--- title: "Bicycle touring in Sierra Leone | Cycle Planet" description: "The contrast here is huge. The places that have tarmac, do have incredibly good roads, sometimes even with 4 lanes and a shoulder for cyclers. But there…" canonical_url: "https://cycleplanet.org/countries/sierra-leone" meta: "og:description": "The contrast here is huge. The places that have tarmac, do have incredibly good roads, sometimes even with 4 lanes and a shoulder for cyclers. But there…" "og:image": "https://cycleplanet.org/_og/d/c_Blauwdruk%2Ctitle_Bicycle%2Btouring%2Bin%2BSierra%2BLeone%2Cdescription_~VGhlIGNvbnRyYXN0IGhlcmUgaXMgaHVnZS4gVGhlIHBsYWNlcyB0aGF0IGhhdmUgdGFybWFjLCBkbyBoYXZlIGluY3JlZGlibHkgZ29vZCByb2Fkcywgc29tZXRpbWVzIGV2ZW4gd2l0aCA0IGxhbmVzIGFuZCBhIHNob3VsZGVyIGZvciBjeWNsZXJzLiBCdXQgdGjigKY%2Cheadline_Western%2BAfrica%2CsiteName_Cycle%2BPlanet%2Clogo_CP%2Cp_Ii9jb3VudHJpZXMvc2llcnJhLWxlb25lIg%2Cs_dysFwSPev7fRUNxL.png" "og:image:height": "600" "og:image:type": image/png "og:image:width": "1200" "og:title": "Bicycle touring in Sierra Leone" "twitter:image": "https://cycleplanet.org/_og/d/c_Blauwdruk%2Ctitle_Bicycle%2Btouring%2Bin%2BSierra%2BLeone%2Cdescription_~VGhlIGNvbnRyYXN0IGhlcmUgaXMgaHVnZS4gVGhlIHBsYWNlcyB0aGF0IGhhdmUgdGFybWFjLCBkbyBoYXZlIGluY3JlZGlibHkgZ29vZCByb2Fkcywgc29tZXRpbWVzIGV2ZW4gd2l0aCA0IGxhbmVzIGFuZCBhIHNob3VsZGVyIGZvciBjeWNsZXJzLiBCdXQgdGjigKY%2Cheadline_Western%2BAfrica%2CsiteName_Cycle%2BPlanet%2Clogo_CP%2Cp_Ii9jb3VudHJpZXMvc2llcnJhLWxlb25lIg%2Cs_dysFwSPev7fRUNxL.png" --- > Index of every page on this site: [llms.txt](https://cycleplanet.org/llms.txt) Western Africa # Sierra Leone [**View on the map**](https://cycleplanet.org/map?at=8.460555,-11.779889,7) [** Download GPX (8) **](https://cycleplanet.org/api/gpx/SL) ## **About ** The contrast here is huge. The places that have tarmac, do have incredibly good roads, sometimes even with 4 lanes and a shoulder for cyclers. But there are plenty of areas without tarmac roads. This is all due to the Chinese, who build good roads to improve the trading network and to dig up valuable minerals. Sierra Leone itself has a wild history with coups and civil wars, but now seems quiet and building towards a future. Last updated 4 Sept 2020 by [Bas Idsinga](https://cycleplanet.org/cyclists/ieMGYdJeX6ZyKgKeeGhMXPFZkax2) [Edit](https://cycleplanet.org/countries/sierra-leone/edit/about) ## **Routes ** - [From Guinea border to Liberia border](https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/cycle-planet-292f5.appspot.com/o/uploads_gpx%2Fcycleplanet-Sierra%20Leone-1599197683004.kml?alt=media&token=ec16f576-dec4-4ab6-8016-034c975602ff) ## **Visa ** A visa is required for most nationalities. It seems possible to apply online and will cost $100. Source: [**Wikipedia**](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visa_policy_of_Sierra_Leone). Last updated 14 Mar 2021 by [Bas Idsinga](https://cycleplanet.org/cyclists/ieMGYdJeX6ZyKgKeeGhMXPFZkax2) [Edit](https://cycleplanet.org/countries/sierra-leone/edit/visa) ## **Where to get a visa for Sierra Leone **(1) Sorted by most likes 1. [![Embassy](https://cycleplanet.org/markers/Embassy.png)**1. Embassy for Sierra Leone in Guinea (Conakry)**Sierra Leone, ConakryIn some cases you can obtain your visa here in one day, if you come early. Bring two passport pictures, copy of your passport. You might be asked for a hotel…](https://cycleplanet.org/poi/-MGMYye6BhJ26I42r82Z) ## **Border crossings **(2) Sorted by most likes 1. [![Border crossing](https://cycleplanet.org/markers/Border.png)**1. Bo Waterside (Liberia) – Jendema (Sierra Leone)**To LiberiaBorder open from 7:30 am to 6:30 pm. You need to show your Yellow Fever certificate. I went from Sierra Leone to Liberia. On