Frequently Asked Questions & Trip Preparation

Yes, without exception. Yellow fever immunization is legally mandatory for entering Sierra Leone. Without official certification in your international yellow certificate, airlines will deny boarding at check-in and border authorities will refuse entry. The vaccination must be administered at least 10 days before departure and confers lifelong protection.

Philipp Herzberg handles the visa application process centrally for all participants in our group. The official consular fee is currently between $80 and $100 USD per traveler. We collect all necessary passport scans and details in good time prior to departure.

In addition to yellow fever, booster vaccines against Polio, Hepatitis A, Tetanus, and Diphtheria are strongly recommended. Because personal immunization records vary widely, medical travel counseling must always be individualized. Philipp Herzberg recommends consulting certified tropical medicine specialists (in Berlin, our partner clinic Bernhard & Kollegen at Friedrich-Wilhelm-Platz). We gladly assist in coordinating appointments.

There is no conventional vaccine against malaria. Prevention relies on chemoprophylaxis tablets, standardly Malarone (or generic Atovaquone/Proguanil). Treatment starts shortly before flying, continues with one daily tablet in-country, and concludes a few days after returning. Note: Even though we travel during the dry season—when mosquito activity is substantially lower than during monsoon months—Sierra Leone is malaria-endemic. We strongly advise everyone to pack a personal travel mosquito net to suspend over beds at night.

Many free-roaming and community dogs live in local villages and streets. While the likelihood of being bitten is low because we keep a safe distance, rabies is a 100% fatal disease once clinical symptoms develop. A preventative pre-exposure rabies vaccine course is therefore strongly recommended for complete peace of mind.

Yes, international health insurance covering emergency medical treatment and repatriation is mandatory for all travelers. These policies are inexpensive (usually €15 to €25 annually) and ensure comprehensive medical care and emergency evacuation if required.

Our team provides a local physical SIM card for every traveler upon arrival. Mobile data and voice packages are extremely cheap (a few euros for multiple gigabytes). Crucial technical requirement: Your smartphone must possess a physical nano-SIM slot. Pure eSIM-only phones cannot currently use local prepaid SIMs in Sierra Leone.

We travel exclusively in privately chartered minibuses (Toyota Coasters) accommodating approximately 20 passengers plus luggage. The vehicles are steered by experienced local professional drivers who know all road, bridge, and piste conditions intimately.

Students (from grades 10/11 upwards), educators, engaged parents, and interested individuals. Spots are limited to maintain an intimate, respectful community setting.

In Freetown, Makeni, and Magburaka we lodge in verified, safe guesthouses. During village immersions, we stay in community rooms, local homes, or tents. All beds are protected by mosquito netting.

No. The association is not a commercial travel provider. Expeditions are privately coordinated and fully self-funded by individual travelers. Exactly zero cents from charitable donations are spent on travel costs.

Throughout the entire trip, our delegation is continuously accompanied and supported (24/7) by trusted local team members who know Sierra Leone intimately, speak fluent English, and are deeply rooted in local communities. Alongside co-founder Yoni Sesay, dedicated local guides remain with our group at all times—ensuring we have experienced, reliable assistance in every situation, from village encounters and local markets to official checkpoints and medical matters.