Fam Trip to Sierra Leone

8 days / 7 nights

Monday 16th to

Monday 23rd March 2026

Cost of the trip

Free of charge land arrangements for genuine product decision-makers

Not inclusive of international flights

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Highlights

Explore the largest slave castle on the Rice Coast of West Africa
Meet over 100 rescued chimpanzees in their forest haven and witness the incredible conservation work

Immerse yourself in authentic village life with no electricity or running water
Track 11 species of primates, 135 bird species and 800 butterfly species in pristine tropical rainforest
Discover this hidden paradise accessible only by boat, featuring pristine beaches, colonial history, snorkelling and fresh seafood

Experience stunning coastal diversity of Freetown peninsula beach

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Main itinerary

Sierra Leone Fam Trip

International flights are not included. Here are our recommend flight options from London Gatwick;

Air Sierra Leone

15 March 2026

6L0200: LGW → FNA, Departs 22:10. Arrives 4:10 (+1)

23 March

6L0201 : FNA → LGW, Departs 10:00. Arrives 13:30

Arrive at 04:10 at Lungi International Airport, uniquely situated on the northern coast of the Freetown Estuary. Your VSL Travel guide and airport representative will meet you at the terminal exit with a nameplate and transfer you to Tariq's Resort for check-in and rest.

After breakfast, depart at 11:00 for Peppel, then continue by private speedboat to Bunce Island. Founded around 1670, this was the largest British slave castle on the Rice Coast of West Africa, exporting tens of thousands of African captives to North America and the West Indies until Parliament closed it in 1808. The island's substantial ruins remain authentic and undisturbed: the factory house, fortifications, slave prison, watchtowers, dormitories, storerooms and powder magazine slowly reclaimed by tropical greenery.

After exploring the site, transfer to Tasso Island for lunch before returning to Freetown. Check in at the Country Lodge Hotel for overnight accommodation.

Overnight: Country Lodge Hotel

Included meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner

Embark on a comprehensive historical tour of Freetown with a knowledgeable guide, exploring the city's most iconic sites:

Railway Museum – Vintage locomotives and carriages showcasing Sierra Leone's railway heritage
Old Fourah Bay College – Sub-Saharan Africa's first western-style university, which attracted scholars across the continent
St. George's Cathedral – Grand colonial architecture of historical significance
National Museum – Extensive collection of artefacts depicting Sierra Leone's rich cultural heritage
Peace Monument – A symbolic landmark reflecting the nation's journey towards peace
Maroon Church – Historic 19th-century church built by Jamaican Maroons who settled in Freetown
Cotton Tree – Learn about this iconic landmark, sadly destroyed by a recent storm
Gateway to the Old King's Yard – Former refuge for liberated African slaves
Fort Thornton – Colonial fort and current site of the Presidential State House

After lunch, visit Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary to witness Bala and his team's remarkable conservation work. More than 100 rescued chimpanzees find haven here, saved from the pet trade and bushmeat hunting. Watch them swing through branches, interact with tenderness and playfulness and thrive in their forest home. The reserve is also excellent for birdwatching, with over 100 species identified in the area.

Return to your hotel after the sanctuary tour.

Overnight: Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary

Included meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner

Depart for a three-hour journey to Rogbonko Village Retreat, stopping in Makeni to explore this provincial town and enjoy lunch before continuing the final hour via Magburaka.

Rogbonko Mathaka (meaning "The Place in The Forest") offers an authentic immersion into traditional village life. With no electricity, running water, telephones or outside contact, experience genuine rural Sierra Leone. You'll be welcomed with a cultural dance performance before meeting villagers and sharing in their daily lives.

Your guide will accompany you on forest walks and farm tours, explaining the activities and traditions that sustain this humble community. A highlight is the basket weaving tradition: the techniques used at Rogbonko are remarkably similar to the sweetgrass baskets woven by the Gullah/Geechee people of the American South, a skill widely believed to have been preserved by enslaved West Africans, particularly from Sierra Leone.

Transfer to Makeni in the late afternoon.

