Africa
Palm-lined beaches, chimpanzee sanctuaries and Freetown's hillside bustle.
Sierra Leone combines a lush, mountainous peninsula with long, empty beaches. From Freetown, the coast road leads to River No. 2 Beach, Tokeh and ferries to the Banana Islands. Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary sits in the hills above the capital, Tiwai Island protects rare primates in the rainforest, and Bunce Island's ruined fort recalls the transatlantic slave trade.
The pace is easy and the welcome warm, with grilled fish on the beach, cassava leaf stew and ginger beer. Infrastructure is basic outside Freetown, so allow extra time. November to April is the dry season and the best time to go; July and August are among the wettest months anywhere in West Africa.
January, February, March, December.