the Liberian side, they wrote down… 2](https://cycleplanet.org/poi/dec987c7-24a7-4bf5-97a4-05b50dcd61e1) 2. [![Border crossing](https://cycleplanet.org/markers/Border.png)**2. Pamelap (Guinea) – Kambia (Sierra Leone)**To GuineaOpen from 7 am to 6 pm. I went from Guinea to Sierra Leone. I was able to print my e-visa of Sierra Leone in Pamelap. Passing this border came with a little… 1](https://cycleplanet.org/poi/bf046210-b5cc-4ca1-a208-6d84e276a281) ## **See and do **(2) Sorted by most likes 1. [![See \& do](https://cycleplanet.org/markers/SeeDo.png)**1. Freetown**See & doYes, Freetown was actually the town of free men during the slavery. It’s a lively city, with stunning beaches and a few incredible peaks which are visible from…](https://cycleplanet.org/poi/-MGMZzZmiDfrscPOnMR8) 2. [![See \& do](https://cycleplanet.org/markers/SeeDo.png)**2. Tiwai Islands**See & doIf your wallet allows it, you can try to find pygmy hippo during the night at this place.](https://cycleplanet.org/poi/-MGM_Chszfo-pujs2xYu) ## **Bike shops **(3) Sorted by most likes 1. [![Bike shop](https://cycleplanet.org/markers/BikeShop.png)**1. Bikeshop Richard**Bike shopA good local bike mechanic with some spare parts... Richard Tel: +232 76 75 05 63](https://cycleplanet.org/poi/d32323ed-af7d-4214-a12b-433fbdd9f4ba) 2. [![Bike shop](https://cycleplanet.org/markers/BikeShop.png)**2. Isata's Bike Shop**Bike shopSmall shop with mechanic and some basic spare parts.](https://cycleplanet.org/poi/1bc92876-3c59-479c-bd3e-a9957deccb36) 3. [![Bike shop](https://cycleplanet.org/markers/BikeShop.png)**3. Karim Bikemechanic**Bike shopA good local bike mechanic with some spare parts Karim (Stylishman) +232 88 30 01 81](https://cycleplanet.org/poi/3c5f823e-015c-4a59-ad28-69604962a201) ## **Sleeping ** ### **Staying with locals** Not very common, only big cities offer CS hosts. ### **(Formal) camping** A great way of meeting locals and sleeping in your own comfortable bed. Ask anyone in a village and they will search a spot for you. ### **Ho(s)tels** Some places have accomodation, but it’s expensive, the cheapest is around SLL 100.000. ### **Wild camping** Possible, but there are lots of people everywhere, so consider asking permission first. Last updated 4 Sept 2020 by [Bas Idsinga](https://cycleplanet.org/cyclists/ieMGYdJeX6ZyKgKeeGhMXPFZkax2) [Edit](https://cycleplanet.org/countries/sierra-leone/edit/sleeping) ## **Safety ** Generally safe to cycle, be cautious in big cities. Last updated 4 Sept 2020 by [Bas Idsinga](https://cycleplanet.org/cyclists/ieMGYdJeX6ZyKgKeeGhMXPFZkax2) [Edit](https://cycleplanet.org/countries/sierra-leone/edit/safety) ## **Food and drink ** Onroad: Egg with bread (±7.000 SLL) Local food: Rice, bushmeat, fish Local drink: Palm wine Last updated 4 Sept 2020 by [Bas Idsinga](https://cycleplanet.org/cyclists/ieMGYdJeX6ZyKgKeeGhMXPFZkax2) [Edit](https://cycleplanet.org/countries/sierra-leone/edit/foodDrink) ## **Blogs ** - [Sierra Leones Jungle Tracks](https://www.basidsinga.com/14-sierra-leones-jungle-tracks/) ## **Videos ** - [Wet feet in West Africa's Jungle](https://youtu.be/ajZe_AD1WTs) ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@graph":[{"@id":"https://cycleplanet.org/#website","@type":"WebSite","description":"Cycle Planet is the bicycle touring platform: visas, border crossings, places to sleep and points of interest per country, and a community of cyclists who host each other.","name":"Cycle Planet","url":"https://cycleplanet.org/","publisher":{"@id":"https://cycleplanet.org/#identity"}},{"@id":"https://cycleplanet.org/countries/sierra-leone#webpage","@type":"WebPage","description":"The contrast here is huge. 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