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Voykit pocket guide · Sierra Leone
Bonthe
Half a day to explore the colonial ruins and fishing villages, then a boat tour of Sherbro Island. One night is enough unless you're heading to the Turtle Islands.
Bonthe is a tiny, crumbling colonial port on Sherbro Island, reachable by boat from Mattru Jong or Yagoi. The town itself takes an hour to walk, but the surrounding island has birdlife, rice paddies and remote fishing villages best seen by boat. Most travellers use it as a quiet stop between Bo and the Turtle Islands.
- Country
- Sierra Leone
- Best months
- Nov–Apr
- Avoid
- May–Oct (rainy season, boats may be unreliable)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- SLE
- Money
- Currency is the Sierra Leonean leone (SLE), redenominated in 2022 (1 new leone = 1,000 old); old prices are still sometimes quoted in thousands.
- Daily spend
- Budget SLE 150–300 excl. bed · Mid SLE 300–600 excl. bed · High SLE 600+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Orange and Africell sell SIMs with passport registration.
- Emergency
- Police 019 · Fire and ambulance 999 · National emergency line (check locally) 112
- Plugs
- Types G, D · 230 V · 50 Hz · Power cuts are common outside the better hotels; bring a power bank.
- Tipping
- Restaurant: 10% if no service charge.; Driver day: SLE 100–200.; Guide: SLE 100–200 per group.; Porter: SLE 20–50.
- Water
- Not safe from the tap. Bottled water or sealed sachets from known brands.
- Toilets
- Western toilets in hotels and restaurants; very basic elsewhere.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Boat from Mattru Jong to Bonthe | SLE 40–60 |
| Bicycle hire (per day) | SLE 20–40 |
| Guide for half-day boat tour | SLE 80–150 |
| Simple meal (rice and fish) | SLE 15–30 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- FNA · Lungi International Airport (Freetown)
- Main international gateway; road and ferry crossing to Freetown, then road to Bo and boat to Bonthe — allow a full day, check
- KBS · Bo Airport
- Closest airstrip to the Bonthe boat at Mattru Jong; schedules are limited, check
- BTE · Bonthe Airport
- Small airstrip on Sherbro Island; no scheduled service confirmed, check
Typical fares
- Boat Mattru Jong → Bonthe
- about SLE 40–60, 1–2 h
- Bicycle hire per day
- SLE 20–40
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
On foot or by bicycle; no vehicles in town. Explore Sherbro Island by hired boat with a guide.
See and do
Known for
- Crumbling colonial villas
- Sherbro Island boat tours
- Birdwatching (storks, pelicans)
- Fishing villages
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Turtle Islands | Boat from Bonthe, sporadic | About 2–3 h |
| Sherbro Island interior | Hired boat or guided walk | Half day |
Sleep
- Bonthe town centre
- Only accommodation is Bonthe Holiday Village; ask locally for guesthouses.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Kushekoo-sheh |
| Thank you | Tenkiten-kee |
| How much? | Aw di moni?aw dee moh-nee |
| Where is the boat? | Usai di bot de?oo-sai dee bot deh |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Greet warmly and ask 'Aw di bodi?'; avoid: Skipping greetings
- Hands: Right hand for everything; avoid: Left-hand money
- Elders: Greet first; use 'Pa' and 'Ma'; avoid: First names
- Dress: Modest clothes in town and mosques; avoid: Beachwear away from the beach
- Photos: Ask first; avoid: Police, soldiers, society rituals
Scams and watch-outs
- No ATMs or banks in Bonthe — bring enough leones from Bo or Freetown.
- Boat schedules depend on weather and demand; expect delays in the rainy season.
- Mosquitoes are present year-round; bring repellent and a net.
Bonthe is very safe; the main risks are boat accidents (life jackets not guaranteed) and mosquitoes. No nightlife.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Bonthe yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Crumbling colonial villas
- Sherbro Island boat tours
- Birdwatching (storks, pelicans)
- Fishing villages
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Bonthe, revision 4771412 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=4771412
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/bonthe). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.