01/11/2024
The Cool List 2024: The 30 most exciting destinations to visit in 2024 from National Geographic Travel
26. Sierra Leone
An upgraded airport makes this natural beauty easier than ever to visit
Fresh tourism shoots are finally springing up in Sierra Leone, with new infrastructure making accessing the West African country more accessible than ever. The international airport opened in Freetown, the capital, got a significant upgrade in 2023, and many roads are being revamped.
Nature is a significant part of the appeal here, with wide, sandy beaches lapped by Atlantic waves and a mountainous inland plateau home to the country’s national animal, the chimpanzee. Community-led projects have been vital to showcasing its natural beauty, including the nation’s first surfing school at Bureh Beach and the Tasso Ecotourism Project on mangrove-rich Tasso Island, which runs a rescue program for the endangered Timneh grey parrot. Meanwhile, the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Bunce Island makes for a poignant visit, chiefly for its role in the transatlantic slave trade.
Travelers will soon have more accommodation options, with hotels springing up nationwide. In Freetown, boutique hideaway Toma is adding more suites, while later, in 2024, the country’s first Hilton will open its doors, offering a clutch of luxurious rooms. Estuary Resort, a laid-back beach retreat on the banks of an inlet, is also expanding, with new chalets and a pool.