Etched in many people’s minds as the backdrop to one of the world's most horrendous civil war countries, Sierra Leone with its capital as Freetown in West Africa with just over one million people as its residents. Freetown was founded in the 1780s as a home for freed slaves from North America and the Caribbean. The freed slaves who settled in Freetown were called Krio and had a unique language also called Krio or Creole, which is the predominant language of Freetown today.

Freetown is situated on a peninsula jutting out into the Atlantic Ocean and is Africa's largest natural harbour, strung between the mountains and the sea. Sierra Leone has an estimated population of 6.2 million and the largest city Freetown, has a population density of 1,224 people per square kilometre with average weather of 86°F (30°C), Wind SE at 9 mph (14 km/h), 62% Humidity.

Freetown's most famous landmark is the fat Cotton Tree in the centre of the old part of town.

Lumley Beach is the busiest beach on the peninsula, teeming with bars and lunch spots.

Other major sights include; Freetown Law Courts, the Slave Gate and Portuguese Steps, St John's Maroon Church (built around 1820), St George's Cathedral (completed in 1828), Sierra Leone Museum, Foulah Town Mosque (built in the 1830s), Sierra Leone Museum (featuring the Ruiter Stone and original drum of Bai Bureh), Victoria Park, creole and colonial architecture.

Markets in Freetown offer lots of colour, bargaining and relatively inexpensive tourist trinkets the lively markets

Most hotels are situated on, or close to the beach and the Lush, green mountains provide a nice backdrop to the city.