Major city · Sierra Leone
Makeni
One night is enough: Makeni is a transit stop between Freetown and the north, with a decent hotel, street food and a clock tower. Skip it as a destination.
Makeni is the main provincial town of northern Sierra Leone, about 2 hours from Freetown on good roads. It has a few comfortable hotels, a lively clock-tower food scene and little else for a tourist. Use it as a one-night stopover before heading to Outamba-Kilimi National Park, Kamakwie or Magburaka.
More
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- SLE
- Best months
- Nov–Apr (dry season)
- avoid May–Oct (rainy season; roads may be muddy)
- Airport
- Lungi (FNA)
- Nights
- 1
Not a trip line yet
Rules in force · 6Nine African countries on this site have no trip line bec…Carry an original yellow fever vaccination certificate on…
- Africa ↗When a route touches a yellow-fever country — even a transit of 12 hours or more — keep the original yellow card (ICVP) in your hand luggage; health desks and airlines can refuse boarding or entry without it.
- Africa ↗Nine African countries on this site have no trip line because governments advise against travel; several others have no-go regions. Read your government's advice for every country on the route before paying deposits.
- West Africa ↗Carry an original yellow fever vaccination certificate on any West African trip: several countries on the coast road demand it of every arrival, and the rest demand it after you have passed through a neighbour.
- West Africa ↗Cross land borders and drive between cities in daylight only; plan each crossing as a full travel day with cash for fees and passport copies for checkpoints.
- Sierra Leone ↗Check visa and entry rules for your passport on official Sierra Leone government sources before booking.
- Sierra Leone ↗Book the Lungi–Freetown crossing (water taxi or ferry) before you land, and check how the operator handles late arrivals.
Entry rules depend on your passport. Full visa guide
What is in this basic guide7 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
- Forecast and monthly weather
- What things cost
- Where to sleep2 areas
- Getting around
- Day-trips3 trips
- What to watch out for3 notes
- Airports1 airport
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Makeni, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Currency is the Sierra Leonean leone (SLE), redenominated in 2022 (1 new leone = 1,000 old); old prices are still sometimes quoted in thousands.Sierra Leone-wide
- SIM or eSIMOrange and Africell sell SIMs with passport registration.Sierra Leone-wide
- Tap waterNot safe from the tap.Sierra Leone-wide
- TippingRestaurant: 10% if no service charge.Sierra Leone-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets D/G. US/Canada (A/B): adapter · UK/Ireland (G): fits · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 230 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.Sierra Leone-wide
- SafetyMakeni is generally safe for tourists.
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsWestern toilets in hotels and restaurants; very basic elsewhere.Sierra Leone-wide
- Emergency numberscheckCheck locally police · Check locally ambulance · Save before arrival Hotel and insurer (not 911, 999 or 000)Sierra Leone-wide
- Sundays & holidaysFriday afternoon prayers and Sunday church slow the city; offices close on all holidays.Sierra Leone-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportFNA Lungi International Airport (About 2 h by road from Makeni, plus the ferry or helicopter across the estuary from Freetown).
- Getting aroundThe town is walkable; poda-poda (shared minibus) and okada (motorcycle taxi) connect the main roads.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- Taxi, about 5 km (3 mi)Taxi, about 3 mi (5 km)Shared taxi Freetown–MakenicheckSLE 70,000–100,000
- Budget bedGuest house room (budget), a night, per roomSLE 120,000
- Mid-range bedGuest house room (budget), a night, per roomSLE 250,000
- High-end bedGuest house room (budget), a night, per roomSLE 400,000
A day, not counting the bed: Budget SLE 200,000 · Mid SLE 500,000 · High SLE 1,000,000
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- FNA Lungi International Airport (About 2 h by road from Makeni, plus the ferry or helicopter across the estuary from Freetown)
Map of Makeni
Where it is, and the guides within about 120 km.
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Best
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Feb
Best
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
Mar
Best
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
Apr
Best
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
May
Avoid
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Jun
Avoid
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
Jul
Avoid
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
Aug
Avoid
28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)
Sep
Avoid
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
Oct
Avoid
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
Nov
Best
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Dec
Best
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Best: Nov–Apr. Avoid: May–Oct. Month by month →
Warmest Feb (33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)), coolest Jan (21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C) low), wettest Aug (24 rain days), driest Jan (1). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Makeni: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
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Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
1 rd
Feb
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
1 rd
Mar
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
3 rd
Apr
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
5 rd
May
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
12 rd
Jun
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
18 rd
Jul
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
22 rd
Aug
28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
24 rd
Sep
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
22 rd
Oct
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
18 rd
Nov
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
8 rd
Dec
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
2 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
The town is walkable; poda-poda (shared minibus) and okada (motorcycle taxi) connect the main roads. Agree a fare before riding an okada.
Nearest full guides
Straight-line distance, not travel time
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Magburaka
goDoor to door: About 40 min
Poda-poda or taxi, about 30 min
Small town with a market and a few colonial-era buildings; half a day.
Outamba-Kilimi National Park
overnightDoor to door: About 3–4 h
Poda-poda or hired 4x4 to Kamakwie, then park vehicle; about 2–3 h
Chimpanzees, hippos and birding; requires a night or two in the park.
Freetown
goDoor to door: About 2.5 h
Shared taxi or bus, about 2 h
Direct road; leave early to avoid Freetown traffic.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Teko Road area
Wusum Hotel and a few guest houses; the main cluster for visitors.
Magburaka Road
MJ's Hotel and other budget options; closer to the clock tower and food stalls.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- SLE 150,000–250,000 (about US$7–11) excl. bed
- Mid
- SLE 400,000–700,000 (about US$18–32) excl. bed
- High
- SLE 1,000,000+ (about US$45+) excl. bed
Trip budget
| Wusum Hotel room (high-end)1 × 1 night × SLE 1,000,000 | SLE 1,000,000 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × SLE 500,000 | SLE 1,000,000 |
| Shared taxi Freetown–Makeni, one way2 × SLE 80,000 · check | SLE 160,000 |
| Okada ride within town2 × SLE 10,000 · check | SLE 20,000 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × SLE 50,000 | SLE 100,000 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | SLE 228,000 |
| Trip total≈ SLE 1,254,000 per person per day, bed included | SLE 2,508,000 |
Full electricity, pool, air conditioning; about US$105.
2026 estimate in Sierra Leonean leones (SLE); flights excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Bread loaf + 5 meat skewers (clock tower)check | SLE 6,000 (about US$0.27) |
| Okada ride (short trip)check | SLE 5,000–10,000 |
| Shared taxi Freetown–Makenicheck | SLE 70,000–100,000 |
| Wusum Hotel double roomcheck | about US$105 (SLE 2.3 million) |
| MJ's Hotel roomcheck | SLE 120,000 |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Okada drivers may overcharge: agree the price before you get on.
- Power cuts are common; Wusum Hotel has 24/7 generator backup, cheaper places may not.
- No reliable emergency number: keep your hotel's contact and your insurer's details.
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Makeni. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Nov–Apr (dry season) · avoid May–Oct (rainy season; roads may be muddy) · month by month →
- 1 airport and 2 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 3 day-trips, door to door
- 3 things to watch out for
Coming as the guide grows
- An airport-to-bed path that says whether a late landing still works
- Walking clusters with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Field-verified times and fares
Sources
Ask about Makeni
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