Travel Deals And Articles

Travel and Tourism in Sierra Leone is a Hot Topic!

Until a few days ago, if you had asked me to tell you about Sierra Leone, I would have had to think long and hard to tell you much about this West African country. I could probably have explained roughly where the country is located. I may have mentioned something about the slave trade being connected to Sierra Leone. I could certainly have told you that they had experienced a brutal civil war. I might even have admitted that I wasn't entirely sure whether the war was 100% over. And that's about it.

Until a few days ago, if you had asked me to tell you about Sierra Leone, I would have had to think long and hard to tell you much about this West African country. I could probably have explained roughly where the country is located. I may have mentioned something about the slave trade being connected to Sierra Leone. I could certainly have told you that they had experienced a brutal civil war. I might even have admitted that I wasn't entirely sure whether the war was 100% over. And that's about it.

Slavery and war. A pretty negative view of what is in fact an exceptionally positive country. Today, I see Sierra Leone from an entirely different perspective.

It is difficult to ignore Sierra Leone's history and focus purely on the present. Once a fertile area inhabited by dozens of tribes, it was settled by the Portuguese in the 1400's who built a fort as a trading post for gold, spices, ivory and slaves. A British protectorate in later years, Sierra Leone had the dubious honor of becoming home to more than 40,000 freed slaves who gave Freetown its name. As a protectorate, Sierra Leone was exploited for its mineral and diamond wealth in the 1900's and Sierra Leonean's fought against the Germans in Cameroon in the First World War, and alongside the British in the Second World War. In 1961, Sierra Leone achieved independence from Britain and governed itself peacefully for 30 years. The peace was not to last and was followed by a decade of brutal civil war that destroyed the economy, brutalized the people and left a country that is rich in resources as one of the poorest in the world.

The conflict was officially declared over in January 2002, and President Kasbah reelected in May 2002. Since then, the people of Sierra Leone have been pulling together to repair, renew and regenerate.

Whilst doing research for a new website looking at travel and tourism in Sierra Leone, I came into contact with Sierra Leoneans from all manner of backgrounds living in both Sierra Leone and elsewhere. Their passion for the country was infectious: they clearly wanted to get the message across that Sierra Leone has far more to offer than a sad recent history and that reconstruction is moving ahead at a rapid pace. And indeed, proof of reconstruction is everywhere - new roads are being built, mines are being re-opened, dam projects started before the war are once again underway, markets are once again thriving and humming with life. There is also a great deal of confidence in Sierra Leone's potential as a tourist destination: a Chinese company has recently invested a reputed US$270 million in the hotel infrastructure; enterprising companies like Kevin McPhillips Travel (based in the UK, USA and the Netherlands) offer exclusive twice weekly flights to Sierra Leone; African Tour specialists are researching viable package holidays in the region. The exciting thing about investment in Sierra Leone is that more is set to follow!

They have a right to be confident. The beaches along Sierra Leone's golden peninsula are said to be one of the world's best kept secrets. Secluded, clean and stretching for miles on end, beach tourism is one of the top items on the government's tourism promotion agenda. Beaches with very British names like Kent, Lumley, Sussex and York mix with more African names like Bureh Town, Tokey and Mammah beach, and

Although many of the forests and much of the wildlife has been disturbed and in some cases, destroyed, by the war, eco-tourism is an important focus of Sierra Leoneans and natural treasures like Outamba-Kilimi National Park, populated by game animals such as elephants, chimpanzees and pigmy hippos, and Mount Bintimani, the highest point in West Africa, are just two of the worthwhile wildlife attractions on offer. Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary rescues orphaned and captured chimps and has been described as one of the most successful Sierra Leonean wildlife endeavours, whilst Tiwai Island is home to over 3000 chimps as well as other game.

Lakes, rivers and dams are perfect for picnics and relaxing. The marshlands hide a myriad of colourful birds - indeed, the bird life has been less affected by the war than the animals, and everywhere you go, the air is filled with birdsong. Sierra Leone is a bird-watchers dream! Tiwai Island for one boasts over 135 different bird species!

