Stand at the foot of the Clock Tower in the centre of Bo and you have most of the city's landmarks in view at once. This is Sierra Leone's second city, and it wears that status lightly: traffic circles the tower, traders work the surrounding streets, and travellers pass through on their way somewhere else.
Bo suits the traveller who is already moving through the interior of Sierra Leone and wants a straightforward place to break the journey, stock up and get their bearings. It is not a city that rewards a dedicated sightseeing trip, and the sources are honest about that.
This guide covers what is genuinely worth your time in Bo, followed by a one-day plan and answers to the questions travellers ask most often.
Top things to do in Bo
1. Clock Tower
The Clock Tower is the one fixed point in the city and the obvious place to start. It is said to be working, which makes it useful for more than a photograph.
Use it for orientation: get your bearings here first, then work outwards into the surrounding streets. It is the natural reference point to give a driver or to find again if you wander.
2. Small-scale diamond mining in the area
Small-scale diamond mining takes place in the area around Bo, and it is the one activity the sources single out as possibly worth your time.
Treat it as something to ask about locally rather than something with a fixed entrance or schedule. If you are passing through on the way to other places, this is the reason to build in a little slack in your day.
If you only have one day
Morning: Start at the Clock Tower, which is good for orientation and is said to be working. Use it to get your bearings before going any further.
Afternoon: Ask locally about the small-scale diamond mining in the area, which is the one activity around Bo the sources flag as possibly worth a visit.
Evening: Return to the Clock Tower area, the city's central reference point, to close out the day before continuing your journey.
Frequently asked questions
Is Bo worth visiting in its own right?
Not really. Though Bo is the second city of Sierra Leone, there is not a lot to see here, and most people use it as a stopping point on the way to other places.
What is the main thing to see in Bo?
The Clock Tower. It is said to be working and it is good for orientation.
Is there anything to do beyond the Clock Tower?
Small-scale diamond mining is present in the area and could be worth a visit.
How do most travellers treat Bo?
As a stopping point on the way to other places rather than as a destination in itself.
Plan Bo as a stop on a longer route through Sierra Leone, and start by working out how the Clock Tower fits into your day.