Travel And Tourism In Sierra Leone Is A Hot Topic!
|
Until a few days ago, if you had asked me to tell you about Sierra Leone, I would have had to think long and hard to tell you much about this West African country. I could probably have explained roughly where the country is located. I may have mentioned something about the slave trade being connected to Sierra Leone. I could certainly have told you that they had experienced a brutal civil war. I might even have admitted that I wasn't entirely sure whether the war was 100% over. And that's about it.
Slavery and war. A pretty negative view of what is in fact an exceptionally positive country. Today, I see Sierra Leone from an entirely different perspective.
It is difficult to ignore Sierra Leone's history and focus purely on the present. Once a fertile area inhabited by dozens of tribes, it was settled by the Portuguese in the 1400's who built a fort as a trading post for gold, spices, ivory and slaves. A British protectorate in later years, Sierra Leone had the dubious honour of becoming home to more than 40,000 freed slaves who gave Freetown its name. As a protectorate, Sierra Leone was exploited for its mineral and diamond wealth in the 1900's and Sierra Leonean's fought against the Germans in Cameroon in the First World War, and alongside the British in the Second World War. In 1961, Sierra Leone achieved independence from Britain and governed itself peacefully for 30 years. The peace was not to last and was followed by a decade of brutal civil war that destroyed the economy, brutalised the people and left a country that is rich in resources as one of the poorest in the world.
The conflict was officially declared over in January 2002, and President Kabbah reelected in May 2002. Since then, the people of Sierra Leone have been pulling together to repair, renew and regenerate.
Whilst doing research for a new website looking at travel and tourism in Sierra Leone, I came into contact with Sierra Leoneans from all manner of backgrounds living in both Sierra Leone and elsewhere. Their passion for the country was infectious: they clearly wanted to get the message across that Sierra Leone has far more to offer than a sad recent history and that reconstruction is moving ahead at a rapid pace. And indeed, proof of reconstruction is everywhere - new roads are being built, mines are being re-opened, dam projects started before the war are once again underway, markets are once again thriving and humming with life. There is also a great deal of confidence in Sierra Leone's potential as a tourist destination: a Chinese company has recently invested a reputed US$270 million in the hotel infrastructure; enterprising companies like Kevin McPhillips Travel (based in the UK, USA and the Netherlands) offer exclusive twice weekly flights to Sierra Leone; African Tour specialists are researching viable package holidays in the region. The exciting thing about investment in Sierra Leone is that more is set to follow!
They have a right to be confident. The beaches along Sierra Leone's golden peninsula are said to be one of the world's best kept secrets. Secluded, clean and stretching for miles on end, beach tourism is one of the top items on the government's tourism promotion agenda. Beaches with very British names like Kent, Lumley, Sussex and York mix with more African names like Bureh Town, Tokey and Mammah beach, and
Although many of the forests and much of the wildlife has been disturbed and in some cases, destroyed, by the war, eco-tourism is an important focus of Sierra Leoneans and natural treasures like Outamba-Kilimi National Park, populated by game animals such as elephants, chimpanzees and pigmy hippos, and Mount Bintimani, the highest point in West Africa, are just two of the worthwhile wildlife attractions on offer. Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary rescues orphaned and captured chimps and has been described as one of the most successful Sierra Leonean wildlife endeavours, whilst Tiwai Island is home to over 3000 chimps as well as other game.
Lakes, rivers and dams are perfect for picnics and relaxing. The marshlands hide a myriad of colourful birds - indeed, the bird life has been less affected by the war than the animals, and everywhere you go, the air is filled with birdsong. Sierra Leone is a bird-watchers dream! Tiwai Island for one boasts over 135 different bird species!
For culture vultures and those with historical interests, the remnants of the slave trade make interesting and though-provoking expeditions. Bunce Island, a slave trading fortress, is a brief boat trip up the river; Freetown is itself a monument to freed slaves and its Cotton Tree, which stands in the heart of what is thought to be an old slave market, is now an impressive national symbol. Graves, monuments and forts are all that remain of British and Portuguese power in Sierra Leone: each has a tale to tell. There are over 16 different ethnic groups in the country, including the Krio, descendents of freed slaves who speak an English-based Creole called Krio, and visiting villages and chatting to people in markets and in the streets is rewarding for all parties!
