Are you heading to Sierra Leone for the Street Child Challenge? Then this is the perfect add-on to give you a well-rounded understanding of Sierra Leone, its culture, history, and wildlife.

I first joined Street Child in Sierra Leone in 2022 and I completely fell in love not only with the work they do but also with the people and the country. Having had the opportunity to explore beyond the Street Child Projects, I realised there was so much more value to be had by taking an extra couple of days to learn more about this hidden gem of a country. 

I invited some of the Street Child Challenge participants to join me last year and they too felt the same way. You will get so much more from the whole experience if you have a rounded understanding of the challenges that Sierra Leone has faced. So why not kickstart the fun a few days early and join me on an adventure of a lifetime? 

Sierra Leone is the perfect introduction to West Africa. 20 years after the bloody civil war ended, Sierra Leone is now one of the safest countries in the region, making it the ideal spot for intrepid travellers to explore one of the lesser visited countries in the world!

I’m looking for individuals who are prepared to step outside their comfort zone though. There is no doubt that Sierra Leone is a beautiful country with some of the kindest people you will meet anywhere. However, it is also one of the poorest countries in the world. There is no well-oiled tourist infrastructure here, so you will definitely need a sense of adventure! If you like the sound of that then make sure to sign up! 

• Say goodbye to everything you know and jump on a plane for the adventure of your life.
• I’ll meet you at Lungi Airport, and together we will tackle our first adventure: taking the boat from the airport to Freetown, where our hosts for the night will meet us to take us to the hotel. Last time the door fell off the boat! I said it would be an adventure!
• Stay the night at The Stafford Lodge with Dori and her fantastic team.
• Dinner included.

• Today we will explore Sierra Leone’s capital, Freetown. We will visit the old colonial quarters to learn about Sierra Leone’s complicated history before embarking on an exciting ke-ke (tuk-tuk) tour of the city. We will mingle with locals in the market and have the chance to try local food.
• But don’t eat too much! We will be making our own lunch (Cassava Leaf curry) under the watchful instruction of The Stafford Lodge’s head chef!
• If the weather is nice, we will walk up Leicester Peak to enjoy the sunset over Freetown Harbour.
• Stay at The Stafford Lodge.
• Breakfast and lunch included.

• Today we will go on a day trip to Bunce Island, the launching pad for more than 30,000 enslaved people that were taken across the Atlantic.
• After a harrowing morning, we will enjoy lunch on Tasso Island.
• I have also arranged for us to meet with and hear first-hand the story of a civil war survivor, who will explain what the civil war was all about and what it was like to live through it.
• Stay at the Stafford Lodge
• Breakfast and lunch included.

• This morning we will visit Tacugama, an amazing chimpanzee rehabilitation centre, where we will learn about their fantastic work in conserving chimpanzees. If we are lucky, we will also get the chance to see these magnificent primates up close.
• After lunch, we will make our way North, to Makeni, where we shall join the rest of the Street Child Challenge participants for the next stage our adventure. 
• Breakfast included (Street Child will provide dinner)