This advice has been reviewed and reissued. The overall level of the advice has not changed.

Summary

Safety and Security

Terrorism

Terrorism is a threat throughout the world. You can find more information about this threat in our General Advice to Australian Travellers.

Civil Unrest/Political Tension

We advise you to exercise a high degree of caution in Sierra Leone because of the risk of civil unrest and high level of crime. Pay close attention to your personal security at all times and monitor the media for information about possible new safety or security risks.

Following the end of a ten year civil war in 2002, the security environment in Sierra Leone has improved. Security forces have been deployed throughout the country. A UN peace-building mission is also present. However, the security environment remains fragile and incidents are likely to continue to occur, particularly in rural areas.

You should avoid political demonstrations and large public gatherings as they may turn violent.

Borders with Liberia and Guinea: We advise you to reconsider your need to travel to border areas with Liberia and Guinea at this time because of the unsettled security situation in these areas. Refugees and internally displaced persons continue to cross the border between Sierra Leone and Guinea, in both directions. This places stresses on local supplies of food, water and shelter and has led to violent clashes. The poorly patrolled border areas in both Sierra Leone and Guinea are home to criminal gangs and smugglers whose activities are unpredictable.

Crime

Crime levels are high in the capital, Freetown, with armed theft and assault prevalent. Petty crime such as pickpocketing and bag snatching is common throughout the country and residential burglaries continue to increase. Security risks are heightened at night.

Commercial and internet fraud is prevalent and often originates in West African countries. Victims have been defrauded and those who travel to the originating country have had their lives endangered. Some victims have been killed. Criminals have been known to seek details of 'safe' bank accounts overseas in which to transfer large sums of money (as a donation or for a percentage of the amount involved). They may also provide fake cashier cheques for 'urgent' shipments of large quantities of goods, request sizeable fees for a fake government contract and extort money from individuals they have convinced to travel to Africa for a business opportunity. If you are a victim of a financial scam, we advise you to obtain legal advice and not to travel to Africa to seek restitution as there is a risk of physical assault from the perpetrators. Our information on International Financial Scams provides more detail on these types of scams.

Some Australian citizens have also been defrauded or had their lives endangered by bogus internet friendship, dating and marriage schemes operating from West African countries. These scams typically result from connections made through internet dating schemes or chat rooms. Once a virtual relationship develops, the Australian citizen is asked by their friend or prospective marriage partner to send money to enable travel to Australia. Once the money has been received, the relationship is usually terminated and any chance of recovering the funds is highly unlikely. In some instances, foreigners who have travelled to Africa to meet their friend or prospective marriage partner have been kidnapped and held to ransom.

Local Travel

For safety reasons, we recommend that travellers arriving at Lungi airport in the evening and who will be continuing by road or sea, spend the night at Lungi before transferring to Freetown the next morning. None of the options (helicopter, airline, ferry service, private boat service, hovercraft/road travel) for transferring between Lungi airport and Freetown are without risk because of criminal activity, overcrowding, poor maintenance and lack of basic safety equipment. Options should be considered carefully.

Land travel outside the Freetown Peninsula is hazardous, especially at night, as driving standards are poor and roads and vehicles are inadequately maintained. Traffic accidents are common. Public transport is limited and safety and maintenance standards are unreliable. For further advice, see our bulletin on Overseas Road Safety.

You may encounter difficulties at roadblocks and checkpoints, including requests for payment. You are required to carry personal identity and vehicle registration and ownership papers at all times.

Airline Safety

Passengers on international flights to and from Australia are only allowed to carry a small amount of liquids (including aerosols and gels) in their carry-on baggage. You can find out more information at the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government website. Similar restrictions apply to flights in an increasing number of countries. Contact your airline for further information.

If you have concerns about the safety standards of a particular airline or aircraft, we recommend you research the airline or aircraft through organisations such as Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority and the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). The Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government has published fact sheets on security for air travellers. When staff at Australia's overseas missions are advised not to use particular airlines due to safety concerns, this will be included in the travel advisory.

