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