Turtle Islands
A remote low island group off the southern coast, with fishing villages and no facilities.
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The Turtle Islands lie off Sierra Leone's southern coast, a group of eight low sand islands with fishing communities on several of them, reached by open boat over several hours of open water. There is no power, no road and almost no infrastructure. The Sherbro people who live there fish and dry the catch. Sea turtles nest on the beaches, which is where the name comes from.
What you actually see
- The sand islands - low islands with no hills and no roads.
- The fishing villages - Sherbro communities living on the catch.
- The drying racks - the fish processing that is the islands' work.
- The turtle nesting - the animals the group is named for.
When to go
November to April is the dry season and calmest for the crossing. The rains from May to October make the open water rough. Turtle nesting runs through much of the year.
Honest expectations
The crossing is several hours in an open boat and is genuinely rough at times. There is no accommodation beyond staying with families and no facilities at all. Everything must be carried in.
Nearby
Shenge is northeast, and Bonthe is southeast.
What to pack for Turtle Islands
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.