Transportation

Road Conditions and Safety:  Most main roads in Freetown are navigable, but narrow and often have potholes.  There is limited roadside assistance in country and it is often difficult to find adequate fuel for longer journeys.

Traffic Laws:  Serious accidents are common, especially outside of Freetown, where the relative lack of traffic allows for greater speeds.  The chance of being involved in an accident increases greatly when traveling at night.  In the event of a traffic accident it is important to follow all police instructions.  Often large mobs can form at the scene of an accident and threaten the safety of the driver.

Public Transportation:  Public transport (bus or group taxi) is erratic, unsafe, and not recommended.  Motorcycle taxis are ubiquitous in Freetown and are often the cause of serious accidents.  The U.S. Embassy strongly advises against utilizing these motorcycles.  Pick pocketing is common in public taxis and mini-buses.  U.S. Embassy officials are prohibited from using public transportation or taxis.

Please refer to our Road Safety page for more information.  Also, we suggest that you visit the website of Sierra Leone’s national tourist board and national authority responsible for road safety.

Aviation Safety Oversight:  As there is no direct commercial air service to the United States by carriers registered in Sierra Leone the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has not assessed the government of Sierra Leone’s Civil Aviation Authority for compliance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) aviation safety standards.  Further information may be found on the FAA’s safety assessment page.