The European Union (EU) has published a list of airlines that are subject to operating bans or restrictions within the EU. The United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) through its foreign assessment program focuses on a country's ability, not the individual airline, to adhere to international standards and recommended practices for aircraft operations and maintenance established by ICAO.

Natural Disasters, Severe Weather and Climate

The rainy season is May to November when flooding may occur and roads become impassable.

Wildlife

Australians are advised to respect wildlife laws and to maintain a safe and legal distance when observing wildlife, including marine animals and birds. You should only use reputable and professional guides or tour operators and closely follow park regulations and wardens' advice.

Money and Valuables

Before you go, organise a variety of ways to access your money overseas, such as credit cards, travellers' cheques, cash, debit cards or cash cards. Australian currency and travellers' cheques are not accepted in many countries. Consult with your bank to find out which is the most appropriate currency to carry and whether your ATM card will work overseas.

Credit cards are not accepted in Sierra Leone and opportunities to use travellers' cheques are limited. All foreign exchange transactions should be done through banks and official exchange offices. Australian currency is generally not able to be exchanged for local currency in West Africa.

Make two photocopies of valuables such as your passport, tickets, visas and travellers' cheques. Keep one copy with you in a separate place to the original and leave another copy with someone at home.

While travelling, don't carry too much cash and remember that expensive watches, jewellery and cameras may be tempting targets for thieves.

As a sensible precaution against luggage tampering, including theft, lock your luggage. Information on luggage safety is available from Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority.

Your passport is a valuable document that is attractive to criminals who may try to use your identity to commit crimes. It should always be kept in a safe place. You are required by Australian law to report a lost or stolen passport. If your passport is lost or stolen overseas, report it online or contact the nearest Australian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate as soon as possible.

You are required to pay an additional fee to have a lost or stolen passport replaced. In some cases, the Government may also restrict the length of validity or type of replacement passports.

For Parents

For general information and tips on travelling with children see our Travelling Parents brochure.

If you are planning on placing your children in schools or childcare facilities overseas we encourage you to research the standards of security, care and staff training within those establishments. You should exercise the same precautions you would take before placing children into schools or childcare facilities in Australia.

Ideas on how to select childcare providers are available from the smartraveller Children's Issues page, Child Wise and the National Childcare Accreditation Council.

Local Laws

When you are in Sierra Leone, be aware that local laws and penalties, including ones that appear harsh by Australian standards, do apply to you. If you are arrested or jailed, the Australian Government will do what it can to help you but we can't get you out of trouble or out of jail.

Information on what Australian consular officers can and cannot do to help Australians in trouble overseas is available from the Consular Services Charter.

Penalties for drug offences are severe and include mandatory prison sentences.

Homosexual acts are illegal.

A licence issued by the Ministry of Mines and Resources is required to export precious minerals from Sierra Leone. Failure to comply with the relevant legislation attracts serious criminal penalties including imprisonment.

It is prohibited to photograph government buildings, airports and bridges. Areas may not be clearly marked or defined.

Some Australian criminal laws, such as those relating to money laundering, bribery of foreign public officials, terrorism and child sex tourism, apply to Australians overseas. Australians who commit these offences while overseas may be prosecuted in Australia.

Australian authorities are committed to combating sexual exploitation of children by Australians overseas. Australians may be prosecuted at home under Australian child sex tourism laws. These laws provide severe penalties of up to 17 years imprisonment for Australians who engage in sexual activity with children under 16 while outside of Australia.

Local Customs

There are conservative standards of dress and behaviour in Sierra Leone, particularly for women, and you should take care not to offend.

Information for Dual Nationals

Sierra Leone does not recognise dual nationality. Australian citizens entering Sierra Leone with a Sierra Leonean passport will be treated as Sierra Leonean citizens by local authorities. This may limit the ability of the Australian Government to provide consular assistance to Australian/Sierra Leonean dual nationals who are arrested or detained.

