| Until a few days ago, if you had asked me to tell you | | | | African names like Bureh Town, Tokey and Mammah |
| about Sierra Leone, I would have had to think long | | | | beach, andAlthough many of the forests and much |
| and hard to tell you much about this West African | | | | of the wildlife has been disturbed and in some cases, |
| country. I could probably have explained roughly | | | | destroyed, by the war, eco-tourism is an important |
| where the country is located. I may have mentioned | | | | focus of Sierra Leoneans and natural treasures like |
| something about the slave trade being connected to | | | | Outamba-Kilimi National Park, populated by game |
| Sierra Leone. I could certainly have told you that | | | | animals such as elephants, chimpanzees and pigmy |
| they had experienced a brutal civil war. I might even | | | | hippos, and Mount Bintimani, the highest point in West |
| have admitted that I wasn't entirely sure whether | | | | Africa, are just two of the worthwhile wildlife |
| the war was 100% over. And that's about it.Slavery | | | | attractions on offer. Tacugama Chimpanzee |
| and war. A pretty negative view of what is in fact | | | | Sanctuary rescues orphaned and captured chimps |
| an exceptionally positive country. Today, I see Sierra | | | | and has been described as one of the most |
| Leone from an entirely different perspective.It is | | | | successful Sierra Leonean wildlife endeavours, whilst |
| difficult to ignore Sierra Leone's history and focus | | | | Tiwai Island is home to over 3000 chimps as well as |
| purely on the present. Once a fertile area inhabited | | | | other game.Lakes, rivers and dams are perfect for |
| by dozens of tribes, it was settled by the | | | | picnics and relaxing. The marshlands hide a myriad of |
| Portuguese in the 1400's who built a fort as a trading | | | | colourful birds - indeed, the bird life has been less |
| post for gold, spices, ivory and slaves. A British | | | | affected by the war than the animals, and |
| protectorate in later years, Sierra Leone had the | | | | everywhere you go, the air is filled with birdsong. |
| dubious honour of becoming home to more than | | | | Sierra Leone is a bird-watchers dream! Tiwai Island |
| 40,000 freed slaves who gave Freetown its name. | | | | for one boasts over 135 different bird species!For |
| As a protectorate, Sierra Leone was exploited for its | | | | culture vultures and those with historical interests, the |
| mineral and diamond wealth in the 1900's and Sierra | | | | remnants of the slave trade make interesting and |
| Leonean's fought against the Germans in Cameroon | | | | though-provoking expeditions. Bunce Island, a slave |
| in the First World War, and alongside the British in the | | | | trading fortress, is a brief boat trip up the river; |
| Second World War. In 1961, Sierra Leone achieved | | | | Freetown is itself a monument to freed slaves and |
| independence from Britain and governed itself | | | | its Cotton Tree, which stands in the heart of what is |
| peacefully for 30 years. The peace was not to last | | | | thought to be an old slave market, is now an |
| and was followed by a decade of brutal civil war that | | | | impressive national symbol. Graves, monuments and |
| destroyed the economy, brutalised the people and | | | | forts are all that remain of British and Portuguese |
| left a country that is rich in resources as one of the | | | | power in Sierra Leone: each has a tale to tell. There |
| poorest in the world.The conflict was officially | | | | are over 16 different ethnic groups in the country, |
| declared over in January 2002, and President Kabbah | | | | including the Krio, descendents of freed slaves who |
| reelected in May 2002. Since then, the people of | | | | speak an English-based Creole called Krio, and visiting |
| Sierra Leone have been pulling together to repair, | | | | villages and chatting to people in markets and in the |
| renew and regenerate.Whilst doing research for a | | | | streets is rewarding for all parties!Freetown is |
| new website looking at travel and tourism in Sierra | | | | probably the most developed of the cities, offering a |
| Leone, I came into contact with Sierra Leoneans | | | | level of safety that is difficult to match even in |
| from all manner of backgrounds living in both Sierra | | | | Western countries. Hotels, restaurants and nightspots |
| Leone and elsewhere. Their passion for the country | | | | are sprouting like mushrooms, and eating out in Sierra |
| was infectious: they clearly wanted to get the | | | | Leone promises a range of traditional and international |
| message across that Sierra Leone has far more to | | | | treats, and seafood that is beyond belief!One has to |
| offer than a sad recent history and that | | | | wonder what attraction will tip the scales in making |
| reconstruction is moving ahead at a rapid pace. And | | | | Sierra Leone the popular destination that it once was |
| indeed, proof of reconstruction is everywhere - new | | | | before the civil war. Based on my experiences with |
| roads are being built, mines are being re-opened, dam | | | | Sierra Leoneans in recent weeks, I feel that it will be |
| projects started before the war are once again | | | | the people who make the difference. Without |
| underway, markets are once again thriving and | | | | exception, every Sierra Leonean that I have met or |
| humming with life. There is also a great deal of | | | | worked with has been proud of their country, proud |
| confidence in Sierra Leone's potential as a tourist | | | | of its progress and excited about the future. They |
| destination: a Chinese company has recently invested | | | | are unfailingly welcoming, greeting aid-workers and |
| a reputed US$270 million in the hotel infrastructure; | | | | travellers alike with smiles that you can only find in |
| enterprising companies like Kevin McPhillips Travel | | | | Africa, with an optimism - no, positivity - that other |
| (based in the UK, USA and the Netherlands) offer | | | | countries would do well to emulate.For travellers in |
| exclusive twice weekly flights to Sierra Leone; | | | | search of a "diamond in the rough", Sierra Leone |
| African Tour specialists are researching viable | | | | offers a holiday like no other - my only advice to you |
| package holidays in the region. The exciting thing | | | | is to visit sooner rather than later, to avoid what is |
| about investment in Sierra Leone is that more is set | | | | sure to be a stampede once holiday-makes and tour |
| to follow!They have a right to be confident. The | | | | operators latch on to this gem of a |
| beaches along Sierra Leone's golden peninsula are said | | | | destination.Suzanne Whitby is the founder of Naturally |
| to be one of the world's best kept secrets. Secluded, | | | | Africa Dot Org ( which provides travel, tourism, |
| clean and stretching for miles on end, beach tourism | | | | business and event information about countries in |
| is one of the top items on the government's tourism | | | | Africa. To date, South Africa, Sierra Leone and |
| promotion agenda. Beaches with very British names | | | | Madagascar are live on the site. |
| like Kent, Lumley, Sussex and York mix with more | | | | |