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Yengema
ℹ️Practical info — Yengema
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🌤 Weather — 5 days
📍 Nearby
Sights nearby
💡 Tips
- Stay clear of active mining pits and strictly follow local security instructions regarding diamond zones.
- The town can be very dusty during the dry season; a light scarf or mask is practical for road travel.
- Engage with local guides to learn about the rich history of the Kono people and the mining heritage.
- Power supply can be intermittent; carry a portable power bank for your mobile devices.
- Respect Kono traditions and always ask for permission before filming or photographing ceremonies.
🍽 Food
A rich green vegetable stew served in the small eateries near the town center.
Freshly smoked river fish available daily at the Yengema central market.
A spicy local broth found in 'cookery' shops, great for a warming evening meal.
🛍 Shopping · 🧘 Quiet spots
Interesting local ironwork and traditional tools can be found in specialized shops.
Look for unique hand-woven patterns and fabrics in the local market area.
Elevated spots outside the town providing a panoramic view of the surrounding landscape.
The quieter residential lanes away from the busy main mining transport routes.
Water temperature…
Yengema is a small mining town in Kono District in Sierra Leone's Eastern Province, lying just a few kilometers west of Koidu on the diamond-rich plateau. The town grew up in the 1930s around the first industrial diamond fields of the Sierra Leone Selection Trust and quickly developed into a planned mining settlement with company housing, a school, a hospital, sports grounds, and an airfield run by the mining company. During the diamond mining peak of the 1960s, Yengema was an internationally recognized center: cargo planes carrying rough diamonds landed here, and foreign geologists and engineers strongly shaped the look of the town. With the decline of industrial mining in the 1980s and the devastation of the civil war, Yengema lost much of its old shine but remains an important hub for small license holders and supplier services. Today, deserted administrative buildings, Yengema Secondary School, and the historic airfield still hint at the town's former importance.
- Location: Sierra Leone
- Nearby: Boajibu (31 km)
- Population: ~13.358 (2021)
Best time to visit & climate
The most pleasant time to visit is Jan, Nov, Dec.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg °C | 26 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 27 | 25 | 24 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 25 | 25 |
| Rain mm | 1 | 5 | 13 | 38 | 112 | 300 | 450 | 522 | 367 | 162 | 50 | 4 |
Geography
Facts
- Former headquarters of the Sierra Leone Selection Trust (SLST).
- Large-scale diamond mining operations began here in the 1930s.
- Home to Yengema Airport (GGO), a vital regional aviation link.
- Logistical hub for mining activities in the Kono District.
- Focuses on alluvial diamond mining in surrounding riverbeds.
- A key strategic site during the civil war from 1991 to 2002.
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Sights in the town Yengema (1)
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