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 "Choose 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 12 travellersSolo-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.

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About this journey

What to expect on this trip

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

What makes this trip special

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

Your route

The highlights

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

Choose your departure

Reserve your place with a £350 per-person deposit; the balance is due 70 days before departure. Prefer your own space? A single room is available on every departure.

Departs	Returns	Status	Price pp	Single supp.
5 Nov 2026	12 Nov 2026	Guaranteed	£2,495£1,995	+£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
£2,495£1,995 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

What your tour price covers

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.

“Our guide and driver (Bassie and Idrissa) for the first part of our trip were excellent. In addition VSL went out of their way to collect luggage that had been left off the outward flight and return it to us in Masanga. This was much appreciated. The schedule went to plan and we were able to do all we'd hoped to do.”

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Traveller from the UK

“Our driver was very curteous and drove expertly. We felt very safe with him. Our guide, Bassie, was exceptional. He was very knowledgeable and possesed a very good understanding of European travelers'mentality. He paid great attention to details, punctuality, and to our welfare. He went out of his way to find activities that interested us such as school visits. A job perfectly done. ”

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Gustavo Musto, Uruguay

“Great trip. I was wondering why more people weren’t on it as it was fantastic and I can thoroughly recommend Sierra Leone as a destination.VSL have been great, I used them for fuether travel after the tour finished, and Abdulai the guide was fantastic too.”

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Joanne Paver, New Zealand

“Excellent trip. The slavery and civil war history was sad and intense. I really enjoyed the chimpanzee sanctuary and the wildlife hikes at Tiwai Island. Saw may different species of monkeys. Banana Island on the Sierra Leone coast was also enjoyable. Overall an enjoyable trip.”

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Steven Main, USA

“Visiting SIerra Leone was absolutely worth it. I've felt welcome, safe, looked after in an awesome way. The country is unspoiled. A real off the beaten track trip with high level standards. Especially amazing since the international tourism is only just starting up.”

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Tom Geirnaer, Belgium

“Jason was very helpful and the booking process was quick and easy. UD offers itineraries that many competitors do not. I thoroughly enjoyed both trips I've taken with them. While they may not suit everyone, I have happily recommended the Senegal tour to fellow travellers.”

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Bernice Hird, UK

Helped by Jason van der Wath

“Excellent customer service, reliable itineraries and ability to solve local issues when they arise”

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Gustavo Musto, Uruguay

“I like the small size of groups, the range of destinations and excellent itineraries. This is my third holiday with your company and I have found your itineraries really good.”

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Traveller from the UK

“Excellent company to book with. Complex tour mostly delivered as per itinerary with professional and pleasant local representatives. ”

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Adam Choonara, UK

“I really appreciated Jason's help in answering all of my many questions re: Senegal trip in December 2025. I have a physical disability and I had a lot of accessibility questions for Jason! He was a true professional and was very supportive, warm and friendly and helped me a lot in making my decision to go ahead with the Senegal trip. I would like to thank Jason particularly for this service. I truly appreciate it and I am very thankful.”

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Ramnit Bassi, UK

Helped by Jason van der Wath

Want to customise this tour?

Make Sierra Leone – Forts, Chimps and Beaches your own — adjust the route, dates, pace or who travels, or start from a blank page with a specialist. We'll bring the details of this trip straight into your enquiry.

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