How many travellers will be in my group?

Maximum 12 travellers — that's the cap on every Undiscovered Destinations small-group tour. Small enough to eat in a local family home; large enough to share the wonder with other like-minded travellers.

Yes — there's no compulsory single supplement on our small-group tours. You get your own room at no extra cost. About 60% of UD travellers come solo, so you'll be in good company.

How fit do I need to be?

Fitness requirements vary by itinerary, from gentle to demanding. The day-by-day tour dossier sets out walking distances, terrain and any altitude so you know what to expect. If you have specific concerns, speak to our team before booking — they can talk you through a typical day.

When are the next departures?

The next available departures are 5 November 2026; 21 January 2027; 18 March 2027. See the "Pick your departure" table further up the page for the full schedule and per-departure pricing.

What's included in the tour price?

Included items vary by tour — see the full list above. On this trip, expect: Arrival and departure transfers; Overland transport throughout with professional driver; All accommodation; and more. International flights and travel insurance are not included.

Where exactly does this trip go?

This tour visits Sierra Leone. Each destination has its own page with practical information, climate, and the attractions our specialists recommend — linked from the itinerary above.

Sierra Leone8 daysMax 12Solo-friendly

Sierra Leone – Forts, Chimps and Beaches

From Freetown's slave-trade ruins to rainforest chimps and tropical island beaches, this small group journey reveals Sierra Leone few outsiders ever see.

View dates & prices

As Featured In

About this journey

The story behind the route

Join this small group holiday in Sierra Leone and explore the country’s little-visited forts, wildlife areas and beaches with few other foreign visitors in sight. The country is slowly shaking off its troubled imaged and is once again welcoming intrepid travellers to experience its beautiful landscapes and vibrant cultural traditions. After time spent getting to know the lively, ramshackle capital Freetown, you’ll head to Bunce Island for a sobering visit to the country’s former slave fort. Then you’ll visit the Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary, a lush slice of forest near Freetown that’s dedicated to rescuing and rehabilitating endangered primates. A few days on a tiny but beautiful tropical island comes next. The Banana Islands sit just off the Freetown Peninsula and are home to clear waters, sandy beaches and friendly fishing villages, with a few old colonial relics thrown in. Your final stop is the Tiwai Island Wildlife Sanctuary, a unique rainforest island home to diverse plant, animal and bird life, where you can camp under the trees and awaken to the calls of monkeys and hornbills in the surrounding trees.

The journey

Sierra Leone – Forts, Chimps and Beaches

Key moments

The moments that define this trip

Drawn from the full tour dossier — the standout days, encounters and views our specialists keep coming back to.

Your route

Freetown Historical Walking Tour
The morning in Freetown takes in the Railway Museum, St. Georges Cathedral, National Museum, Peace Monument, Maroon Church, Cotton Tree, Gateway to the Old King's Yard, and Fort Thornton. The city was founded in 1792 by freed American slaves and remains one of Africa's older sub-Saharan capitals.
Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary
Established in 1995, Tacugama is committed to the rescue and rehabilitation of orphaned and abandoned chimpanzees, providing a semi-wild life within a 100-acre reserve roughly 40 minutes from central Freetown. The chimpanzees live in large communities headed by an alpha male and use tools for foraging.
Bunce Island Slave Fort
Constructed by the British in 1670, the slave fort at Bunce Island is one of the largest on the West African coast, holding tens of thousands of enslaved people destined for America and the West Indies during the 17th and 18th centuries. Substantial ruins including the factory, storehouse, prison, and watchtowers remain, making it a powerful experience for anyone interested in the history of the slave trade
Sierra Leone Peninsula Beaches
After Bunce Island, the tour stops at Lakka, Hamilton, and River Number 2 beaches along the Sierra Leone Peninsula. These beaches form part of the same day that takes in Tasso Island before returning to Freetown for dinner.
Tiwai Island Wildlife Sanctuary and Rainforest Camping
Tiwai Island holds one of the highest concentrations and diversities of primates in the world — 11 species including wild chimpanzees — alongside pygmy hippopotamus, colobus monkeys, otters, and the rare white-breasted guinea fowl. Guests camp in prepared tents surrounded by evergreen forest and the sounds of hornbills and monkeys, with a Mao River boat trip on arrival evening and a morning forest walk for wildlife spotting
Kambama and Nianiahun Village Cultural Walk
After an early lunch on Tiwai Island, the group boats to mainland villages of Kambama and Nianiahun to explore traditional sacrifice sites, elder meeting points, birth ceremonial sites, and the blood stream hiding place for the weapons of ancient warriors. The evening returns to the forest for further monkey and bird observation.

Full itinerary · 8 days

Free — no sign-up

Dates & prices

Pick your departure

Reserve your place with a 10% deposit. Final balance due 70 days before departure. Single-room supplements optional — most travellers happily share.

Departs	Returns	Status	Price pp	Single supp.
5 Nov 2026	12 Nov 2026	Guaranteed	£1,995£1,845	+£255	Book now
21 Jan 2027	28 Jan 2027	Guaranteed	£2,495	+£255	Book now
18 Mar 2027	25 Mar 2027	Guaranteed	£2,495	+£255	Book now
4 Nov 2027	11 Nov 2027	Guaranteed	£2,495	+£255	Book now
2 Mar 2028	9 Mar 2028	Guaranteed	£2,495	+£255	Book now

Departure
5 Nov 2026 → 12 Nov 2026
Guaranteed
From
£1,995£1,845 pp
Single supp. +£255
Book now
Departure
21 Jan 2027 → 28 Jan 2027
Guaranteed
From
£2,495 pp
Single supp. +£255
Book now
Departure
18 Mar 2027 → 25 Mar 2027
Guaranteed
From
£2,495 pp
Single supp. +£255
Book now
Departure
4 Nov 2027 → 11 Nov 2027
Guaranteed
From
£2,495 pp
Single supp. +£255
Book now
Departure
2 Mar 2028 → 9 Mar 2028
Guaranteed
From
£2,495 pp
Single supp. +£255
Book now

Can’t find the right fit?

