Travelling to and around Sierra Leone

AT A GLANCE ... Population: 5.4 million Size: 29,925 sq. miles Terrain: coastal mangrove swamps, wooded hills, plateau upland and mountains in the east. Capital: Freetown Provincial Capitals: Bo, Makeni and Kanema. Currency: Leone (SLL) Exchange rate: US$1=1.9SLL GDP: US$2.7 billion. Per capita US$510 Tribes: Temne 30%, Mende 30%, Krio 1%, 15 other tribal groups. Natural Resources: diamonds, rutile, bauxite, iron ore, gold. Industries: Mining, forestry, fishing, construction goods, cigarettes and drinks.

Sierra Leone on the West coast 'hump' of Africa, is bordered by Guinea to the east, Liberia on the south east and the third boundary is the Atlantic ocean with 360 kilometres of coast.

English is the official language and there are 20 tribal languges, Temne and Mende being the most widely known.

Sierra National Airlines flies a twice weekly service between London Gatwick Airport South Terminal and Freetown and Banjul. SM Brussels also flies twice weekly from and to Brussels.On arrival at Lunghi Airport there is either a ferry or helicopter trip to Freetown.

A passport that is valid for six months minimum is required by all travellers, as well as visas for those outside the ECOWAS countries.Transit passengers require transit visas obtainable from the Sierra Leone High Commission. Yellow Fever vaccination certificates are also required.

Car rental is difficult because of the expense of importing new cars into the country. However cars can be rented from Global Development Four (SL) Limited in Freetown - telephone 232 22 230 806 or fax 232 22 230 061.

Traffic drives on the right and an international driving licence is required.Some of the roads are still rugged so a four-wheel drive vehicle is recommended.

Reliable, insured taxis (jeeps and Mercedes) can be hired on a daily or weekly basis from the Hotel Drivers Association found in the car park of the Cape Sierra Hotel - telephone mobile 076 626579 or through the hotel on numbers 273233 / 272266 / 272267.

Sierra Leone is on GMT all year round. The climate is tropical with an average temperature of 32 degreesC. It is hot and humid in the summer with rainy season from July to September and dry season from November to April. The best time to visit is between May and November.