John Obey Beach

John Obey sits between River No. 2 and Bureh on the Freetown peninsula, a broad beach with a river at one end and almost nothing built along it, which is the reason to go rather than a drawback. A small eco-camp, set up with the village in 2010, operates behind the sand with simple structures; the village, about 32 kilometres south of Freetown, had 372 people in 2011. The hills rise directly behind and the beach is long enough to walk well away from anyone. The camp was among the first to try building with earthbag construction in Sierra Leone, and some of those structures remain.

Highlights

• The empty sand - a beach with almost nothing built on it.
• The river end - fresh water crossing the sand at one side.
• The eco-camp - the simple accommodation behind the beach.
• The hills - the peninsula slopes rising directly behind.

When to go

November to April is the dry season. The rains from May to October are heavy and the camp may close. Weekends bring a few visitors.

Before you go

Facilities are minimal and the camp is very basic. The road down is rough in stretches. There is no shop and supplies must be brought.

Nearby

River No. 2 is north, and Bureh is south.