Overnight: Wusum Hotel, Makeni

Included meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner

Depart Makeni at 08:00 for one of Sierra Leone's premier wildlife destinations. Stop for an early lunch in Bo before arriving at Tiwai Island around 15:00, transferring by boat from Kambama.

This tropical rainforest island, enriched by the Moa River, is home to some of West Africa's most diverse primate populations, over 700 plant species and the elusive pygmy hippo, a nocturnal creature found only in Liberia, Ivory Coast, Guinea and Sierra Leone.

After settling into camp, embark on a late afternoon boat trip along the Moa River. Take in spectacular views whilst watching for monkeys leaping between trees, crocodiles basking on the banks and with luck, the rare pygmy hippo. The island is also home to 135 bird species.

Enjoy dinner prepared by camp staff and rest at camp. Optional night walks can be arranged at additional cost.

Overnight: Tiwai Island Wildlife Sanctuary

Included meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner

Rise early for a guided forest walk on Tiwai Island, tracking 11 primate species, 135 bird species and some 800 butterfly species. Look for footprints of mongoose, wild pigs and the elusive pygmy hippo amongst the incredible plant life.

After breakfast, take a 09:00 boat transfer back to the mainland and travel to Bo City, Sierra Leone's second largest city and home to the Mende people, the country's largest ethnic group. This commercial hub in the Southern Province is quieter and more tranquil than Freetown, with bustling markets, Njala University and authentic local culture.

Upon arrival, enjoy a traditional Mende mask performance before collecting your packed lunch and continuing to Freetown Peninsula.

Banana Islands

From Kent Village, take a boat to the Banana Islands, a hidden gem off the Western Area Peninsula. Visit Dublin Island (connected to Ricketts Island by stone causeway), where you'll be welcomed by the friendly local community. Explore backyard gardens, breadfruit trees and spot rare butterflies whilst discovering colonial-era fortifications and cannons that recall the islands' role in the transatlantic slave trade.

Optional activities include hiking, snorkelling, scuba diving, fishing, or scenic boat trips. Enjoy fresh seafood including locally caught fish, prawns and lobster (subject to availability).

Overnight: Bafa Resort or Banana Island Guesthouse

Included meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner

After breakfast, depart Banana Island for Tokeh with a stop at Bureh Beach. Meet the team at Bureh Beach Surf Club before enjoying a seafood lunch and introductory surfing lesson.

Following lunch and some downtime, tour York, a distinctive Krio village, before continuing to Tokeh with opportunities to view hotels along the route.

Tokeh is a small coastal village on the Western Area Peninsula boasting one of Sierra Leone's most beautiful beaches. With a dramatic backdrop of lush green mountains and a picturesque old wooden pier extending into the sea, Tokeh is a visual spectacle. Spend the remainder of the day exploring the area or relaxing on the beach or by the pool.

Overnight: The Place Resort, Tokeh

Included meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner

Begin the morning with a scenic 30-minute walk from Tokeh to River Number Two Beach. This stunning location features a beautiful beachfront framed by towering mountains and mangrove forest where the river meets the sea.

Notably, River Number Two is a completely community-run tourism site, managed by the Community Tourism Development Association, which has spent 20 years protecting the beachfront, developing sustainable tourism and supporting the local community.

Continue with brief stops at Sussex, Hamilton and Lakka beaches, showcasing the peninsula's diverse coastal offerings.

After lunch, visit several hotels along the peninsula before transferring to your accommodation.

Evening Farewell Dinner

Join senior staff from the Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, the National Tourist Board and other key tourism sector stakeholders for a debriefing session over dinner.

Overnight: Radisson Blu Mammy Yoko Hotel or Hotel Barmoi, Freetown

Included meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner

Early morning pick-up at 05:00 for your transfer to Lungi International Airport and onward journey home.

Lungi International Airport is uniquely situated on the northern coast across the Sierra Leone River from Freetown, with access typically via ferry, water taxi, or chartered speedboat. The airport's new terminal represents a major modernisation project with enhanced amenities, improved security systems, and more efficient customs and immigration processing.