When to go
The best time to visit Sierra Leone is
winter, in December and January in inland areas (because in February, it starts to get hot) and from December to March along the coast, where the temperature is more stable.
The worst months are those of summer, from July to September, when the rains, often torrential, create extensive flooding.
What to pack
In
winter: in Freetown and on the coast, bring light clothes, a light sweatshirt for the evening, and a scarf for the wind-borne sand and dust. In inland areas, it may be useful to bring a sweatshirt and a jacket for the evening.
In
summer: bring tropics-friendly, loose-fitting clothing, a light sweatshirt and a light raincoat for the long and heavy downpours, and possibly an umbrella (which, however, is not really effective during the most intense rains). In inland areas and in the mountains, you can add a heavier sweatshirt for wet and rainy days.
Back to the climate of
Sierra Leone