River Number Two Beach is a coastal destination on Sierra Leone’s Western Area Peninsula, where River Number 2 flows into the ocean. If you’re looking at beaches in Freetown, this day trip offers a beach setting beside Tokeh, with transport options from the city and visitor facilities at the shore.
- Location: Western Area Peninsula, beside Tokeh Beach.
- From Freetown: about 25 km south; travel usually takes 45 minutes to 1 hour, depending on traffic.
- Ways to get there include taxi, keep, private car and minibus.
- The beach is managed by Sankofa Complex, a community association.
Where River Number Two Beach is
River Number Two Beach lies on the Western Area Peninsula, beside Tokeh Beach, at the point where River Number 2 enters the ocean. Official descriptions place it 15–25 km from Freetown.
An estuary divides the beach into two parts, and local people ferry visitors between them by boat or canoe. The beach became popular in the 1980s after it was chosen as the setting for a Bounty Bar commercial.
For a broader look at how the area’s beaches differ, the Freetown beach guide compares coastal options for a day out.
How do you get from Freetown to River Number Two Beach?
From Freetown, you can reach River Number Two Beach by road or walk there from Tokeh. The road journey usually takes 45 minutes to 1 hour, depending on traffic.
Road options include a taxi, keep or private car, with fares of NLe15 to NLe20. Minibuses usually leave from Lumley car park, with a fare of about NLe10. You can also walk along the beach from Tokeh; that walk takes about 20 minutes.
If you’re considering another beach outing from the city, a Tokeh Beach day trip offers a nearby coastal alternative.
Access, facilities and what to plan for
Sankofa Complex, a community association, manages the beach and its facilities, and reinvests tourist income in opportunities for disadvantaged local people. The beach has a restaurant and guesthouse, along with a small handicraft market selling items such as beads, wax-cloth accessories and T-shirts.
A lagoon at the southern end is used for swimming and is suitable for beginners and people learning to swim. Activities include boat rides upriver and along the coast.
The beach is especially busy on Sundays, when people from Freetown visit for birthdays and anniversaries; weekdays are quieter. The official tourism listing does not give opening days or hours. Transport fares and visitor arrangements can change, so check the official site before you go.
For the day, plan around your chosen transport and the beach’s two sides: local boat or canoe crossings connect them. Bintumani is a four-star hotel in Freetown.
FAQs
Can you walk from Tokeh Beach to River Number Two Beach?
Yes. The walk along the beach from Tokeh takes about 20 minutes.
Is River Number Two Beach busy on Sundays?
It is especially busy on Sundays, when Freetown residents visit for birthdays and anniversaries. Weekdays are quieter.
What separates the two parts of the beach?
An estuary divides the beach. Local people ferry visitors across by boat or canoe.