Sierra Leone to host Budapest – Bamako – Freetown finish
Sierra Leone is preparing to host the finish of the 2026 Budapest – Bamako – Freetown Challenge in the capital, Freetown, with government coordination led by the Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Affairs alongside the National Tourist Board and partners. The event – one of the world’s largest amateur vehicular and charitable adventure rallies – is positioned to boost the country’s adventure tourism profile and deliver local economic benefits.
The rally arrives in two waves: 352 vehicles with 794 participants enter on 8 February for an overnight at Bureh Beach and a finish line ceremony on 9 February, followed by 203 vehicles and 492 participants entering on 5 March, overnighting at Bureh Beach and concluding on 6 March. Final celebrations are set for Lumley Beach at the Gigibonta Car Park, with designated convoy routes in place for safety and traffic management. Sierra Leone has hosted five finishes since 2020 and Freetown is secured as the rally’s endpoint through 2024 – 2034, aligning with the 2026 Year of Culture and Creativity.