INTERESTING PLACES

Kabala

Kabala is known for its fabrics and traditional Sierra Leone clothing, especially the ‘ronko’ gown which locals say has supernatural powers. A charming guesthouse offers accommodation to its visitors. The town cinema occasionally screens films, and most of the good restaurants can only be found in the capital, Freetown.

Nature lovers can head 60 km south of the city to Mount Bintumani in the Loma Mountains Forest Reserve, which offers spectacular views of the region from the top. Enjoy the diverse wildlife and try spotting energized chimpanzees at the Outamba Kilimi, the only natural park in the entire country which is located 35 km from kabala. The surrounding hills of the city offer great hiking trails and waterfalls.

For those who prefer water sports, the Banana Islands is a popular diving site. Visitors who make it to the city during the New Year festivities can enjoy the town’s traditional New Year’s Day picnic held on the Gbawuria Hill.

Freetown

Most of Freetown's historical sites have something to do with slavery. Starting with a big and old cotton tree, located in the middle of the city, where the first slaves were sold.

Nearby there is King Jimmy's Market, once the site of a 16th century slave market. Slave Gate, behind which recaptured slaves were kept before being freed, and the Freetown Law Courts.

There are also several mosques and churches in Freetown: St John's Maroon Church, Freetown's oldest Church, St George's Cathedral, Foulah Town Mosque and the Roman Catholic Sacred Heart Cathedral are the most notable.

The National Museum, housed in the former Cotton Tree Railroad Station, contains historical documents, traditional wood and stone sculptures as well as the Ruiter Stone.

In Freetown tourists can even enjoy and visit the botanic gardens, the markets and the assorted beaches.