For culture vultures and those with historical interests, the remnants of the slave trade make interesting and though-provoking expeditions. Bunce Island, a slave trading fortress, is a brief boat trip up the river; Freetown is itself a monument to freed slaves and its Cotton Tree, which stands in the heart of what is thought to be an old slave market, is now an impressive national symbol. Graves, monuments and forts are all that remain of British and Portuguese power in Sierra Leone: each has a tale to tell. There are over 16 different ethnic groups in the country, including the Krio, descendents of freed slaves who speak an English-based Creole called Krio, and visiting villages and chatting to people in markets and in the streets is rewarding for all parties!

Freetown is probably the most developed of the cities, offering a level of safety that is difficult to match even in Western countries. Hotels, restaurants and nightspots are sprouting like mushrooms, and eating out in Sierra Leone promises a range of traditional and international treats, and seafood that is beyond belief!

One has to wonder what attraction will tip the scales in making Sierra Leone the popular destination that it once was before the civil war. Based on my experiences with Sierra Leoneans in recent weeks, I feel that it will be the people who make the difference. Without exception, every Sierra Leonean that I have met or worked with has been proud of their country, proud of its progress and excited about the future. They are unfailingly welcoming, greeting aid-workers and travellers alike with smiles that you can only find in Africa, with an optimism - no, positivity - that other countries would do well to emulate.

For travellers in search of a "diamond in the rough", Sierra Leone offers a holiday like no other - my only advice to you is to visit sooner rather than later, to avoid what is sure to be a stampede once holiday-makers and tour operators latch on to this gem of a destination.

Other Article Sites

findabook.com  moneycd.info  a-mortgage.info   about-lemon-laws.info  aboutstudentloans.info
all-about-publishing.info  auctions-articles.info  bestcollege-university.com  bestispconnection.com
biblefolder.com  blogger-website.com  books-used.info  brokers-guide.info  buywindows.info  cable-dsl.info
career-miner.com  carpel-tunnel.info  cashinaflash.info  cashloanreviews.info  casinobell.com  chat-house.info
clearmycredit.info  collegeloantips.info  crones.info  depression-articles.info   dirnic.net  dishguides.info
divers-below.com  expodog.info   financewizz.com  fire-insurance.info  getgood.info  handleit.net   it-idea.info
health-supplies.info  hosting-right.com  insidealert.com  insurance-facts.info  jobs-employment.info
justgood.info  lookgold.net   lowcost-travel.info  money-source.info  myhostzone.info  numisblog.com
peoplesearchfinder.info  pr-articles.info  realeas.com   refinancing-guides.info  spyware-remove.info
telelot.info  the-law.info   toppaid.info  travel-deals.info  travelcorrect.com  wedding-guide-site.com
your-blog.info  your-credit.info

MORE ARTICLES:

Take The Next Train To Your Trip Or Vacation
Train travel is one of the best ways of travel. You can have a great view of the countryside and they will take you from city to city. Many people use trains to go out for work every morning cramped inside the compartment and fighting to get themselves seated. Though such miserable situations arise, the love for a train journey has not faded away. European trains are usually on time and we have the facility to get the tickets for an immediate departure. It is better to avoid a train travel in places of China and India as they could be overcrowded.

Travel And Accommodations In Altea And Around The Costa Blanca
Altea is located fifteen kilometres north of Benidorm. This is one of the few villages on the Costa Blanca that has kept the fishing village feeling. They have created a tourist area without sacrificing the natural beauty of the surrounding area.

Is Your Travel Expense Deductible? Don't Lose Valuable Tax Deductions
Just A Minute, LLC, known for their services to help small business executives prepare the necessary documentation throughout the year and in preparation for their Annual Meetings, recently introduced their new Business Receipt Organizer. "We've actually taken the typical receipt storage envelope to the next level," says co-owner Kari VanNoy. "Unlike the envelopes in many personal organizers, our envelope is oversized to hold notes and meeting minutes, etc."

