Through Liberia, Sierra Leone And Into Freetown...

After visiting the wild chimps and vine bridges in Guinea, we had a chance encounter with Steve and Sita from Belgium! We knew they were in the region, and luckily through the power of social media we managed to cross paths just before we headed south on bumpy jungle roads to Liberia. Steven and Sita and their truck Izzie are on a big journey down to South Africa...great to meet you guys!

Aminah And Izzie The Mercedes Sisters! Meeting Steve and Sita From Belgium En Route In Guinea

First stop in Liberia: Kpatwee falls, a very special spot, a bit out of the way, but a great place to spend a relaxed afternoon in the shade of big trees, swim under the waterfalls, and walk up the trail to more falls higher up.

Liberian Man Washing His Tractor In Kpatawee Falls......As You Do!

A Great BBQ Feast At Kpatawee Falls, Liberia

The Enormous Tree At Kpatawee Falls, Liberia, Dwarfing Aminah!

Andy Draws Jane A Great Birthday Card

Next we saw something we hadn't seen in weeks: the ocean! Time to enjoy the Liberian coast and the beautiful golden sand beaches and the famous local hospitality. 

Some of us paid a visit to an island inhabited by a group of chimpanzees known as 'Monkey Island'. These chimps were rescued from a research lab run by the New York Blood Centre in Monrovia after being abandoned during Liberia’s troubles. They were released on this island and are fed daily by a devoted carer. 

You can see a short video and learn about the history of these chimps here:

This Poor Chimp Carried A 'Seat' Around With Him Wherever He Went, Much To The Amusement Of Others!

Kim, Curtis, Paul, And Derek On A Boat Trip In Liberia

Further along the coast we spent some time on the beaches around Robertspsort, a great spot to unwind amongst the crumbling remnants of former grandeur. We celebrated Martin’s birthday here with plenty of time to relax on the beach the following day!

Martin, John, Andy, Julie, And Simon Strolling Along One Of Liberias Beautiful Beaches

Saying goodbye to Liberia and heading west to Sierra Leone, the road was just as bad as we remembered, if a little drier this time around. We spent a couple of nights in a village, enjoying the local food, hospitality, fishing trips and swimming in waterholes.

Roads Through The Jungle, Broken Down Trucks, And Curtis Catching Dinner

A Warm Welcome In Eastern Sierra Leone, One Of The Friendliest Villages We've Ever Stayed In!

Our drive to Tiwai Island was disrupted by a missing bridge which was being dismantled and replaced. Fortunately it was hastily put back together for us! Tiwai Island is known for its pygmy hippos, but they are notoriously difficult to see, so we settled instead for a pleasant time on the river watching plenty of primates and birds rummage around this beautiful setting.

Aminah Crossing A Makeshift Bridge En Route To Tiwai Island....Nervous Moments!

Morning Awakes At Tiwai Island As The Group Get Ready For A Boat Trip

A Warm Welcome For The Group And Aminah At Tiwai Island, Sierra Leone

Our last night of the trip was spent relaxing at Bureh Beach on the Freetown Peninsula, taking a well deserved chance to relax and recharge. Some of the group headed off to visit Banana Island.

There's No Denying The Beauty Of Freetowns Beaches!

Windows: Gary, Paul, Curtis, Nicky And Simon
Standing: John, Kelly, Kim, Lisa, Jackie, Martin, Al, Juliette, Jane, Julie, Claire, Derek, Andre, And Andy
Crouching: Laura And Nev

A drive into Freetown’s busy traffic and markets bought us back to reality as we said goodbye to some and welcomed others to the group for our next trip up to Dakar.

Driving Aminah Into Downtown Freetown, Always A Hectic Affair When Going Through The Market

The Farewell Group Meal Produced A Large Amount Of Cash!