Sierra Leone requires a visa for most nationalities. The country operates an electronic visa system accessible through the official government portal at evisa.sl. Applications must be submitted before travel. A yellow fever vaccination certificate is mandatory for all travelers entering Sierra Leone and officials check this document at Freetown Lungi International Airport. Without proof of yellow fever vaccination, entry will be refused.
Freetown Lungi International Airport sits on the northern side of the Sierra Leone River estuary. The airport is physically separated from Freetown proper by approximately 13 kilometers of water. Four transfer options exist: helicopter service operated by Paramount Airlines completes the crossing in seven minutes, ferry services take 30 to 45 minutes depending on sea conditions, water taxis run irregularly, and road transport around the estuary requires three to four hours covering roughly 80 kilometers through Port Loko. The helicopter typically costs 150 to 200 US dollars one way. Ferry prices range from 40 to 60 US dollars. Road transport costs significantly less but consumes most of a day when traffic delays occur on the single connection route.
The leone is Sierra Leone's official currency, abbreviated SLL or Le. Denominations in circulation include 1000, 2000, 5000, 10000, and 20000 leone notes. In December 2021, the Bank of Sierra Leone began phasing out old leone notes, requiring exchange for new series currency. This process continued through 2024. As of late 2024, exchange rates fluctuate between 19000 and 24000 leones per US dollar depending on where currency is exchanged. Banks offer rates at the official band while street changers and small shops work on parallel rates that shift daily.
US dollars function as a semi-official parallel currency in Freetown. Hotels quote prices in dollars, larger restaurants accept dollar payment, and tour operators prefer dollar transactions. Outside Freetown in cities like Bo, Kenema, Makeni, and Koidu, the leone dominates all transactions. Carrying small-denomination US bills from 1 to 20 dollars proves more useful than large notes. Many businesses cannot break 50 or 100 dollar bills. Dollar bills must be in good condition. Notes with tears, excessive writing, or pre-2013 series designs are often rejected.
ATMs exist in Freetown, Bo, and Kenema but operate unreliably. Machines frequently run empty of cash for days at a time. Power outages disable ATMs unpredictably. The few functioning ATMs impose withdrawal limits of 2 to 3 million leones per transaction, equivalent to approximately 100 to 150 US dollars at recent exchange rates. Most ATMs charge fees of 50000 to 100000 leones per withdrawal. Visa cards work more consistently than Mastercard. Cards issued outside West Africa occasionally trigger fraud blocks that require phone calls to home banks for resolution.
Ecobank, United Bank for Africa, and Sierra Leone Commercial Bank operate the most reliable ATM networks. Ecobank maintains machines at their Wilkinson Road branch in central Freetown and at the Lumley Beach Road location. Bringing sufficient US cash to cover the entire trip remains the most dependable approach. Western Union and MoneyGram offices operate in Freetown and provincial cities for emergency transfers, charging 5 to 10 percent fees.
Credit cards see minimal acceptance. A handful of hotels in Freetown process Visa cards. Radisson Blu Mammy Yoko Hotel, Hotel Bintumani, and The Place Resort accept cards but often add surcharges of 3 to 5 percent. Restaurants, markets, transportation providers, and smaller guesthouses operate on cash only. Mobile money systems including Orange Money and Africell Money have achieved widespread adoption among Sierra Leoneans but tourists cannot easily establish accounts without local SIM cards and identification documents.
Electricity in Sierra Leone operates on 230 volts at 50 hertz. Sockets accept UK-style three-prong plugs with rectangular pins, designated Type G. Bring a UK-compatible adapter. Power cuts occur daily in Freetown and more frequently in provincial areas. Hotels and guesthouses run generators during outage periods but many restrict generator hours to evenings only, typically from 1800 to 2300 or midnight. Charging devices requires planning around generator schedules. Carrying a portable battery becomes essential. Some hotels charge extra fees for generator power access.
Freetown tap water should not be consumed. Waterborne diseases including typhoid occur regularly. Bottled water is sold widely in sealed plastic bottles. A 1.5 liter bottle costs 5000 to 10000 leones depending on location. In restaurants, verify that bottle seals are intact before accepting. Boiling water for one minute kills most pathogens. Water purification tablets containing chlorine dioxide or iodine provide backup treatment. Hotels above mid-range standard provide bottled water in rooms but confirm this amenity in advance at budget properties.