Places / Africa / Sierra Leone
Kenema
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At a glance
- Country
- Sierra Leone
- Region
- Eastern Province
- Population
- 200,000
- Best time to go
- November to April
- Main airport
- None — nearest is Freetown International (FNA) at Lungi
- Coordinates
- 7.88°N, 11.19°W
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Overview
Kenema is the main town of Sierra Leone's east, set beneath the forested Kambui Hills. Its fortunes have long been tied to diamonds and timber, and the centre is a busy mix of trading houses, workshops and markets.
There is not much to tick off in town itself, but Kenema is the most convenient base for the country's best rainforest: Gola to the east and the river island of Tiwai to the south.
Things to see
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Photo: dorothy.voorhees, CC BY-SA 2.0 Kenema town centre
The main streets are lined with diamond dealers' offices, tailors and food stalls, and give a good sense of the region's trading life.
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Kambui Hills
The green ridge rising behind town is a protected forest reserve, with views back over Kenema from the lower slopes.
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Photo: NSG group from Lund, Sweden, CC0 Gola Rainforest National Park
A huge expanse of lowland forest on the Liberian border, home to forest elephants, chimpanzees and hundreds of bird species.
Tickets and tours
Things to do
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Photo: Stephanie Zito, CC BY-SA 1.0 Overnight on Tiwai Island
Sleep in the forest on the Moa River, then go out at dawn with a local guide to look for monkeys and pygmy hippos.
Find tours -
Photo: Charles J. Sharp, CC BY-SA 4.0 Birdwatching in Gola
Gola is one of the best places in West Africa to see the strange white-necked rockfowl; book a guide through the park.
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Try local street food
Look for roasted groundnuts, fried plantain and rice with groundnut soup at stalls around the market.
Where to stay
Central Kenema
Simple hotels near the main road suit travellers passing through or arranging trips to the forests.
Hotels in Central KenemaForest lodges
For wildlife, it is better to sleep inside Gola or on Tiwai Island rather than in town.
Hotels in Forest lodges
Getting around
Okadas and shared taxis cover the town. Reaching Gola or Tiwai needs a driver and a sturdy vehicle, and the last stretches can be slow after rain.
Kenema is about an hour beyond Bo by road, or roughly five hours from Freetown.
When to go
Come in the dry season, November to April, when forest tracks are passable and wildlife walks are more comfortable. The rains from May to October are heavy and can cut off rural roads.
Plan your trip to Kenema
Guide last checked October 2026. Opening times and prices change, so check before you go.