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Major city · Sierra Leone

Kenema

Day‑trip to Kenema is doable; stay in Freetown or Bo and return same day – no need for overnight.

Not yet checkedSourcesWhat these labels mean

Kenema is the third‑largest city in Sierra Leone, reachable in under an hour from Bo and 3–4 h from Freetown on a good trunk road. Limited accommodation means most travellers visit as a day stop.

basic guide: no trip line yet
More
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
More ways in
Print / PDF guide
Local time, weather, currency, airports
Weather
see forecast
Currency
SLE
Best months
Nov–Apr
avoid May–Oct (rainy season)
Airports
FNA · KBS
Nights
0–1

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide for Kenema: no airport-to-bed path, walking clusters or day plans yet. Fares and schedules here are unverified. What this page does cover
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

Checking your follows…
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾

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
Emergency numbers for Kenema019 ▾

Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.

EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Kenema, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Show all 12 answers
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.

regional marketdiamond trade hub
Airports
FNA Lungi International Airport (Freetown) (The nearest international gateway; road transfer to Kenema via Bo takes 3–4 h (check).) · KBS Bo Airport (Small airstrip near Bo, under 1 h from Kenema by road; scheduled service is not confirmed — check.)

Best months at a glance

From the guide's best and avoid lists

  1. Jan

    Best

    32°C (90°F)

  2. Feb

    Best

    33°C (91°F)

  3. Mar

    Best

    33°C (91°F)

  4. Apr

    Best

    32°C (90°F)

  5. May

    Avoid

    31°C (88°F)

  6. Jun

    Avoid

    30°C (86°F)

  7. Jul

    Avoid

    28°C (82°F)

  8. Aug

    Avoid

    28°C (82°F)

  9. Sep

    Avoid

    29°C (84°F)

  10. Oct

    Avoid

    30°C (86°F)

  11. Nov

    Best

    31°C (88°F)

  12. Dec

    Best

    31°C (88°F)

Best: Nov–Apr. Avoid: May–Oct. Month by month →

Warmest Feb (33°C (91°F)), coolest Jan (21°C (70°F) low), wettest Aug (24 rain days), driest Jan (1). Averages, not a forecast.

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Kenema: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

32°C (90°F)

21°C (70°F)

1 rd

Feb

33°C (91°F)

22°C (72°F)

2 rd

Mar

33°C (91°F)

23°C (73°F)

5 rd

Apr

32°C (90°F)

23°C (73°F)

10 rd

May

31°C (88°F)

23°C (73°F)

17 rd

Jun

30°C (86°F)

22°C (72°F)

20 rd

Jul

28°C (82°F)

22°C (72°F)

23 rd

Aug

28°C (82°F)

22°C (72°F)

24 rd

Sep

29°C (84°F)

22°C (72°F)

23 rd

Oct

30°C (86°F)

22°C (72°F)

19 rd

Nov

31°C (88°F)

22°C (72°F)

8 rd

Dec

31°C (88°F)

21°C (70°F)

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

Travel by car or shared minibus on the main trunk road; 3G mobile coverage available.

Nearest full guides

Straight-line distance, not travel time

See & doDay-trips, door to door

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time
Bogo

Door to door: Under 1 h

Car or shared minibus on the trunk road

The easy pairing: more beds and food than Kenema, so many travellers sleep in Bo and run Kenema as the day trip.

Freetowncaution

Door to door: 3–4 h

Car on the trunk road via Bo

Doable in a day only with an early start; traffic out of Freetown decides the return.

Tiwai Island

overnight

Door to door: 2–3 h

Car toward the Moa River, then arrange a boat crossing

Primates and pygmy hippos; book the island stay ahead and sleep there.

Gola Rainforest

overnight

Door to door: 2–3 h

Car toward the forest edge, then a lodge transfer

Birding and forest walks; access and lodging need booking first (check).

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.

Capitol Hotel

Basic rooms; price unknown – check locally.

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

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
check

Watch out

Safety

Kenema is generally safe for day visitors; keep valuables secure and travel during daylight.
  • Limited lodging options – book ahead or stay in Bo.
  • Road travel from Freetown can take 3–4 h in traffic; allow extra time.

Emergency numbers

Police
019
Fire
999
Ambulance
999

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

KenemaKenema

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

To this address, pleaseTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police019
  • Fire999
  • Ambulance999

Embassy

No embassies in Kenema; consular help is in Freetown. Keep your hotel and insurer contacts.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Bo → Kenema (car, under 1 h): fuel share of a hired car, roughly $5–10 (check)
  • Freetown → Kenema (car, 3–4 h): fuel share of a hired car, roughly $30–45 (check)
  • Shared minibus, Bo → Kenema: cheapest option; pay the conductor on board, price set locally (check)

Say or show

  • Hello — Hello / Good morning
  • How much? — How much does this cost?
  • Where market? — Where is the market?

Emergency numbers are not reliably answered outside Freetown: keep hotel and insurer contacts too.

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 Kenema. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: Nov–Apr · avoid May–Oct (rainy season) · month by month →
  2. 2 airports and 1 area to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 1 bands
  5. 4 day-trips, door to door
  6. 2 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. An airport-to-bed path that says whether a late landing still works
  2. Walking clusters with bag rules
  3. Day plans checked against opening hours
  4. Field-verified times and fares

Meanwhile

Back to Sierra Leone

Sources

Ask about Kenema

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