What To See And Do When You Travel To Florida
Traveling to Florida can be lots of fun any time of the year. Everyone is aware of the beautiful beaches on both coasts. Whether on the east shore with the Atlantic Ocean or the west coast on the Gulf of Mexico, inviting sandy beaches await you and all water sports are available including deep sea fishing, sailing and jet skiing. If you are visiting in March, you can see your baseball heroes prepare for the upcoming season. There are no bad seats in these small, fan friendly ballparks. Florida is home to a number of unique attractions. Everglades National Park contains more than 1.5 million acres of beautiful land and water, still in their natural environment. The parks residents include over 350 species of birds and more than ...

Travel Brochure Templates - How To Travel Agents Can Find the Right Template For Their Business
If you're looking for information on how to find and use travel brochure templates, then you'll want to read this article. Specifically, the goal of this article is to be able to help you find travel brochure templates that will make your message draw attention, get read, and have your audience respond favorably. Take the following advice into consideration, and apply it to your specific situation to reap the benefits of using a high-quality travel brochure template.

Bring Yourself Back To Life In Barbados - Barbados Travel Information
Situated to the east of the Lesser Antilles in the Caribbean, Barbados is an independent island nation and a tropical getaway with considerable historical sites to boot. With a long British history and settlements dating as early as 300 CE, Barbados offers travelers a tantalizing resort rendezvous and a taste of colonial and slave legacy. Book your airfare to Barbados before the high season ends and enjoy the tranquility of one of the most remote islands in the Caribbean.

A Current Guide to Air Travel Rules
The rules and regulations concerning air travel, sometimes influenced by current events, seem to change almost daily. Before leaving for the airport, always check with your airline or the TSA regarding the most current restrictions and any recent changes.

Harvey World Travel Wins At The Ozcars
Harvey World Travel, the Midlands based travel business, scooped a prestigious award at the recent Tourism Australia OzCars 2007 Awards Ceremony. The company was announced as the winner of the ?Best Australia Campaign by an Aussie Specialist? which recognised the company?s promotion of Australia Holidays to the UK travel market.

A Review of the Global Travel International Income Opportunity
If you?ve been looking for a home-based business to try, you may have noticed how popular the travel industry is in this regard One of these companies is Global Resorts Network, or GRN

Oahu Scuba Diving Vacations
Hawaii's Oahu have many fascinating scuba diving locations and perhaps the most popular dive site in Oahu is the Hanauma Bay. Hanauma Bay was formed by the erosion of one side of a volcano crater and is very well protected from the trade winds and surf making it a fantastic scuba diving and snorkeling site in Oahu.

Want To Stay Free When You Travel? Swap Homes
For purposes of home exchanges, what is a home?A home can be a single family home; condominium, rental apartment; yacht or sailboat; motor home; or houseboat.How do you exchange homes?Once you find out if you are a good home exchange candidate, you can begin the home exchange process.

American Express Travel Says Mexico Is A Don?t Miss Destination For Southern Californians
When Southern Californians have a small budget and a desire to see the exotic sights and sounds of another country, travel agents suggest one of numerous destinations in beautiful Mexico. Mexico is a great vacation spot for several reasons. Mexico is in America?s backyard, making it reasonably safer for US citizens than other areas of the globe. This also means that depending on where you're departing from; the actual travel time is more appealing and manageable than some other international destinations. Besides being easily accessible, Mexico has a wide variety of sights to entertain American travelers. From the beautiful beaches, to historical cities, to the archeological sites of cultures such as the Maya, Olmeca and Azteca, plus incred...

California Vacations - What You Haven?t Seen
It is understandable why California attracts a lot of people. There it is warm and sunny most part of the year, Los Angeles is full of movie stars, rollerblading babes can be found all over the place in Venice Beach. Even if it is exaggerated, this part of the California mystique is real and not very hard to find.

Rural Wilderness Travel Websites Are Hard To Find
Social Networking for Wilderness Areas, Parks, Monuments and Outdoors Recreation are hit or miss on the internet.