Is Sierra Leone Safe?

Sierra Leone is one of the world’s poorest nations and experienced a civil war between 1991 and 2002. Economic development is still slow, and where poverty exists, inevitably so do high levels of petty crime such as pick-pocketing and theft. Sierra Leone is an adventurous rather than a traditional holiday destination. This may change in the future as conditions improve and the rest of the world wakes up to Sierra Leone’s stunning beauty. Those who visit now are generally rewarded with warm hospitality and an almost tourist-free experience.

When traveling, take the phone numbers of anybody you think may be useful or helpful, including drivers, hotel workers, or government officials. People are usually happy to help and most problems can be fixed with a simple phone call. The most common cause of issues is cultural misunderstandings: try not to get worked up or angry as that can spiral into confrontation.