Mountain Lion Excursions Managing Travel, Tourism & Hospitality with a Cultural flair !! HERITAGE TOURISM AT ITS BEST
AIRLINE CONTRACTS * VISA & CONSULAR SERVICES * HOTELS * GUEST HOMES * INCENTIVE, MEDICAL & RELIGIOUS GROUP TRAVEL * EXECUTIVE MEET & ASSIST * GROUND TRANSPORTATION * Eco & SPECIALTY TOURS
FREETOWN | BANJUL | DAKAR | MONROVIA
CITY & MOUNTAIN HORIZONS
- by - MOUNTAIN LION EXCURSIONS
We start with one of our most exciting tours which will bring you up to date with some of the history, geography and social structure of Freetown and the surrounding areas. It promises to help you along the way to understanding this diverse society and the strides being undertaken to find it's original esteemed position in the West African Diaspora.
The tour really starts with a view of some fine hotels and guesthouses (during guest pick up) and a view of some residential area, while proceeding into the city center and the National Museum. We'll then visit the majestic Law Courts and State House for an introduction into our proud history before regrouping again this time to examine some of the artifacts inside the Sierra Leone National Museum. The Tour then proceeds further into the center of Town for a quick view of the "COTTON TREE", which stands at the center of Freetown and has been depicted in sketches dating hundreds of years. Prior to moving up the hill into the mountains we pay a quick visit to "The St George's Cathedral"(1828) an old bastion of West African/Anglican society. We will then visit "De Ruyter Stone, Freetown's oldest monument, The Martello Tower dating back to 1805, built as protection against military attacks, prior to Ft.Thornton) and finally the Wharf Steps (1818).
After taking in the city sights we will proceed into the hills surrounding Freetown with visits to Fourah Bay College (West Africa's first institution of Higher Education), Kongo Dam (part of the Guma Valley DAM Watershed), Tacugama Chimpanzee Reserve , St Charles' Church(1816)(first stone church in sub-Saharan Africa) and more.
Time permitting, we will end at the Androsa Leisure Center where you may purchase additional refreshments or sort through an assortment of arts and crafts specially selected for you.
Longer more in depth visits to any of the sites are available upon request. _________________________________________ COST: 35USD 20GBP/CHILDREN 1/2PRICE (3-11YRS) _________________________________________ Total time..4hr 30min. Complimentary Drink and various snacks included. Comfortable walking shoes acceptable, comfortable clothing recommended.
Date(s): updated, AUGUST. 2009. Album by Tour Specialist. Photos by E.B. at AfrikasGems. 1 - 29 of 29 Total. 2323 Visits.
1 --THE COTTON TREE -- Located at the center of Freetown, this landmark is said to be hundreds of years old.
2 -- The new and improved Sierra Leone National Museum -- Housing countless artifacts and relics, it is a must for tourists and visitors interested in Sierra Leone's rich cultural heritage.
3 -- Sierra Leone National Museum --
4 -- THE LAW COURTS BUILDING -- A view of the recently renovated and pristine Law Courts at the center of Town. This structure was originally opened by then British Colonial Governor E.M Mereweather, 1915
5 -- Law Courts & State House -- State House (on hill) was majestically transformed from its original wooden structure (Fort Thornton 1796) to serve as the seat of several Colonial Governments.
6 postcard from the original 'governors house', Government House, currently referred to as State House.
7 -- St George's Cathedral -- Opened and consecrated Jan.12 1828 attaining Cathedral Status in 1852. At one time the primary church of a diocese that included The Gambia,Gold Coast(Ghana), Nigeria, Madeira, Mauritania..
8
9 De Ruyter Stone
Freetown's oldest monument. It's buried near the water mark at King Jimmy Market. It is mentioned on documents found on early sailing vessels, but was only rediscovered in the early 1900's during excavations. It's named after the early Dutch Admiral de Ruyter (1664 Anglo-Dutch wars). The Admiral chose to have his name inscribed on this syenite stone.
10 View of the towering Leicester Peak, the highest point in the Western Area. A visit to the top is part of our 'mountain experience'.
11 -- Mount Aureol -- View from the Mt Aureol area to the eastern part of the city of Freetown and the port Area--among the finest deep water ports in Africa.
12 --FOURAH BAY COLLEGE (1945)-- Part of the campus that we will pass, sitting majestically on top of the hilly range known as Mt. Aureol. There are many 'firsts' associated with the University that in it's heyday attracted future leaders from all over West Africa
13 -- View from Mt Aureol -- Home of the Fourah Bay College campus and near the hills at Kortright (named after Cornelius H Kortright, Governor 1875-1877)
14 View from the Mt Aureol area just beyond the Fourah Bay College Campus. Perfect weather for these "terraced vegetable gardens" approaching the FIRST LIBERATED VILLAGE of LEICESTER (1809)
15 -- St Charles' Church, Regent -- Built 1816 in the then 'liberated African village of Regent' likened to other Anglican chuches in Great Britain. It's the oldest stone church in West Africa and possibly in sub-saharan Africa.
16 -- St Charles' Church, Regent --
17 -- St Charles' Church, Regent -- Notice the original stain glass windows
18 -- St Charles' Church --
19 -- Charlotte Falls -- Although not in the peak of the rain season this majestic waterfall and surrounding area is a photographer's paradise.
20 Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary
21 Chimpanzee within the natural habitat
22 one of several observation decks into the natural habitat
23 Kongo Dam
24 kongo dam
25 --Approach to Leicester peak
26 As we decend from the peaks you'll notice this Colonial home circa 1920's, built at that time for the expatriate community only. The suburb of Hill Station is located in the cool rolling hills high above the capital, Freetown.
27 Magnificent panorama on our descent from the hills
28 - ARTS AND CRAFT --
While having refreshments or recovering nicely from the breathtaking views you have just experienced why not purchase locally crafted art.
29 -- Arts & Crafts -- BATIK cloth made with local and imported dyes
