Travel Safely in Sierra Leone

Q: I am traveling to Freetown, Sierra Leone in October and I understand that in order to reach Freetown from Lungi Airport you have to cross a canal. There are various modes listed (boat, hovercraft, watertaxi, helicopter). I am not sure which one to choose as they are all quite expensive with dubious safety reports depending on what you read. Please help. - Vuyokazi November

A: Freetown is about 12kms from Lungi Airport and you need to cross the Sierra Leone River estuary to reach it. The cheapest way to do this is as the locals do - by bus and ferry. However, this can be chaotic and is not advisable for first-time visitors. There are other ways of travelling across the river - by helicopter ($80), by hovercraft ($50) or by water taxi ($40). Safety issues surrounding the helicopter transfers appear to have been sorted out and the present operators are used by the United Nations in Africa and regarded as reliable. It is not advisable to arrive without prior transfer arrangements.Your best bet may be to contact your hotel in Freetown and ask them for a quotation to handle the transfer arrangements for you, which should include a meet and greet service. If your hotel cannot help you, you can book a helicopter or water taxi transfer online on the www.visitsierraleone.org website. The hovercraft service is not currently running. A point worth noting is that most flights arrive after dark, so it may be advisable to spend the night at the airport hotel before continuing your trip to Freetown the next day. The Lungi Airport Hotel offers comfortable rooms and overnight facilities for around 140 US dollars per room (www.lungiairporthotel.com). (29/8/10)