| Until a few days ago, if you had asked me
| |
| | Tokey and Mammah beach, andAlthough many
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| to tell you about Sierra Leone, I would
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| | of the forests and much of the wildlife
|
| have had to think long and hard to tell
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| | has been disturbed and in some cases,
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| you much about this West African country.
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| | destroyed, by the war, eco-tourism is an
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| I could probably have explained roughly
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| | important focus of Sierra Leoneans and
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| where the country is located. I may have
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| | natural treasures like Outamba-Kilimi
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| mentioned something about the slave trade
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| | National Park, populated by game animals
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| being connected to Sierra Leone. I could
| |
| | such as elephants, chimpanzees and pigmy
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| certainly have told you that they had
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| | hippos, and Mount Bintimani, the highest
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| experienced a brutal civil war. I might
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| | point in West Africa, are just two of the
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| even have admitted that I wasn't entirely
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| | worthwhile wildlife attractions on offer.
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| sure whether the war was 100% over. And
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| | Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary rescues
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| that's about it.Slavery and war. A
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| | orphaned and captured chimps and has been
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| pretty negative view of what is in fact
| |
| | described as one of the most successful
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| an exceptionally positive country.
| |
| | Sierra Leonean wildlife endeavours,
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| Today, I see Sierra Leone from an
| |
| | whilst Tiwai Island is home to over 3000
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| entirely different perspective.It is
| |
| | chimps as well as other game.Lakes,
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| difficult to ignore Sierra Leone's
| |
| | rivers and dams are perfect for picnics
|
| history and focus purely on the present.
| |
| | and relaxing. The marshlands hide a
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| Once a fertile area inhabited by dozens
| |
| | myriad of colourful birds - indeed, the
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| of tribes, it was settled by the
| |
| | bird life has been less affected by the
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| Portuguese in the 1400's who built a fort
| |
| | war than the animals, and everywhere you
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| as a trading post for gold, spices, ivory
| |
| | go, the air is filled with birdsong.
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| and slaves. A British protectorate in
| |
| | Sierra Leone is a bird-watchers dream!
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| later years, Sierra Leone had the dubious
| |
| | Tiwai Island for one boasts over 135
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| honour of becoming home to more than
| |
| | different bird species!For culture
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| 40,000 freed slaves who gave Freetown its
| |
| | vultures and those with historical
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| name. As a protectorate, Sierra Leone
| |
| | interests, the remnants of the slave
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| was exploited for its mineral and diamond
| |
| | trade make interesting and
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| wealth in the 1900's and Sierra Leonean's
| |
| | though-provoking expeditions. Bunce
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| fought against the Germans in Cameroon in
| |
| | Island, a slave trading fortress, is a
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| the First World War, and alongside the
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| | brief boat trip up the river; Freetown
|
| British in the Second World War. In
| |
| | is itself a monument to freed slaves and
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| 1961, Sierra Leone achieved independence
| |
| | its Cotton Tree, which stands in the
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| from Britain and governed itself
| |
| | heart of what is thought to be an old
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| peacefully for 30 years. The peace was
| |
| | slave market, is now an impressive
|
| not to last and was followed by a decade
| |
| | national symbol. Graves, monuments and
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| of brutal civil war that destroyed the
| |
| | forts are all that remain of British and
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| economy, brutalised the people and left a
| |
| | Portuguese power in Sierra Leone: each
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| country that is rich in resources as one
| |
| | has a tale to tell. There are over 16
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| of the poorest in the world.The conflict
| |
| | different ethnic groups in the country,
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| was officially declared over in January
| |
| | including the Krio, descendents of freed
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| 2002, and President Kabbah reelected in
| |
| | slaves who speak an English-based Creole
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| May 2002. Since then, the people of
| |
| | called Krio, and visiting villages and
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| Sierra Leone have been pulling together
| |
| | chatting to people in markets and in the
|
| to repair, renew and regenerate.Whilst
| |
| | streets is rewarding for all
|
| doing research for a new website looking
| |
| | parties!Freetown is probably the most
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| at travel and tourism in Sierra Leone, I
| |
| | developed of the cities, offering a level
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| came into contact with Sierra Leoneans
| |
| | of safety that is difficult to match even
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| from all manner of backgrounds living in
| |
| | in Western countries. Hotels,
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| both Sierra Leone and elsewhere. Their
| |
| | restaurants and nightspots are sprouting
|
| passion for the country was infectious:
| |
| | like mushrooms, and eating out in Sierra
|
| they clearly wanted to get the message
| |
| | Leone promises a range of traditional and
|
| across that Sierra Leone has far more to
| |
| | international treats, and seafood that is
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| offer than a sad recent history and that
| |
| | beyond belief!One has to wonder what
|
| reconstruction is moving ahead at a rapid
| |
| | attraction will tip the scales in making
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| pace. And indeed, proof of
| |
| | Sierra Leone the popular destination that
|
| reconstruction is everywhere - new roads
| |
| | it once was before the civil war. Based
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| are being built, mines are being
| |
| | on my experiences with Sierra Leoneans in
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| re-opened, dam projects started before
| |
| | recent weeks, I feel that it will be the
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| the war are once again underway, markets
| |
| | people who make the difference. Without
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| are once again thriving and humming with
| |
| | exception, every Sierra Leonean that I
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| life. There is also a great deal of
| |
| | have met or worked with has been proud of
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| confidence in Sierra Leone's potential as
| |
| | their country, proud of its progress and
|
| a tourist destination: a Chinese company
| |
| | excited about the future. They are
|
| has recently invested a reputed US$270
| |
| | unfailingly welcoming, greeting
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| million in the hotel infrastructure;
| |
| | aid-workers and travellers alike with
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| enterprising companies like Kevin
| |
| | smiles that you can only find in Africa,
|
| McPhillips Travel (based in the UK, USA
| |
| | with an optimism - no, positivity - that
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| and the Netherlands) offer exclusive
| |
| | other countries would do well to
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| twice weekly flights to Sierra Leone;
| |
| | emulate.For travellers in search of a
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| African Tour specialists are researching
| |
| | "diamond in the rough", Sierra Leone
|
| viable package holidays in the region.
| |
| | offers a holiday like no other - my only
|
| The exciting thing about investment in
| |
| | advice to you is to visit sooner rather
|
| Sierra Leone is that more is set to
| |
| | than later, to avoid what is sure to be a
|
| follow!They have a right to be confident.
| |
| | stampede once holiday-makes and tour
|
| The beaches along Sierra Leone's golden
| |
| | operators latch on to this gem of a
|
| peninsula are said to be one of the
| |
| | destination.Suzanne Whitby is the founder
|
| world's best kept secrets. Secluded,
| |
| | of Naturally Africa Dot Org ( which
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| clean and stretching for miles on end,
| |
| | provides travel, tourism, business and
|
| beach tourism is one of the top items on
| |
| | event information about countries in
|
| the government's tourism promotion
| |
| | Africa. To date, South Africa, Sierra
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| agenda. Beaches with very British names
| |
| | Leone and Madagascar are live on the
|
| like Kent, Lumley, Sussex and York mix
| |
| | site.
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| with more African names like Bureh Town,
| |
| |
|