Our Travel Information for Dual Nationals brochure provides further information for dual nationals.

Entry and Exit Requirements

Visa and other entry and exit conditions (such as currency, customs and quarantine regulations) change regularly. Contact the nearest Embassy or Consulate of Sierra Leone for the most up to date information.

A Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate is required for entry into the country.

Sierra Leone is listed by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as endemic for yellow fever. Some airlines may require passengers to present a valid Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate before being allowed to board flights out of the country. If in doubt, check with your airline.

If you have visited Sierra Leone in the last six days prior to your date of return to Australia, Australian Customs officials will ask you to present a valid Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate upon entry into Australia.

Dual Australian/Sierra Leonean nationals must provide proof of payment of taxes on money earned in Sierra Leone before being granted clearance to depart the country.

Make sure your passport has at least six months' validity and carry copies of a recent passport photo with you in case you need a replacement passport while overseas.

Health Issues

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has confirmed cases of H1N1 Influenza 09 in a number of countries throughout the world. For a list of these countries, visit the WHO website. For further information and advice to Australians, including on possible quarantine measures overseas, see our travel bulletin on H1N1 Influenza 09.

We strongly recommend that you take out comprehensive travel insurance that will cover any overseas medical costs, including medical evacuation, before you depart. Confirm that your insurance covers you for the whole time you'll be away and check what circumstances and activities are not included in your policy. Remember, regardless of how healthy and fit you are, if you can't afford travel insurance, you can't afford to travel. The Australian Government will not pay for a traveller's medical expenses overseas or medical evacuation costs.

Your doctor or travel clinic is the best source of information about preventive measures, immunisations (including booster doses of childhood vaccinations) and disease outbreaks overseas. The World Health Organization (WHO) provides information for travellers and our Travelling Well brochure also provides useful tips for travelling with medicines and staying healthy while overseas.

Medical facilities are very limited in Sierra Leone. Doctors and hospitals often request immediate cash payment for medical treatment. In the event of a serious illness or accident, medical evacuation to a destination with the appropriate facilities would be necessary. Costs for a medical evacuation could exceed $A100,000.

Malaria and other tropical diseases are common in West African countries, including Sierra Leone. We encourage you to consider having vaccinations before travelling, taking prophylaxis against malaria and using an insect repellent at all times. Water-borne, food-borne, parasitic and other infectious diseases (including HIV/AIDS, cholera, yellow fever, lassa fever, hepatitis, bilharzia, and tuberculosis) are prevalent with more serious outbreaks occurring from time to time. We advise you to boil all drinking water or drink bottled water, avoid ice cubes and raw and undercooked food. Seek medical advice if you have a fever or are suffering from diarrhoea.

The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) has confirmed cases of avian influenza in birds in a number of countries throughout the world. For a list of these countries, visit the OIE website. For information on our advice to Australians on how to reduce the risk of infection and on Australian Government precautions see our travel bulletin on avian influenza.

Where to Get Help

Australia does not have an Embassy or Consulate in Sierra Leone. You can obtain consular assistance from the nearest Australian High Commission which is in Ghana:

Australian High Commission
2, Second Rangoon Close
(cnr. Josef Broz Tito Ave)
Cantonments
Accra, Ghana
Telephone: (+233) 21 701 2961-3 or (+233) 21 777 080
Facsimile: (+233) 21 776 803
Email: AccraHC.Enquiries@dfat.gov.au
Web: www.ghana.highcommission.gov.au

If you are travelling to Sierra Leone, whatever the reason and however long you'll be there, we encourage you to register with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. You can register online or in person at any Australian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate. The information you provide will help us to contact you in an emergency - whether it is a natural disaster, civil disturbance or a family issue.

In a consular emergency if you are unable to contact the above mission, you can contact the 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre on +61 2 6261 3305 or 1300 555 135 within Australia.

In Australia, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Canberra may be contacted on (02) 6261 3305.