs, where one can feel both African and Western hospitalities.

 

Foulah Town Mosque:

The Foulah Town Mosque is a historic mosque dating from the 1830s. It is located around 15 km northeast of Goderich, can be reached by rental vehicle. It is worth a watch.

 

Cotton Tree:

The Cotton Tree is one of the identities of Freetown, holding more than 500 years old history. It is situated in the centre of Freetown, near the National Museum and Supreme Court building, around 13 km from Goderich.

 

List of other places of interest near Goderich include:

  • George’s Cathedral
  • National Rail Museum
  • Cape Sierra Leone Lighthouse
  • Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary
  • Kent Beach
  • Bunce Island
  • John Obey Beach
  • Hill Station Club
  • Sierra Leone Museum
  • Charlotte Falls
  • York Beach
  • Sussex Beach

 

When to visit Goderich?

From December to March is the best and great time to visit Goderich in Freetown to experience its affluence.

 

Hotels in and around Goderich:

Goderich houses many top class hotels with world class amenities to provide unforgettable hospitality services for visitors coming to the city year round. There are also many budget options in Goderich with all basic amenities. Some recommended places to stay in and around Goderich are listed below:

  • Kimbima Hotel
  • Cockle Point
  • Lacs Villa Guest House
  • Leone Lodge Freetown
  • Hotel de la Joie
  • Njala IAR Guesthouse
  • Sierra International Hotel
  • Simple Goal Guest House
  • Raza Guest House
  • Family Kingdom Resort
  • Radisson Blu Mammy Yoko Hotel
  • Bintumani Hotel
  • Swiss Spirit Hotel & Suites Freetown
  • The Rogbonko Village Retreat
  • Mamba Point Guesthouse

Beautiful Tourist Places to Visit in Koidu, Kono, East Africa, Africa

Beautiful Tourist Places to Visit in Koidu, Kono, East Africa, Africa

Koidu Town, also called as Koidu or Sefadu, is the capital as well as the largest city of Kono District in the Eastern Province of the African country, Sierra Leone. It holds the title of the 5th largest city of the country and the 2nd largest in the province. Koidu Town is located around 340 km east of the national capital, Freetown. Koidu Town is well known as a diamond trade center as its surrounding areas are opulent in diamond mining.

Koidu Town is home to a famous soccer club, the Diamond Stars, which plays in Sierra Leone National Premier League. Koidu Town coordinates with 8°38′38″ N latitude and 10°58′18″ W longitude.

 

How to get Koidu Town?

Koidu Town is served by Yengema Airport, situated around 12 km southwest of the centre of Koidu Town. The airport is catered by Eagle Air with scheduled flights from Bo, Freetown and Kenema. Taxis are generally available at the airport, though booking rental car prior to reaching the airport would be helpful for comfort and convenient airport travel.

Koidu Town is connected to all the major cities of the country by road but road condition and bus services are not upgraded, so advised to take a private vehicle.

 

Food and Shopping in Koidu Town:

Koidu Town is home to people belonging to different communities, including Kono people. Like most parts of the country, Krio language is commonly communicated in Koidu Town. Koidu Town is noted for its colorful traditional shops and restaurants.

 

Things to do in Koidu Town:

  • Visiting diamond mines
  • Traditional shopping
  • Hiking

 

Tourist Attractions in Koidu Town:

 

Diamond mines in Koidu:

Diamond mining is the backbone of Koidu’s economy and in recent years, it has also been popularized among visitors as a tourist destination. Exploring diamond mines through a guided tour is recommended for convenience.

 

Kangari Hills Forest Reserve:

Situated to the west of Koidu Town, the Kangari Hills Forest Reserve occupies an area of 8,573 hectares and is known for being home to endangered forest elephants. It was established in 1924.

 

Tingi Hills Forest Reserve:

The Tingi Hills Forest Reserve is situated at an altitude between 400 and 1850 metres, covering an area of 118.85 sq. km. Established in 1947, the reserve is home to western baboons and forest elephants and around 200 species of birds. It is situated towards the northeast of Koidu.

 

Yengema Airport:

Sierra Leone’s one of the busiest airports, the Yengema Airport is situated 396 meters above sea level, around 12 km from the heart of Koidu Town. It can be reached by rental car.

 

List of other places of interest near Koidu Town include:

  • Gola West Forest Reserve
  • Loma Mountains Forest Reserve
  • Gola East Forest Reserve
  • South Kambui Hills Forest Reserve
  • Gola North Forest Reserve
  • Outamba Kilimi National Park
  • National Rail Museum in Freetown
  • John’s Maroon Church in Freetown
  • Sierra Leone National Museum in Freetown
  • Beaches of Freetown
  • Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary in Freetown

 

Best time to visit Koidu Town:

The best time to visit Koidu Town depends on visitors’ interest, however, the most popular time is from December to May.

