Since I was going to be in the north for work the week before Easter, I planned to do some sightseeing in the region over the holiday weekend. It was a little complicated because (1) I could not find anyone to go with me and (2) I needed to hire a rental car and driver and a guide to meet me in Kabala after the embassy car and my co-worker returned to Freetown. Conveniently, my office mate works in tourism on the side so helped with the planning and arranged for a guide. People at work also helped reserve hotels and the rental car. As I write this I realize that it was not that complicated since I had a lot of help. I just had to get over the cost of the car and driver and the idea of spending some days with 2 guys I did not know. Turns out I spent time with 3 guys I did not know and it was fine. I’ll share some of the highlights.
Climbing Hills
My guide for the trip was Andrew Fortune Bassie. While in Kabala and the Koinadugu District, he arranged for Moses as the local guide. Moses took us to the top of a hill in the Wara Wara Mountins overlooking Kabala (seen below).
In the view below looking north you can see the village of Senikadugu where I was adopted – more on that later.
Moses is on the left and Andrew in the middle.
Later in the trip, Andrew and I climbed two important hills overlooking Makeni. Both are sacred sights and must be approached with care. Strange things can happen there I was told. We climbed the male hill – Wusum – in the morning. It was very steep and had burned grass stubble all over it.
In the late afternoon, we climbed the female Mena Hill – a very special place.
The light was amazing at that time of day. The panoramic pictures were wonderful but I cannot get them to upload here.
All of the hills I climbed are spiritually significant sites where the community gathers on special days to make offerings and prayers (all faiths) and then play music and dance all night.
Jill’s Adventure in Sierra Leone 