Every one of our Sierra Leone journeys can be rebuilt around your dates, pace and interests — or we’ll design something entirely new.

Tailor my trip

What's included

Everything covered — and what's not

Included in the price

Arrival and departure transfers
Overland transport throughout with professional driver
All accommodation
Services of English-speaking guide / tour leader
Meals as listed
Entrance fees for sites listed as part of the itinerary

Budget separately for

International flights (contact us for expert advice and a quote)
Any airport taxes
Travel Insurance
Visa – when required
Drinks
Items of personal nature
Tips (Discretionary)

Before you go

Essential information

Shared across all tours that visit this destination. Read alongside your individual tour dossier for trip-specific details.

Foreign Office travel advice

We constantly monitor official travel advice, including the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) Sierra Leone Travel Advice, and will always advise clients of any warnings before departure. At the time of writing, there are no specific warnings against travel to the parts of Sierra Leone that we visit on our tours.

Please contact us if you have any specific concerns or would like to understand what measures are in place to ensure your trip remains safe and trouble-free.

For additional official guidance, travellers may also refer to:

US Department of State — US State Dept Sierra Leone Travel Advisory
Australian Government — Smartraveller Sierra Leone Advice
Government of Canada — Canada Travel Advice for Sierra Leone

Please note this information applies primarily to British citizens — nationals of other countries should check the current position with their respective government travel authority.

Voices from the road

What travellers say about us

Independently verified reviews from travellers who joined Sierra Leone – Forts, Chimps and Beaches. Rated 4.9 Excellent on AITO by 250+ reviewers.

“Trip to Sierra Leone to visit old friends and experience some new places and facilities. Well organised, professional, efficient and friendly.”

Mrs C B 25

Sierra Leone

“An amazing trip! We had the most amazing holiday — over two weeks we had a taste of the cities, the culture, the mountains, a safari, and time at the beach. Our driver/guide made the whole trip very relaxing, and we were welcomed warmly by everyone we met, enjoying fabulous food and drink along the way. Undiscovered Destinations planned a really amazing itinerary for us with great hotels, a fabulous guide/driver, and interesting places to visit — they took great care to ensure we had an excellent holiday. We look forward to booking another holiday with them in the future. Thank you, Mark!”

Anna

“This adventure was always going to be very full-on, which is how we like our trips. I didn't count on getting bronchitis and ending up in hospital, however. The itinerary was quickly amended to avoid high-altitude destinations as much as possible while still making sure we had a chance to enjoy interesting experiences. While obviously sad to have missed some of the original sites, the revised itinerary was the only sensible option under the circumstances. I was extremely impressed with how Undiscovered Destinations and their local team handled the situation — taking the stress out of it, smoothing the way, rearranging the itinerary and booking new hotels, translating for me with the medical staff, and making sure I always had transport, medicines and anything else I needed. Nothing was too much trouble, and they kept in touch with me, each other, and the insurance company throughout. I can't recommend them enough!”

Grete

“My wife and I had a wonderful tour with Undiscovered Destinations. We had a different guide at each stop, and all of them were friendly, cheerful and knowledgeable. The local people were welcoming, and we always felt safe and comfortable. The beaches were spectacularly beautiful and empty of people, with warm, clear water, and each stop had its own character — some we loved for their unspoiled scenery, others for their history and the warmth of the welcome. We took the opportunity to snorkel on one of the most pristine reefs we've experienced, swimming with sea turtles and enormous manta rays that came right up to us out of curiosity. A wonderful destination for nature lovers.”

Frank

“Excellent. Action packed. Our local agent was excellent, and a good choice by Undiscovered Destinations. Because there were only two of us on the holiday, we had different guides at each stop, each one making sure we were handed over safely. All manner of transport was used, and we appreciated the different guiding strategies, the wealth of information given, the high level of English, and the genuine wish to show off their country at its best. Excellent.”

Cathy

“Far exceeding my expectations, this was one of the best trips I've ever done. A beautiful destination, with interesting history, lively ceremonies, lovely people and — surprisingly, for somewhere that sees so few tourists — absolutely no hassle on the streets. Excellent service from start to finish, with a first-class tour leader.”

Lynn

“We had a two-week trip with Undiscovered Destinations, flying in for two days first to break up the journey. It was a great trip, because we managed to see so much more than just the capital cities. This was the fourth trip we've taken with Undiscovered Destinations, and each one has been wonderful. Our guides were lovely — very professional and helpful. We rate UD very highly.”

Andy

“We had a fabulous trip with an excellent local guide, who took great care of us and enthusiastically shared his knowledge of both ancient and recent history, with lots of fascinating personal stories of his own life. We highly recommend this trip — Undiscovered Destinations were great to work with, and we hope to use them again.”

Jennie

“Everything was great — we got to witness a wonderful variety of wildlife, and thoroughly enjoyed the scenery and the hospitality of the people. A fabulous trip from start to finish.”

Debbie

“Excellent all-round trip. Drivers were conscientious and careful, accommodation was better than expected, and the scenery was stunning throughout.”

Alexis