The Freetown Peninsula Beaches

The Freetown Peninsula, curving south from the capital, is fringed by a succession of stunning beaches widely regarded as among the most beautiful in West Africa, yet gloriously uncrowded. Here dazzling white and golden sands meet warm Atlantic waters, backed dramatically by the steep, jungle-clad hills that gave Sierra Leone its name, the Lion Mountains. Famous strands like the postcard-perfect River No. 2 Beach, where a freshwater river meets the sea, along with Tokeh, Bureh, a haven for surfers, and Lakka, offer swimming, fresh seafood, laid-back beach bars and community-run tourism in a setting of tropical beauty, all within easy reach of the capital.

What you actually see

• River No. 2 Beach - the postcard beach where river meets sea.
• Tokeh and Bureh - the beautiful strands and surf beach.
• The jungle backdrop - the steep forested hills behind the beaches.
• The fresh seafood - the beachside grills and bars.

When to go

November to April, the dry season, for the best beach weather and calmest conditions, as the rainy season brings heavy tropical downpours; the beaches are warm and beautiful throughout the dry months. Many are community-managed, so a small fee supports local villages, and weekends see city-dwellers join visitors on the sand.

Honest expectations

Sierra Leone's tourism industry is still young, so infrastructure is basic and facilities simple, though the country is famously welcoming; roads to some beaches can be rough. For genuinely stunning, uncrowded white-sand beaches where rainforest meets the sea, among the finest in West Africa and close to the capital, though, the Freetown Peninsula is a real and rewarding gem.

Nearby

The capital Freetown, the Tacugama chimp sanctuary and Banana Islands are close.