We headed out of western Freetown mid-morning, driving past the roundabout and vegetable stands at Congo Cross and up Signal Hill into the low mountains that cradle downtown Freetown.  As we progressed up the mountain, the road became steeper and rougher, eventually transforming into a full-fledged dirt road, massive potholes and all.  We continued on this road, through hamlets and small terraced agricultural areas, until the track merged with the main road and we continued to a quiet beach populated by other expats and Lebanese businesspeople and their families. 

It is obvious to any visitor that Sierra Leone has a wealth of potential tourist attractions: idyllic beaches, lush green scenery, exotic wildlife.  Like the rest of the country’s economy, however, the tourist sector lacks the infrastructure it needs to really take off.  The country’s best beaches lie about a half an hour drive outside of Freetown, but getting out of the city means either navigating the clogged downtown streets (which lack a meaningful traffic control system) or driving over the mountain and dealing with the pot hole-filled dirt roads.  Once out of the city the roads become smooth and traffic dies down, but you still need a 4x4 to get down the rough dirt paths that lead from the main roads to the beaches.  There does seem to be some development, however; guesthouses are being built along select beaches to accommodate overnight guests, according to some local residents.  I’m looking into interviews with people in the tourism industry here in Sierra Leone so stay tuned for further updates!