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Voykit pocket guide · Sierra Leone
Magburaka
Skip Magburaka unless you have a day free from Makeni; otherwise a quick stop to see the former north capital and old railway remnants.
Magburaka was the former capital of northern Sierra Leone. The town’s main road from Makeni is newly paved, and a few colonial‑era railway buildings remain. With limited attractions, a half‑day visit is enough if you’re already in the north.
- Country
- Sierra Leone
- Best months
- Nov–Apr
- Avoid
- May–Oct (rainy season)
- Stay
- 0 nights
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 Le 15,000–25,000 excl. bed · Mid Le 25,000–45,000 excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Orange and Africell sell SIMs with passport registration.
- Emergency
- Police 117 · Fire and ambulance 118
- 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 |
|---|---|
| Bottled water (500 ml) | Le 300–600 |
| Local dish (rice & stew) | Le 500–1,200 |
| Taxi (5 km (3.1 mi))Taxi (3.1 mi (5 km)) | Le 1,500–2,000 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- FNA · Lungi International Airport
- The country's main gateway, across the estuary from Freetown; road transfer to Magburaka via Makeni, several hours — check
- KBA · Kabala Airport
- Small airstrip in the north; no scheduled service confirmed — check
Typical fares
- Makeni → Magburaka, minibus
- about Le 1,200, 30 min (check)
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
Walk or hire a motorbike taxi; roads in town are asphalted and in good condition.
See and do
Known for
- Former north capital
- Remnants of the defunct Sierra Leone Railway
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Makeni | Paved road south, about 30 min by car or bus | ≈45 min |
| Bo | Road southeast, about 2 h by car | ≈2 h |
Sleep
- Local guesthouses
- Basic rooms, often family‑run; book ahead if arriving after 18:00 (check).Basic rooms, often family‑run; book ahead if arriving after 6:00 PM (check).
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello / Good morning | Good morningGood morning |
| How much? | How much?How much? |
| Where is the market? | Where is the market?Where is the market? |
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
- Limited tourist services; confirm accommodation availability.
- Rain can make unpaved outskirts muddy (avoid during rainy months).
Generally safe during daylight; keep valuables concealed and avoid isolated streets after dark.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Magburaka yet. Suggested stay: 0 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Former north capital
- Remnants of the defunct Sierra Leone Railway
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: Magburaka, revision 3504873 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=3504873
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/magburaka). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.