Turtle Islands Excursions

From all the tourist destinations in Sierra Leone, Turtle Islands stand out in what can justifying be a life time experience. The natural beauty of these seven islands with sandbars dotted with coconut trees against the turquoise water is surreal. The few people that live in this remote and highly inaccessible region have preserved their culture. Their traditional way of living is essential to their existence in this isolated environment where resources are few and access to the rest of the world a complicated matter. Visiting communities that have preserved their ways through time suggests responsible approach and discretion from the visitor. Not all islands are open to visitors and those that are left exclusively for the practice of ancestral traditions should be left out of the itinerary.
Banana Island has emerged as the base for Turtle Island expeditions for two good reasons. The proximity to Turtle Islands: the distance from Banana to Turtle is almost half of what would be from Freetown. Cutting costs on fuel and travel time means more possibilities of elaborated touring within the islands itself. The funds saved on petrol is luckily used for logistics of tents, cooking, bottled water for an overnight stay. Sightseeing becomes more comprehensive with a two night/three day program as one  really needs time to absorb the serenity and beauty of Turtle Islands, let along delve into the culture and traditions of its people.
The second reason for Banana Island being the main base for Turtle Islands excursions is the experience accumulated. Being the most frequent operator of this route, the skippers and crew have developed the skills to navigate between the treacherous passages of sand banks between the islands, but more importantly have developed the ethos of dealing with this fragile “puddle of cultural preservation”. This is a very important quality for the specific destination. For information on Turtle Islands expeditions email [email protected] or visit the main Turtle Islands operators