Living in Sierra Leone guide for expats

Sierra Leone covers the land area of 71,740 square kilometres and has over 6.7 million people. The country's ethnic make-up includes Temne, Mende, Limba, Kono, Creole, Mandingo, Loko, and other ethnic groups. English is the official language in the region but Temne, Mende, and Creole are also widely used. The capital of Sierra Leone is Freetown ' a large city in the western part of the country. The second largest city and the capital of the southern region is Bo. Bonthe is an old administrative centre and Makeni is a rapidly developing city in the north.

Sierra Leone is a relatively poor country with most of the population working in agriculture. With that said, the country has significant natural resources ' particularly, iron ore, diamonds, and rutile. The lack of proper infrastructure (power coverage and roads) is complicating the development of other industrial sectors.

Sierra Leone is a country of rainforests, national parks, and endangered species such as the colobus monkey and pygmy hippo. Here, you can camp out on the Tiwai Island, see hippos and elephants at the Outamba-Kilimi National Park, and go on a photo safari at the Kangari Hills Forest Reserve.

Citizens of only 15 countries can visit Sierra Leone visa-free; all others will need to apply for a visa in advance at the nearest diplomatic mission of Sierra Leone.