Sierra Leone – Background
The name Sierra Leone dates back to 1462, when a Portuguese explorer sailed down the coast of West Africa.  There seems some dispute whether it was the shape or climatic conditions that influenced Pedro da Cintra to come up with “Sierra Lyoa” meaning Lion Mountains. 
Some say the coastal regions looked like “lion’s teeth”.  Others suggest he thought the thunderstorms over the mountainous peninsula sounded like the roar of a lion.  Sixteenth century English sailors called it Sierra Leoa which evolved in the 17th Century to Sierra Leone.  The British officially adopted the name Sierra Leone in 1787. 
Sierra Leone – Early History
Archaeology findings show that Sierra Leone has been inhabited for thousands of years.  Traditional historiography has customarily presented it as a people by successive waves of invaders; but the language pattern suggests that the coastal Bulom (Sherbro), Temne, and Limba have been in continuous settled occupation for a long time, with sporadic immigration from inland Mende-speaking people including Vai, Loko and Mende. 
Sierra Leone – Modern History
In 1787, British philanthropists founded the “Province of Freedom” which later became Freetown, a British crown colony and the principal base for the suppression of the slave trade.  By 1792, 1200 freed slaves from Nova Scotia joined the original settlers, the Maroons.  Another group of slaves rebelled in Jamaica and travelled to Freetown in 1800. 
Sierra Leone – Post Modern History
Sierra Leone achieved independence on the 27th of April 1961.  the country attained republican status on the 19th April 1971.  Since independence many changes have been experienced politically and economically and in the social society of Sierra Leone. 
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Cape Town was appointed the best place in the world to visit by the New York Times in 2014
Did you know?  The Mother City racked up some serious awards in 2014: This pretty city was named the best place in the world to visit by The New York Times, appointed World Design Capital 2014, featured second in Travel and Leisure’s list of top holiday destinations and deemed the second best African city to visit by TripAdvisor’s 2014 Travellers’ Choice awards.  Similarly, did you know that in 2013 the UK publication The Guardian named the Sea Point swimming pool one of the top ten swimming pools in the world?