I'd never been to Sierra Leone before. So after my photography assignment there was done, I got to tour Freetown and this was my experience.
#SaloneTwitter #Freetown #SierraLeone
The international airport is in Lungi, from where you need to catch a 20-minute $40 boat ride to Freetown. The alternative is a 3-hour road trip to the capital.
Sierra Leoneans are very friendly. I reached out to Youtuber @SuntiaRonald who put me in touch with her friend Gus. I met him at my hotel lobby, we hailed a keke (tuk tuk) and started my tour of Freetown.
Freetown is a port city on the Atlantic surrounded by hills. From the hills, you have a very good view of the whole city.
Closer to sea level, the warm vibrance of Sierra Leoneans becomes very apparent. Walking around with a camera doesn't raise eyebrows, but a hand wave and smile.
Many places are named after locations and people of British origin: Aberdeen, Lumley Beach, Wilberforce, Leicester...
Finding 100+ year old buildings is easy in parts of Freetown. Sierra Leoneans have done a good job of celebrating their cultural heritage with pre-colonial churches, markets and houses still standing tall today.
Modern and historic buildings share several streets in Freetown.
St John's Methodist Church is over 200 years old and looks eager to weather another 200+ years. It is Freetown's oldest church.
I saw several monuments celebrating pillars of Sierra Leone's history.
One of my highlights was riding a keke into the Sierra Leonean parliament - with a camera - and being allowed to take photos!
Gus simply made a request to the security team who gave us a guided tour!
Try that in Nairobi...
We also got to pass by the University of Sierra Leone.
In 1989 at a Word of Life Kabete Camp, we were taught a song whose lyrics were: There's a freedom tree in the heart of Freetown... People are set free in the heart of Freetown... Laughter and singing when people are set free.
Here is that tree, marking the centre of Freetown!
Lumley Beach is Freetown's most popular. It feels like being in Nyali. Clean, beautiful with a good variety of restaurant to have a good meal at while you take in the hot views and cool breeze.
The August rains and the need to catch a flight back to Nairobi brought my tour of Freetown to a halt. I look forward to returning and experiencing more of this friendly city.
Any recommendations on places I should visit next time?
Thanks!
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