State House, Sierra Leone
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Freetown is Sierra Leone's major urban, economic, financial, cultural, educational and political centre, as it is the seat of the Government of Sierra Leone. The population of Freetown was 1,347,559 as of the 2024 census.
Aug 1, 2024 · Freetown, capital, chief port, and largest city of Sierra Leone, on the rocky Sierra Leone Peninsula, at the seaward tip of a range of wooded hills, which were named Serra Leôa (“Lion Mountains”) by the Portuguese navigator Pedro de Sintra when he explored the West African coast in 1462.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
- Arrive by sea. Lungi International, Freetown’s airport, is across a sea estuary from Freetown. You can go the long way round over land, but the quickest and safest airport transfer is by boat.
- Find your bearings with the Cotton Tree. In Freetown’s center stands a huge tree, around which early settlers gathered to give thanks on their arrival.
- Know your seasons. Avoid Freetown in August, when the city receives a deluge of rain, causing widespread flooding. In 2017, a mudslide claimed the lives of over 1,000 residents.
- Learn the language of mangoes. In April and May, mangoes are sold individually or in heaps, on street pavements or from the heads of roving vendors. The mangoes come in many shapes, sizes, and colors, and they grow everywhere, some starting off as discarded seeds.
Gaze across the colourful rooftops of Freetown, the lush forest of the Western Area Peninsula National Park and all the way to the warm waters of the Sierra Leone River Estuary from the stunning vantage point that is Leicester Peak.
Discover Freetown, the vibrant capital of Sierra Leone, rich in history and culture. Explore landmarks like the Cotton Tree, St. George’s Cathedral, and Freetown Law Courts. Experience its lively markets, stunning beaches, and historic Creole architecture.
Mar 16, 2023 · The time to go is now. Start in the Freetown Peninsula, supporting eco-tourism initiatives like the one at Tacaguma Chimpanzee Sanctuary, where endangered primates are rescued and rehabilitated...
Jun 23, 2024 · The under-the-radar capital of Sierra Leone has lively beaches, thought-provoking art, and great shopping. Fashion designer MaryAnn Kai Kai takes T+L on a tour.
