Itinerary
- Day 1
Freetown
You'll arrive in Freetown and check in for the welcome meeting at 6 pm. If you get there early, the Cotton Tree in the city center is worth a quick look, or you can head to Lumley Beach to relax before things kick off. Later this evening, you'll have dinner with the group to meet your fellow travelers.
Optional Activities
- Visit Cotton Tree
- Relax at Lumley Beach
- Dinner with group
Landmarks/POIs Cotton Tree Lumley Beach - Day 2
Freetown
Your local leader takes you through Freetown on a city tour, walking through the local market and checking out historical sites related to the slave trade, including King's Yard Gate along the waterfront. After that, you'll travel out to Bunce Island to see the slave fort and learn more about the country's history. You'll have dinner with the group and then settle in for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Freetown city tour with local leader
- Local market visit
- King's Yard Gate visit
- Bunce Island slave fort guided tour
Optional Activities
- Dinner with group
Landmarks/POIs King's Yard Gate Bunce Island - Day 3
Freetown to Boma
You'll head from Freetown to Boma Community Village where you'll meet the female chief and hear about rice farming traditions. The village walk gives you a sense of the area, and you can help out with either planting or harvesting depending on what time of year it is. After camping at the community-built site, locals gather around the fire for traditional dances, including the Devil Dance.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Travel to Boma Community Village
- Meet the chief
- Village walk
- Rice farming participation (planting or harvesting)
- Fireside storytelling
- Traditional dancing including Devil Dance
Landmarks/POIs Boma Community Village - Day 4
Boma to Tiwai Island
Travel to Tiwai Island, a wildlife sanctuary run by the community and known locally as the 'Land of the Apes.' The forest here is dense with tall trees, and you'll learn about chimpanzees, colobus monkeys, and other wildlife (though spotting them isn't guaranteed). In the afternoon, take a boat cruise along the Moa River, then a guided night walk through the forest to experience how things change after dark.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Travel to Tiwai Island
- Boat cruise along Moa River
- Community-led night forest walk
Landmarks/POIs Tiwai Island Moa River - Day 5
Tiwai Island to Kenema
Start early with a forest walk through the Upper Guinea Forest, then board a boat heading to Kenema. The SK Mining Office visit gives you background on diamond mining and its role in the region. You'll walk through active diamond fields with local miners and can try sifting for diamonds yourself before lunch with them. The afternoon is free for you to wander through Kenema, and your leader can point out good markets and restaurants.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch with miners)
Included Activities
- Forest walk through Upper Guinea Forest
- SK Mining Office visit
- Diamond field walk with community miners
- Diamond sifting experience
- Lunch with miners
Optional Activities
- Explore Kenema markets
- Dinner at local restaurants
Landmarks/POIs Upper Guinea Forest Kenema - Day 6
Kenema to Banana Islands
You'll leave Kenema and travel to the Banana Islands, a cluster of islands off the coast of Yawri Bay. The rest of the day is yours to do what you want. Dublin Island has the ruins of an old church if you want to check that out, or you can just spend time on the beach.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Travel to Banana Islands
Optional Activities
- Visit Dublin Island and historic church ruins
- Beach relaxation
Landmarks/POIs Banana Islands Dublin Island - Day 7
Banana Islands
This is a free day at the Banana Islands for swimming or walking along the stone causeway to Ricketts, one of three islands in the group (the others being Dublin and Mes-Meheux). Later tonight, you'll have dinner with the group to wrap up your travels.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Swimming
- Walk along stone causeway to Ricketts
- Dinner with group
Landmarks/POIs Ricketts Island Mes-Meheux Island - Day 8
Banana Islands
Your trip ends after breakfast, and there are no scheduled activities. If you want to stay longer, reach out to your booking agent beforehand to set up an extension.
- Meals
- Breakfast