Freetown is probably the most developed of the cities, offering a level of safety that is difficult to match even in Western countries. Hotels, restaurants and nightspots are sprouting like mushrooms, and eating out in Sierra Leone promises a range of traditional and international treats, and seafood that is beyond belief!
One has to wonder what attraction will tip the scales in making Sierra Leone the popular destination that it once was before the civil war. Based on my experiences with Sierra Leoneans in recent weeks, I feel that it will be the people who make the difference. Without exception, every Sierra Leonean that I have met or worked with has been proud of their country, proud of its progress and excited about the future. They are unfailingly welcoming, greeting aid-workers and travellers alike with smiles that you can only find in Africa, with an optimism - no, positivity - that other countries would do well to emulate.
For travellers in search of a "diamond in the rough", Sierra Leone offers a holiday like no other - my only advice to you is to visit sooner rather than later, to avoid what is sure to be a stampede once holiday-makers and tour operators latch on to this gem of a destination.
About the Author
Suzanne Whitby is the founder of Naturally Africa Dot Org (http://naturallyafrica.org/) which provides travel, tourism, business and event information about countries in Africa. To date, South Africa, Sierra Leone and Madagascar are live on the site.
|
|
|
Dublin Travel Guide
Dublin is Ireland’s capital, which finds a place for itself amongst the rich countries of Europe. It is located on the east coast of the country and encompasses the River Liffey merging i...(more in Travel Insurance)
San Francisco Travel - Discover The Mission District's Mural
With over 600 murals, San Francisco streets are a parade of vibrant and radiant murals that are painted on building walls and facades, fences, garage doors and more. The colorful Mission District is the epicenter of San Francisco murals with the greatest concentration of murals in San Francisco. The San Francisco Mission neighborhood's love affair with murals stems from the Mexican roots of the Mission District community. The Latino community began to move into in the Mission neighborhood in the 1950s and 60s. Early in the 1970s, resident muralists started following the traditions of the great muralists of the 1920s and 30s, perhaps the most famous of which was Di...(more in Travel Insurance)
Look For The Bargins To Do With Cheap Travel
You may have found the most informative help regarding cheap travel. When you're after better-quality information on cheap travel, you'll find it's complex separating quality information from inexpert cheap travel suggestions and help so it's prudent to know how to judge the information you are presented with. Low prices.Enter your search criteria just once, and find deals from major airlines and low cost carriersWhat follows next are a few tips which we sincerely believe you should use when you're seeking information about cheap travel. Please be aware that the advice we tender is only relevant ...(more in Travel Insurance)
Japanese Overseas Travel Insurance
If you are an expatriate planning on long-term residence in Japan you can, after a one-year stay, become a part of Japan's national health program. Until that time, however, you're going to need Japanese overseas travel insurance. Some of the Japanese overseas travel insurance options include not only trip or annual medical emergency coverage for travel but also disability insurance, personal liability coverage and term life insurance. Japanese overseas travel insurance's medical coverage with some plans offers full (100 percent) reimbursement for prescription medicine, medical care for diagnostic purposes, hospital stay and even surgery. You'll also be covered in case of terrorism and an evacuation to your home residence in the event of medical or terrorist emergency.One firm whose Japanese overseas tr...(more in Travel Insurance)
How To Become A Travel Agent In 24 Hours
The travel industry has been going through some significant changes over the last few years. Mom and Pop travel agencies are quickly being replaced by online booking engines like Orbitz or Travelocity.But there is one problem: 80% of all vacations are taken at the recommendation of a friend. Now of course this is a good thing, except that Orbitz and Travelocity don't have very many friends.The travel industry came up with a good hybrid solution: give the consumer a chance to partner with these big booking engines and become a travel agent themselves, with all the benefits and none of the drawbacks, so they can refer their friends and family and everyone wins. This new type of travel agent is known as an Associate Travel...(more in Travel Insurance)
Hilton Head Island Travel Guide
Hilton Head Island Travel Guide By Jeff PalmerHilton Head Island was the first ecologically-planned destination in The United States. Light pollution ordinances are in effect across the island to protect the habits of the loggerhead turtles which sometimes confuse the lights of dwellings and street lights with that of the ocean. Prot...(more in Travel Insurance)
What You Need To Know About– Paris Travel
Life never sleeps in the capital city of France- Paris. The City of Lovers or the City of Lights, the city of Paris is exceptional for it has not just one but a multitude of attractions that leave each and every visitor bizarre. The aura of the city is such that the visitors are left spell bound. The city is so rich in its exotic and prized possessions that it becomes difficult to explore the entire city within a few days.The Multiple AssetsFrom art to glamour, from the mystifying Eiffel Tower to the stunning Seine River, the wondrous city of Paris has it all. When we talk about the city’s art and architecture, Paris has some of the coveted monuments i...(more in Travel Insurance)
Is There Really Free Travel On The Internet?
