Sierra Leone: a blogger's incredible tale

It is a commonly-held belief among travel writers that the typical image of Sierra Leone is outdated. In reality, it is an ideal location for those looking to gain real insight into new cultures, and experience truly inspiring natural sights. Venture beyond Freetown's borders, and you can quite easily encounter raging waterfalls, endangered wildlife and tropical vistas unlike no other.

“I think Sierra Leone is a great travel destination for backpackers,” Jo muses. “ undiscovered, intrepid and beautiful. Sierra Leoneans are very welcoming to foreigners and you are guaranteed to return home with some unique and entertaining travel tales.

“What makes this country great is its people, your phone will be jammed with dozens of new numbers when you leave. Backpackers should come and visit, there are some great opportunities for cheap and adventurous travel. Be open-minded and open to an adventure and you are sure to have an incredible experience.”

We asked Jo to put herself in the shoes of someone who only has a day to spend in Freetown, and to recommend a few places that travellers simply must experience during their stay:

1) Congo Markets: Jo's first recommendation is the Congo Market, which takes place every Sunday in the St. John district. The markets are known among locals as ‘junks', and if you can bear the heat, noise and chaos, they are a great place to find new vintage treasures.

2) Malamar Thomas Street fabric market: Like the Congo Market before it, the fashion market on Malamar Thomas Street is a popular event for fashion-conscious Freetown residents looking to give their wardrobe some pizzazz. Visitors can browse a wide range of ‘Africana' fabrics and then visit a local tailor to turn them into a new outfit. Jo recommends local tailor Unisa Jalloh for all your custom clothing needs.

We couldn't write a piece about Jo's blog without featuring her commendable work with the local sports community in Freetown, and touching upon Sierra Leone's affinity for active pursuits in general. After all, the city boasts eight of the 15 football clubs that make up the nation's Premier League – including successful teams East End Lions and Mighty Blackpool.

However, Jo's involvement in Freetown's sports scene is both endearing and heart-warming. With a name derived from her blog, the Freetown Fashpack Runners are a local running club devised by Jo that includes both boys and girls with an age range between 14 and 25. Sponsorship and funding is sparse for such projects in the city, but this project opens new possibilities for local runners.

Visitors to Freetown are welcome to participate with Jo and her team of runners during their stay, and will be in the best of company, as the team took part in the inaugural Sierra Leone Marathon in 2012 and has been running ever since.

“Being an athlete in this country is tough.” Jo advises. “There is no government support and few opportunities for competition, and so much talent is squandered as a result. The enthusiasm and ambition of the team is inspiring as they are talented and fearless. I knew nothing about running before I came to Sierra Leone, so being involved with the FFR has been a wonderful learning experience.”