Travel in Sierra Leone

Time:Local time is GMT.
Electricity:Electrical current is 220 volts 50Hz.
Language:English is the official language, although many tribal languages are also spoken.
Health:All travellers arriving from a yellow fever area are required to hold a vaccination certificate, but yellow fever is a risk throughout the country and immunisation is recommended for all visitors. Other recommended vaccinations include Hepatitis A, typhoid and polio. Comprehensive travel insurance is advised, which includes emergency evacuation.
Tipping:A 10% service charge is levied on customers’ bills.
Customs: Homosexuality is illegal. Drug penalties are severe and usually include a prison sentence. There is a strong Muslim culture and visitors should be sensitive to religious customs, particularly during the month of Ramadan when eating, drinking and smoking during daylight hours should be discreet as it is forbidden by the Muslim culture.
Business:Business hours are generally 8am to 12pm and 2pm to 5pm Monday to Friday.
Communications:The international dialling code for Sierra Leone is +232. The outgoing code is 00 followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 0044 for the UK). The city code for Freetown is (0)22; other areas do not require a code. Sierratel provides national and international telephone services. A prepaid GSM900 mobile network is available in Freetown and other towns around the country and prepaid cards can be bought throughout the country. International roaming is available. The use of mobile phones is high due to the unreliability of landlines. Internet cafes are available in Freetown and other provincial towns.
Duty Free:Travellers may bring 200 cigarettes or 225g tobacco, and 1 litre of wine or spirits into the country without paying customs duty. Narcotics are strictly forbidden.

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