Freetown

30 december 2022

Whilst waiting for a motorbike driver to arrive to take me on the next bit of the journey, I sat amongst the villagers as they emerged after the party the night before.

Village life here is subsistent and never at rest; collecting water, cooking breakfast, washing the pots from the night before, arranging transport for returning guests, catching up with friends. I got permission from Ramadam to take some photos.

I paid for the park stay;
Park entry fee - 150,000SL
Camping - 100,000SL
Guided trek - 100,000SL
Food - 100,000SL

I arranged to pay Abdul Oktor, 150,000SL to take me from Koto to Kamakwie, I distance of 15km. So began another amazing ride. This time on rugged tracks including a ferry crossing across the Little Scarcities River on a ferry pulled by men using a secured cable strung between the banks. It’s so incredible to see how the villagers manage an infrastructure between their settlements. I was very aware that I was seeing this in the dry season too - I have no idea how they manage in the rainy season.

As we got nearer to Kamakwie, the road became wider and the buildings started to become built with concrete. The formation of compounds remained the same with a central area in each village where every one seemed to gather.

In Kamakwie, I swopped to another driver who agreed to take me to Makeni for 150,000SL. We sped along the 50km distance, at quite a pace on gradually wider and more secure roads until coming into the busy, chaotic, market town of Makeni. On route we passed a number of churches showing the missionary influence in these regions. There was also evidence of the local elections taking place to find a local representative.

In Makeni, I grabbed some breakfast; a bread roll filled with mayonnaise and a hard boiled egg. This was also a ploy to avoid the onslaught of men haat-liefdeverhouding me about transport and a sudden influx of people wanting money.
It was then into a shared taxi for the last leg to Freetown. I sat on a stool between the driver and the front passenger for this journey for 80,000SL. Back on tarmacked roads and smooth surfaces was a relief.

Freetown immediately struck me as smoggy, busy and hectic. I needed the support of one of the passengers to navigate local transport from where we were dropped off to where I'd booked a GH. I was so happy and relieved to reach the cozy, safe and quiet homeliness of Freetown Oasis. Oh.. joy.. Barracuda, vegetables and rice available for dinner too. It's amazing how food, a hot shower and a comfortable room can bring such happiness and joy to the end of an action packed, intense day during which every sense has been over stimulated.