The Island

After a challenging week, Lexi and I headed off for our first SOLO adventure in Sierra Leone. Taking commercial transportation made it even more of an experience as we piled into already over crowded vehicles, crossed rivers, and got stuck…twice. One day in the tropical rainforest on Tiwai Island made the traveling trials worth every bit of inconvenience. Tiwai is a small inland island surrounded by the Moa River and is home to several monkeys, pygmy hippos and other bush animals. This story is better done through photos…enjoy!

We waited in Bo for about 2 1/2 hours for this van to leave...but it cost only Le15,000 ($3-4) so how could we complain. PLUS they gave us the front seat so we weren't squished in the back and didn't have to ride on top like this guy.

The rainy season is not good for traveling and this particular road had sand. Van stuck incident #1.

Yes, we were riding in that thing.

BUT they got it out...

Then we came to this...a river flooded and I followed the ladies across as the men worked with the van.
Lexi went back to get our bag...just in case.

This sweet guy was curious about the white woman.

After the van and a 12 mile motorbike ride, we finally came to the river.

Can you find the monkey?? He was hanging out in a tree right next to the visitors hut.

We got a guided tour of the rainforest from a man who was excellent at spotting monkeys. (My claim to fame is that I was the first to see monkeys on the ground ahead of us on the path)

Monkey!

This is a huge tropical tree. I am standing next to a root.

The river on another side.

Climbing over a root...

Our guide.

Visitor camp.

Bamboo...just another LOST similarity...no polar bears though! I've mentioned to Lexi numerous times that Sierra Leone reminds me of LOST: palm trees, retro vans and that sometimes it feels as if I'm being followed walking through the bush.

The sweet bridge we crossed the night before after docking.

Accommodations include a tent with mattress inside a building. Not too shabby! (PLUS electricity via solar power)

In the afternoon we took a canoe ride upstream. The river is overflowing so the beautiful beaches we heard about were underwater.

Lex and I kinda hoped we get to ride in these!

Took this lady across the river before the tour.

The river was strong.

The docking area is even under water.

SNAKE! It seemed harmless though...

Cook shack.

Van stuck incident #2.

While waiting we saw this little guy on a motorbike.

We hadn't made it far, and since the van was still stuck after a large truck tried to pull it out, and the men refused to unload the rice from the top, Lexi and I took a walk to find alternative transportation...motorbike to Bo.

We made it "home" wet from rain and tired...but what an adventure!

The end.

PS: Joyful Journeys!