Scaling New Heights in Sierra Leone by Adventure Boutique
Let's Make Travel a Force for Good
Dear Postcard Travellers,
Are you craving an adventure far off the beaten track? Join us this week as we hike to the summit of the highest peak in Sierra Leone: Mount Bintumani. Guided by our featured Postcard Travel partner, The Adventure Boutique, we’ll walk through lush rainforests and remote villages, connect with local communities, quiet our minds and conquer our fears.
And what if travel adventures could be a form of therapy? Tune into this week’s featured Postcard Travel Show as Adventure Boutique’s inspirational founder, Dr. Raj Joshi, explores this intriguing concept. You’ll also hear about some of Raj’s favorite transformational adventures.
So don your hiking boots, open your heart and join us as we discover the secret jewels of Sierra Leone.
Karen Hastings
Editor, Postcard Travel Club
Quote of the Week
There is no way to happiness, happiness is the way.
Thich Nhat Hanh
The Adventure Boutique: Exploring Sierra Leone
Imagine the dramatic coastal mountain range, like a resting lion overlooking white-sand beaches and crystal-clear lagoons. Envision dense jungles giving way to fragrant cocoa plantations backed by rolling hills and grasslands. See the rugged peak of Mount Bintumani looming before you, inviting you on a transformational journey — a journey deep within.
Sierra Leone is a land of surprising diversity, and The Adventure Boutique, a world leader in luxury adventure travel, wants to share its many treasures with you.
Blissfully free of tourist crowds, Sierra Leone hosts a rich mosaic of cultures, too. As you trek through small villages to the slopes of Mount Bintumani, you’ll connect with communities that will truly touch your heart.
Your Trek Begins . . .
Hike to the Loma Mountains
Begin your extraordinary trek to Sierra Leone's Loma Mountains with an adventure like no other.
As you walk through diverse landscapes, you are immersed in a symphony of sensory delights. Feel the transition from the humid jungle to the sun-soaked plains, embrace the vibrant colours — from the emerald grass to the cornflower-blue sky — and savor the ever-changing hillside vistas.
The camaraderie of your fellow trekkers carries you forward.
Connect with Local Communities
During your trek to Mount Bintumani, something truly special happens — you connect with the local people in a profound way. They open their homes to you, offering a glimpse into their simple way of life. You might sleep in a cozy straw bed while the sounds of nature and the laughter of their children fill the air.
To reach the primary rainforest, which is the gateway to the mountain range, you must pass through three tribal lands. Each has a chieftain, and only with their permission can you proceed to the shadowy slopes of sacred Mount Bintumani.
Climbing to the Summit
Mount Bintumani, Sierra Leone's highest peak, is rarely tackled by outsiders. As you traverse the shifting landscape, the mountain's summit gradually takes shape.
At times, the path up the mountain may vanish before you. But as you keep walking, that distant trail gradually becomes clearer and closer with each step.
Reaching the summit, you share the elation with your fellow trekkers and capture a photo to record the joyful moment — a moment you planned for and worked hard to achieve.
Looking back, it becomes clear that this expedition transcends mere physical terrain. It evolves into a profound inner journey, forged through the kaleidoscope of emotions, the rigors of the trek and the heartwarming connections with the local community.
Where the Mountains Meet the Sea: Post-Trek Relaxation
After your exhausting trek, imagine the bliss of stepping onto cool, golden sands along Sierra Leone's Western Peninsula. Lumley Beach, with its white sands, cozy cafes and swaying palms, offers a serene escape.
But the adventure doesn't end there; you'll explore charming fishing villages like York and revel in the abundant wildlife along the coast, especially during whale season in Whale Bay. You can even visit a chimpanzee sanctuary.
As your epic journey comes to a close, you bask in the soul-stirring sunset, savoring sun downers and the catch of the day. It's the perfect ending to a truly transformational adventure.
The Benefits of Adventure Therapy: Postcard Travel Show Podcast
Get ready to be inspired! With more than 3,000 downloads, this podcast episode dives deeper into the life-changing experiences of Dr. Raj Joshi, the founder of The Adventure Boutique. Listen as he explores the concept of adventure therapy and the transformative power of nature.
Raj guides us through his experiences of resilience-building expeditions, including unguided mountain ascents, and he also shares his own captivating tales from Sierra Leone and the Amazon jungle.
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