Wondering if I need cash for taxis in Sierra Leone or if I can just pay with card or app like in other countries?
It can be frustrating that Sierra Leone taxis don’t accept cards or apps yet. I tried to pay a few times with a card, and the drivers just said no. Cash is king here, so plan to withdraw some leones at local ATMs ahead of time, especially in Freetown.
When I was in Freetown, all my taxi fares were paid in cash. I didn’t see any drivers accepting cards or mobile apps. I withdrew cash from Sierra Leone Commercial Bank ATMs and made sure to carry small bills to make paying easier. It’s a very cash-based transport system.
If traveling in Sierra Leone, definitely carry enough cash for taxis. The public transport system is mostly informal, and card or app payments aren’t typically accepted. I used ATMs at Rokel and Standard Chartered Bank in Freetown to withdraw leones. Having enough cash in hand is essential since most taxi drivers don’t have card readers or smartphones for digital payments.
In Sierra Leone, taxis almost always require cash payments in leones. Cards or app payments like Apple Pay are not common here, even in bigger cities like Freetown. ATMs from banks like Sierra Leone Commercial Bank and Rokel Commercial Bank are available in town but don’t expect to pay digitally for your rides. Carrying small denomination notes makes it easier to pay taxi fares without hassle.