Bicycle Africa
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Bicycle Africa |
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Unique Programs To Special Places For Memories Of A Lifetime!
The diversity characterizing Sierra Leone is considerable. This explains its
offering of verdant forests, mountain landscapes, and
drier savannahs, as well as beaches and the sun throughout the year. Much
of the coast is lined with coconut trees and dotted typical fisherman's dwellings.
Freetown has many modern conveniences and an active scene, while the villages
are serene, and reflect traditional values and lifestyle, including wonderful
hospitality. "Sierra Leone People-to-People" is a engaging
mélange of modern and traditional.
The maritime region of West Africa is the origins of much to the traditional religion and music that many Westerners associated with Africa. It is not coincidence, because this is also the region that supplied much of the human cargo of the trans-Atlantic stave trade, which allowed these religious and cultural traditions to seep into the culture of the America such as jazz and gospel music.
Sierra Leone's appeals to visitors is its people, their traditions and folklore. People fall in love with the process of bargaining in a market and the sort of interaction it involves. Any purchase, however small, is a keepsake, not necessarily to ‘show off’ your travels, but to enrich your life -- a tokens of another cultures as a daily reminder that there are many ways people live in this world. Westerners who sit and 'cut rice' ('break bread' -- eat) in Sierra Leone leave with a treasure.
Schedule: November-December (see full schedule and status)
Program Price (lodging, two meals/day, guide, museum fees and more): US$1490
(less than six people add $100) (airfare is not included). Average out of pocket expenses per program $100 plus or minus $50.
Description: Day 1: Arrive and organize. Day 2-4: We start our bicycling
towards the savannah lands,
visiting villages, school, markets.
Day 5-7: The next few days take us through an agricultural area towards the
notorious diamond region. Day 8-11: Cycle through forest -- our destination is
Twai Island Sanctuary. Day 12-13: We head to the capital, Freetown and explore
the city. Day 14:
End of program.
Features: Small group, self-contained bicycle program visiting numerous cultural
sites. Highlights include the rural life-styles & culture of the multi-cultural
Sierra Leone
(Mende, Temba, Limba and Koranko ), visiting local market, . English is the
national language and widely spoken, and Sierra Leonean are outgoing
and welcoming.
Starting/Ending Point: Freetown, Sierra Leone.
Skill Level: Suitable for fit Beginner/Intermediate/Expert. This is an excellent
first tour for the less experienced bicycle tourer, yet it has lots of options to keep
even the most experience traveler occupied.
Mileage Daily / Total: 18-56 miles / 580km, 350 miles.
Cycling Conditions: 70% paved roads, pleasant, rolling, scenic terrain,
occasional big hill..
Accommodations: Mostly small hotels (some rustic), no tent camping.
Van Support: None. Local transport is generally available.
Meals Included: Two meals per day, generally breakfast and dinner (meat,
chicken, fish, fruit, traditional food: rice with potato leaf or cassava leaf;
Bitters, Crain Crain, Sawa Sawa and Okra soups, foofoo (cassava) and Jollof
rice.)
Other Activities: walking, bus
Bike: Mountain bike or touring bike with wide tires suitable.
Bike Rental: Not
available.
Unique Programs To Special Places For Memories Of A Lifetime!
Please
write if you have questions, suggestions and comments about our program or want to be
added to Bicycle Africa's mailing list. (Also let us know how you found this site.)
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