Getting around

There are a few options for getting around Freetown and the outer areas. If you have an idea of where you need to go it's not too hard to get there but if you don't, be prepared for WAWA (West Africa Wins Again).

1) Walking is of course the primary way that most people get around. If you got out in the middle of the day however, be prepared to get squished in the main roads. Kissy road is the road that runs horizontally through most of the town and it is almost always packed.  On the other hand, walking at night is a bad idea because there are no street lights and no sidewalks. And it will still be crowded!

2) Taxis are EVERYWHERE in Freetown. They are easy to find because they all have yellow sides. They aren't very expensive if you know how to negotiate and are good if you aren't exactly sure where you are going. If you take them out of the main part of the city you can pay them to wait for you, or ask them to came back at a certain time and they almost always will. (I say almost because the taxi we had arranged for today never showed up)
But you can also end up with a taxi driver who doesn't know where you are supposed to be going. This has happened to me both times I rode in one! The first time one of the other passengers knew where to go but today we were out of luck and never made it to our destination. They are also hard to find in the outer parts of town as they don't have a lot of business out there so they come up the hills very rarely. And they will get stuck in traffic.

3) Pudapudas function like a privately-owned bus system. They are much cheaper than taxis for long distances, but you need to know which stop to get off at and where you need to be picked up at. I rode in one for the first time yesterday and it was like playing sardines. The 'buses' aren't really buses at all but mid-size vans with rows of benches inside. When the benches are full they pack the little aisle and off you go! I have heard that it's not uncommon for there to be live animals on board but I lucked out on not having any on either of my rides yesterday.

4) Motorbikes. These are the fastest way to get around aside from walking. The drivers can squeeze past traffic easily and usually can get you places pretty fast. They are a bit nerve-wracking to be on as they are usually driven by teenage boys. I also rode one of these yesterday, but is was out of the city so there was no traffic and my driver took it easy so I felt more at ease. The main problem with them (aside from being scary!)  is they can be quite expensive so they are better for short distances.