 

Hotels in and around Koidu Town:

Uncle Ben’s Guest House is the major accommodation centre in Koidu, offering breakfast, AC, hot water and all other essential facilities. It charges between Le 165,000 and 210,000 per night. For more options, below is provided hotels in the nearby cities of Koidu, in Kenema (around 120 km), Bo (around 210 km) and Makeni (around 160 km):

  • Ericson Guest House in Kenema
  • Paloma Guest House in Kenema
  • Capitol Hotel in Kenema
  • Luawa Resort Hotel in Kenema
  • Dohas Hotel and Restaurant in Bo
  • Madame Woki Hotel in Bo
  • Hotel Sir Milton in Bo
  • Countryside Hotel in Bo
  • Imperial Hotel in Bo
  • Sahara Hotel in Bo
  • Wusum Hotel in Makeni
  • Makama Lodge Guest House in Makeni

Best Tourist Places to Visit in Freetown, Sierra Leone, East Africa, Africa

Best Tourist Places to Visit in Freetown, Sierra Leone, East Africa, Africa

Freetown is the capital as well as the largest city of Sierra Leone. Located on the Atlantic Ocean Coast, Freetown holds the world’s third largest natural harbor and is situated in the Western Area of the nation, around 25 meters above sea level at 8°29′4″ N 13°14′4″ W. Freetown houses the West Africa’s oldest university, the Fourah Bay College, which was established in 1827. More than 500 years old ‘Cotton Tree’ is another identity of Freetown.

Freetown is a vibrant tourist destination with nearly an equal number of manmade and natural attractions, including the Foulah Town Mosque, the National Railway Museum and inviting beaches. The total land area of Freetown accounts around 357 sq. km.

 

History of Freetown:

What is today’s Freetown was first inhabited by around 400 poor enslaved Black Britons relocated from London. Freetown was upgraded by Nova Scotian abolitionist John Clarkson for freed slaves, who named it Freetown. Its population was gradually filled up by a large number of freed African-Americans through the Sierra Leone Company.

 

How to reach Freetown?

Freetown hosts the most important airport of Sierra Leone that was named Lungi International Airport as its position in the town of Lungi, around 28 km northwest of the central business district of Freetown. Including Paris, Nairobi, Casablanca, Brussels and London, the airport covers many European and African cities.

Freetown has road connectivity to nearly all the major Sierra Leonean cities, including Bo and Kenema, served by buses and minibuses. Taxis generally cost around $5 to move within Freetown.

 

Culture, Food and Shopping in Freetown:

The city of Freetown houses nearly an equal proportion of Muslims and Christians. In addition to national language Krio, English is also widely spoken in Freetown. Freetown is famous for seafood and its handicraft products are also highly liked by visitors.

 

Things to do in Freetown:

  • Visiting chimpanzee sanctuary
  • Exploring beaches
  • Visiting casino

 

Tourist Attractions in Freetown:

 

Beaches of Freetown:

Beaches are the first preference of tourists visiting Freetown. The Atlantic Ocean has gifted many spectacular beaches to Freetown that are excellent in condition offering unforgettable beach exploration experience for visitors. Lakka Beach, No. 2 River Beach and Bureh Beach are some among them.

 

St. George’s Cathedral:

The St. George’s Cathedral is a landmark structure in Freetown, holding nearly 200 years of history. It is situated at Tower Hill in the heart of Freetown. It shouldn’t be missed.

 

Cape Sierra Leone Lighthouse:

Situated near Barmoi Hotel in the suburb of Aberdeen, the Cape Sierra Leone Lighthouse was constructed by the Portuguese in 1812 and renovated in 2010. It is a point where visitors can have the excellent winsome views of the Atlantic Ocean.

 

National Rail Museum:

The National Rail Museum houses well preserved steam locomotives and carriages, which are allowed to see for visitors without fee, but donations are wholeheartedly accepted. It is located in Cline Town in Freetown.

 

Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary:

The Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary is located on the outskirts of Freetown, can be reached by rental car. It covers around 100 acres of area with a large number of Chimpanzees that are friendly and can be seen in close view. General entrance fee is Le 30,000, while Le 15,000 is for children.

 

List of other places of interest near Freetown include:

  • Kent Beach
  • Bunce Island
  • John Obey Beach
  • York Beach
  • Sussex Beach
  • Goderich Beach
  • Hill Station Club
  • Sierra Leone Museum
  • Charlotte Falls

 

When to visit Freetown?

The climate of Freetown is classified as tropical monsoon, with 27 degrees Celsius of average annual temperature. Like the rest of Sierra Leone, from December to May is the best time to visit Freetown.

