Bicycle Africa

Notes For Sierra Leone Program

DAILY ITINERARY / MAPS

Sierra Leone: Sahel Journey Itinerary

Sierra Leone Maps

• Western Sierra Leone
• Central Sierra Leone
• Eastern Sierra Leone
• Southern Sierra Leone
• Sierra Leone Peninsula
• Freetown

MONEY

Final payment for the land portion is due 60 days before the start of the trip. Payment may be made by money order, personal, certified, cashier's check or credit card. If fewer than six people register for the program there is a supplement of $100.  If this should turn out to be the case, the money is usually collected in cash at the beginning of the program.

Pocket money used during a two-week tour varies between individuals.  Most people use about $100 plus or minus $50.  Examples of expenses are lunch, drinks, postcards, postage, tips and laundry.  NOT INCLUDED in this estimate are souvenirs and transportation, lodging and meals before and after the tour, which may be significant ($20-$60 per day). Now bring twice what you think you will need.  You can bring any extra home.

You can change money at the airport. The best exchange rate is on crisp, new, large denomination bills (US$50 and $100 bills, or similar Euros).  In rural areas you need small denominations of local currency to make your purchases.

The usefulness of credit card is extremely limited and not advised.  Most ATMs in Sierra Leone aren't internationally linked. Pro-Credit Bank, a German based institution, has two locations where international ATM VISA-networks are available. Neither are convenient to the start of the tour.

Traveler Checks (T/C) have to be cashed at specific bank and big hotels and can be difficult and time consuming to cash. T/C are not advised.  To cash T/Cs in Africa you sometimes need to show your "purchase record" receipts -- bring them, but pack them separately.

AIR TRAVEL

The program starts and end in Lungi. (You can store things at the hotel during the program.)

You are responsible for making you own arrangements to Sierra Leone and to the rendezvous point (instructions will be provided.)  If you arrive anytime on or before "Day 1" of the program you won't miss any major scheduled activities.  No major activities are scheduled on the final day of the program as well. Some people like to arrive early to have more time to adjust.  If people have extra time before their departing flight they often use this for souvenir shopping or to visit a last museum or monument.

Some airlines charge a hefty fee for bikes-as-baggage on international flights ($300 roundtrip) and some charge nothing, if you are otherwise within your baggage allowance.  You might want to take this into consideration when booking your flight.  Folding bikes, like Bike Friday's, that fit in suitcases, generally circumvent all of these hassles.

Regardless of how you arrange to get to Africa, please tell us the airline, flight, date and time of your arrival in Sierra Leone.

IMMUNIZATIONS AND HEALTH

Required: yellow fever. Recommended: routine immunizations (tetanus-diphtheria, polio, measles), typhoid, hepatitis A, and meningococcal meningitis (selectively). It is recommended, but not required, that you start your shots 6 weeks before departing. Consult your physician or travel clinic for your specific needs.

Malaria is a serious health concern. We strongly suggest that you carry a mosquito net on this trip. Please ask your travel clinic or physician about prophylactics for chloroquin-resistant malaria and follow their instructions. See also "Equipment" below.

PACKING LIST/EQUIPMENT ADDENDUM

Appendix A and the program packing list combined are good guides to what to bring.  Ignore the sections "Camping Equipment," "Cooking Equipment," and "Group Equipment."  Additionally:

• Sturdy mountain bikes are recommended. Rental bikes are not currently available.
• Bring a sleeping pad and a heavy sheet or sleep sack, not a sleeping bag -- overnight lows can be in the 60's -- though it stays much warm in the buildings.  Cold-sleepers might consider a light-weight blanket.
• We strongly recommend that you bring a self-standing bed net such as a "Travel Tent". More information on this product is available from Long Road Travel Supplies, 1-800-359-6040 or 1-510-540-4763 or sales@longroad.com  or www.longroad.com/.  We have yet to see an alternative with an overall function that comes close to theirs.
• Be prepared to dress modestly when we aren’t on the bikes.  Women can bring a loose skirt or buy an African wrap in the market.  Men should have something to slip on that goes at least to mid calf.  Shorts away from the bike, on a woman, they're considered insulting and rude, and on men, foolish.
• It is useful to have your own a spoon and deep-plate or shallow-bowl.
• Bottled water is often available in the towns at the beginning and the end of the day, but you will need a backup. If you have a water filter or purifier, bring it. It will be put to good use.  This also allows you to avoid the expense, litter and high carbon footprint of bottled water.  Ibike supports minimizing the use of single-use plastic bottles.  Iodine and chlorine tablets are most useful in emergencies -- if you have a half-hour to wait and once a week at the most!  Don't rely on iodized water because you will poison yourself.  The three better choices are a filtering pumps, an ultraviolet light purifiers (search: SteriPen) or an oxidant purifiers (search MSR MIOX).  Filtering pumps tend to be the most versatile and labor intensive, including requiring the most maintenance.  The last two, hi-tech methods, require clear water, which is usually available on our programs, and use batteries -- which can be rechargeable.  The MIOX also need salt and adds a little taste to the water, which is mostly an issue if you start with a high mineral water that already has a taste. The UV pen is generally the effortless and fastest.  For more discussion on water treatment, see http://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/water-treatment-backcountry.html.
• Generally, two 32 oz. (3/4 liter) water bottles alone are on the low side -- if you like a lot of water you will want additional capacity.  Some ways to reduce the amount of water you need to carry on your bike is drink like a camel overnight and in the morning (i.e. carry it inside), wear loose long sleeve clothing and/or be willing to use Coke and Fanta to replenish you liquids during the day -- these are the most available beverages in roadside kiosks.  Bottled water is available irregularly midday and has a higher carbon footprint.  AT BEST you can only count on bottled water at your destination.  A couple times you will probably need to rely on filtered or purified water.  The best strategy is to organize all your water needs for the next day the night before (you can top things off in the morning) and expect to be able to get only the occasional soft drink during the day.
• Because the milieu and activities on the trip won't be exactly routine, you might want to bring some things more familiar like a "treat-a-day" of high energy comfort food (i.e. power bars?).
• The use of heart rate monitors is greatly discouraged! Most others don't want to hear about your heart rate, your maximum or average anything! If you need a heart rate monitor to enjoy yourself, take stock of your life -- you may have lost perspective.

INSURANCE

Personal health insurance, travel, evacuation and baggage insurance is strongly recommended.  Cycling and travel have inherent risks, and the world seems to be increasingly changeable.  Even the most conscientious behavior does not guarantee against illness or injury. Insurance mitigates the unforeseen.

Medical insurance is not always valid in foreign countries. U.S. Medicare and Medicaid programs do not provide payment for medical services outside the United States. Doctors and hospitals often expect immediate cash payment for health services. Uninsured travelers who require medical care overseas may face extreme difficulties.

Please check with your own insurance company to confirm whether your policy applies overseas, the adequacy of coverage, including provision for medical evacuation, and whether payment will be made to the overseas hospital or doctor or if you will be reimbursed later for expenses that you incur. Serious medical problems requiring hospitalization and/or medical evacuation to your home country can cost tens of thousands of dollars.  Some credit cards include travel insurance when you use them to purchase an airline ticket.

Useful information on medical emergencies abroad is provided in the Department of State's Bureau of Consular Affairs brochure, "Medical Information for Americans Traveling Abroad," available via the Bureau of Consular Affairs home page or auto-fax: 1-202-647-3000.