If you go to Google and enter the term "Free Travel" you would find 2,200,000 Entries. If you check All-the Web, you find 3,990,000 Entries. You find a similar number on any search engine. Obviously these are highly competitive search terms. It is likely that with this many entries under these terms that the bids for such keywords are pretty high for Pay Per Click Advertisers. After researching these Search Terms for you, I have found a number of offers and much informatio...(more in Travel Insurance)
International Travel And Health Insurance
Embarking on Your Dream VacationAre your Plans Complete?Your bags are packed, passport and papers in order and you couldn’t be in a higher state of excitement preparing for travel to that wonderful, exotic location. This is the vacation you have planned it seems forever. As you sit on the plane, you and your partner discuss for the hundredth time the scuba diving you will do, the awesome rock climbing and hikes into the rain forest. Everything is perfect!Life seldom gets better than this.Despite all the excitement of travel, Americans do have some concerns.According to a survey by the Chubb Group, more than 70% of Americans surveyed said their greatest concern when traveling is suffering a ...(more in Travel Insurance)
Tour And Travel Operators India,cultural Tour Operator India
Tanya Sri Kumar [ 10 September , 2005 ]www.india-travel-horizon.comHorizon Worldwide was founded in 1996 since then we have already catered around 28000 Guests from parts of world. In keeping with the company's philosophy of personalized, specialty travel, we have built a reputation over the years for our product knowledge and service excellence. We think of travel as a serious and rewarding business.For 9 years Horizon Worldwide team has pioneered and led thousands of tours, treks, safaris and expeditions all ove...(more in Travel Insurance)
A Photocopied Travel Letter To Home
As we drove from Traverse City, Michigan to Tucson, Arizona, I wrote a series of letters, and photocopied them to send to family and friends. This was the first of the three.Travel Letter #1Saturday, 12/13/03 - Good morning. Welcome to our vacation form letter. We're in Arizona now. The sun is shining and it will be in the sixties today, which should melt the ice on the windows soon. Ana's foot doesn't seem to be broken, as we thought, so we took a long walk in the desert last night. We saw a coyote, probably the same one I chased the other day, and there were javelina tracks everywhere.The library in Safford has books in Spanish, so Ana is enjoying reading now ...(more in Travel Insurance)
Four Ways To Free/low Cost Travel Around Greece...and Not On
FOUR WAYS TO FREE/LOW COST TRAVEL AROUND GREECE...AND NOT ONLY!By Liana Metal1.Free lodging!Find a pen friend. Maybe you haven’t thought of this. It’s the best solution to your budget problems, but you can’t have it overnight! Greek people are hospitable and so are other countries’ people if you become friends with. It’s the simplest thing to do if you like writing letters or just exchanging cards and souvenirs. I’ve done it and a lot of other people have, why not you? Your friend will probably be happy to put you up for a couple of nights and show you around as well. The other alternative is to exchang...(more in Travel Insurance)
Sta Travel And Mtv Search For Students Backpacking Abroad To
STA Travel, the world leader in student travel, has teamed up to help MTV Networks to find young travelers who are planning to backpack through Europe this summer. MTV's "True Life," an award-winning series that covers a range of topics relevant to today's youth from social issues to pop culture tre...(more in Travel Insurance)
site-map - links - Copyright © 2007 Datorsam - Make Money Online | All Rights Reserved. | Travel Insurance