 

Hotels in Freetown:

Being the capital and top tourist destination of the country, Freetown offers all sorts of upgraded accommodation centres for visitors, ranging from budget guesthouses to star rated luxury hotels. Advance booking is advised as hotels get filled up shortly between December and March. List of the prominent hotels in Freetown include:

  • Njala IAR Guesthouse
  • Sierra International Hotel
  • Simple Goal Guest House
  • Raza Guest House
  • Family Kingdom Resort
  • Radisson Blu Mammy Yoko Hotel
  • Kimbima Hotel
  • Bintumani Hotel
  • Swiss Spirit Hotel & Suites Freetown
  • The Rogbonko Village Retreat
  • Mamba Point Guesthouse
  • Cockle Point
  • Lacs Villa Guest House
  • Leone Lodge Freetown
  • Hotel de la Joie

Tourist Places to Visit in Daru, Kailahun, East Africa, Africa

Tourist Places to Visit in Daru, Kailahun, East Africa, Africa

Daru is a town belonging to the Kailahun District in the Eastern Province of the African country Sierra Leone. It is relatively a small town with a population of 5,958 (as of the 2010 census), located around 40 km northeast and 130 km east of the cities of Kenema and Bo respectively and around 430 km southeast of Freetown, the capital of Sierra Leone. Daru is the site of Sierra Leone’s one of the largest military barracks.

Daru’s population is dominated by the Mende people, who are one of the two important and largest ethnic groups forming the population of Sierra Leone. Daru is the birthplace of an eminent Sierra Leonean musician, Steady Bongo. Daru is geographically positioned between 07°59′31″ N latitude and 10°50′26″ W longitude.

 

How to reach Daru?

Kenema Airport is the closest airport to Daru, located around 45 km away from the centre of Daru. Kenema Airport offers scheduled flight services from/to Freetown and Bo. The Bo Airport is situated around 130 km from Daru.

After getting down at Kenema Airport or Bo Airport, visitors can choose rental car and taxi to get Daru. If one choose bus would be cost effective. Minibuses and motorbikes are generally used for local travel in Daru.

 

Culture, Food and Shopping in Daru:

Daru is culturally rich town, made more popular by one of the most renowned Sierra Leonean musicians, Steady Bongo, who was born and grew up in Daru.

There are also many nice restaurants and shops in Daru and for more options, the nearby city Kenema is a right place.

 

Things to do in Daru:

  • Shopping
  • Walking
  • Visiting nearby forest reserves

 

Places of interest in Daru:

 

Moa River:

The Moa River originates in the highlands of Guinea and flows through the Southern Province of Sierra Leone before merging into Atlantic Ocean. The town of Daru is situated on both the banks of the river, where the river has become famous among both locals and visitors as a great water sport destination.

 

Kenema:

Kenema is a nearby town of Daru and the 3rd largest city of Sierra Leone. It is relatively an upgraded city with many entertainment venues. The major attractions of Kenema include Kenema Shopping Mall, clock tower and downtown Kenema. Kenema is located around 40 km from Daru, can be reached by minibus.

 

Kambui Hills Forest Reserve:

The Kambui Hills Forest Reserve is situated near the Kenema city, covering an area of 14,335 hectares. It is mainly famous for bird watching, which is popularized by around 200 different bird species, including White-necked Picathartes, Yellow-casqued Hornbill and Green-tailed Bristlebill.

 

List of other places of interest near Daru include:

  • Gola East Forest Reserve
  • South Kambui Hills Forest Reserve
  • Gola North Forest Reserve
  • Gola West Forest Reserve
  • Loma Mountains Forest Reserve
  • Kangari Hills Forest Reserve
  • Outamba Kilimi National Park
  • Sierra Leone National Museum in Freetown
  • Beaches of Freetown
  • Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary in Freetown
  • National Rail Museum in Freetown
  • John’s Maroon Church in Freetown

 

Best time to visit Daru:

Visitors are the decision makers in choosing the right time to visit Daru, though, those who are keen to enjoy outdoor activities in Daru can choose any month between December and May.

 

Hotels in Daru:

There are tourist favor hotels very few in Daru, so it would be better and convenient if visitors consider the nearby cities Kenema and Bo’s hotels to have healthy hospitality services. The major hotels in Kenema (around 40 km from Daru) and Bo (around 130 km):

  • Ericson Guest House in Kenema
  • Paloma Guest House in Kenema
  • Capitol Hotel in Kenema
  • Luawa Resort Hotel in Kenema
  • Dohas Hotel and Restaurant in Bo
  • Madame Woki Hotel in Bo
  • Hotel Sir Milton in Bo
  • Countryside Hotel in Bo
  • Imperial Hotel in Bo
  • Sahara Hotel in Bo
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