Sierra Leone + Liberia Expedition

Nov 22nd (Day 2) – Day trip to Bounce Island

Today, we’ll take a boat ride to Bounce Island, one of the most relevant former slave markets in West Africa, serving as a major British trading post from the late 1600s to the early 1800s, where thousands of enslaved Africans were held before being shipped across the Atlantic.

The island still holds the ruins of warehouses, slave pens, and fortifications, a very dark episode of Sierra Leone’s, but also Europe’s, history.

After lunch, we’ll head back to Freetown. Since that will be our last night in the capital, we’ll do a stroll around the CBD area, stopping in souvenir shops, the post office, etc.

Overnight in Freetown at Hotel Barmoi.

Nov 23rd (Day 3) – Lunsar (Soko Bana spiritual dance)

Less than a 2-hour drive north of Freetown, there’s the village of Lunsar, where we’ll be welcomed by members of the Poro society, a group of people that perform the Soko Bana spiritual dance, in which people may cut or stab themselves with knives, as proof that they can withstand pain.

After lunch, we’ll head for the diamond region of Kono.

Overnight in Kono.

Nov 24th (Day 4) – Full day in Kono (diamond region)

On day 4, we will have a full day to explore Kono and its surroundings. Kono is Sierra Leone’s main diamond-producing region and the headquarters of the country’s diamond trade.

This area was at the heart of the civil war, as rebel groups fought to control diamond mines to finance their operations, making Kono one of the most affected and contested regions during the conflict.

We’ll visit local mining sites to see firsthand how diamonds are extracted and learn about the realities of artisanal mining and its impact on local communities.

Overnight in Kono.

Nov 25th (Day 5) – Drive to Kailahun

Kailahun is a remote and rarely visited region in eastern Sierra Leone, near the borders with Guinea and Liberia.

This place also holds strong historical significance, as this is where the first shots of the civil war were fired in 1991, when rebel forces entered Sierra Leone from Liberia.

We’ll visit key locations linked to the early days of the conflict, including the so-called slaughterhouse, a site associated with some of the violence that marked the beginning of the war, very sobering.

Kailahun is a 6-hour drive from Kono, so let’s see if we have time to visit all of that. Otherwise, we’ll visit it on the next day.

Overnight in Kailahun.

Nov 26th (Day 6) – Kailahun

Near Kailahun, there’s our local friend’s village, whose family will be very happy to host us for the day, getting immersed into a local community, with food and potential performance, very authentic and local, absolutely not touristic.

Then, we’ll make our way to Bo, an uninteresting town in Sierra Leone but located on the main road towards the border with Liberia.

Overnight in Bo.

Nov 27th (Day 7) – Liberia border crossing

Today, we’ll witness a traditional ceremony of the Sande (Bondo) society of the Mende people, a women’s initiation society that plays a central role in local culture. During the ritual, masked performers known as sowei represent ideals of femininity, beauty, and spiritual authority.

Then, we’ll head to the border. The border crossing might take a bit of time, you never know, but upon getting into Liberia, we’ll be driving to an amazing eco-lodge by the sea, where we’ll spend two nights, recovering from the rough trip in Sierra Leone.

Overnight in Robertsport at fancy Warkolo Jungle Lodge.

Nov 28th (Day 8) – Full day in Robertsport

Robertsport is a coastal village in Liberia known for its long, wild beaches overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. Traveling in West Africa can be rough, so we think it’s a good idea to slow down for a day and just enjoy a nice spot from a pretty cool eco-lodge.

Besides the paradisiac beaches, in Robertsport you can see abandoned shipwrecks lying scattered along the shore. It’s also possible to walk around town and meet the local Liberian community.

Overnight in Robertsport at fancy Warkolo Jungle Lodge.

Nov 29th (Day 9) – Monrovia and General Butt Naked

After a slow morning, we head for Monrovia, the capital of Liberia.

Upon arrival, we’ll try to set up a meeting with Joshua Milton Blahyi, commonly known as General Butt Naked, a former warlord during the First Liberian civil war, who is believed to have committed horrible crimes against humanity, but has recently transformed and is now working as a preacher.

Please note that meeting up with him will depend on his availability, so it is not 100% guaranteed.

Overnight in Monrovia.

Nov 30th (Day 10) – Full day in Monrovia and Chimpanzee Island

In the morning, if open, we’ll also visit the Chimpanzee Island, home to a group of rescued and rehabilitated chimpanzees. From the water, we’ll observe these primates in their natural environment.

Then, we’ll spend the rest of the day visiting Monrovia, including West Point, and an abandoned luxury hotel once associated with visits by Muammar Gaddafi, former Libyan leader.

Dec 1st (Day 11) – Departure

After breakfast, we’ll take you to the airport.

End of the tour.