Africa

Sierra Leone

Location

Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea and Liberia.

Pickpocketing, muggings and armed break-ins occur. The threat of terrorism is low. You should avoid public demonstrations or large crowds. Local militia groups, weapons (assorted), ballistics danger areas, mines, booby traps, vehicle security, vehicle convoys, personal security, ambushes, kidnappings, bandits / corruption, gunfire / snipers, legal / illegal checkpoints, armed robberies, general travel, navigation, off road driving, building / office security, hot weather injuries, personal hygiene, sanitation / sterilisation, clothing & equipment, emergency first aid, diseases, helicopter safety, terrorism, cultures / customs, communications, emergency shelters.

Use bottled water only.

Coastal belt of mangrove swamps, wooded hill country, upland plateau, mountains in east.

Tropical; hot, humid; summer rainy season (May to December); winter dry season (December to April).

Dry, sand-laden harmattan winds blow from the Sahara (December to February); sandstorms, dust storms.

Bacterial and protozoal diarrhoea, bilharzia, cholera, hepatitis A, HIV/AIDS, Lassa fever, malaria, meningitis, polio, rabies, schistosomiasis, typhoid fever, yellow fever.
Hospital: Connaught Avenue, 1 Johnston Street, Freetown. Tel: 22-222962

Rapid population growth pressuring the environment; over harvesting of timber, expansion of cattle grazing, and slash-and-burn agriculture have resulted in deforestation and soil exhaustion; civil war depleting natural resources; overfishing.

All roads are unlit and potholes are common. The roads outside Freetown are particularly poor and many only accessible by 4x4. Driving after dark in the interior should be avoided.

Hostile Environments and Emergency First Aid Training (HEFAT®) (5 days)
Centurion's flagship Hostile Environments and Emergency First Aid Training (HEFAT®) course is for people who operate world wide, particularly in areas where there may be personal health or safety concerns. It is extremely effective for "frontline" organisations.

For more in-depth general information please download our Preparation and Training document.