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I'm male, but I've talked to many non-African females over the years who have traveled around Sierra Leone by themselves, and I could sum up their comments as follows:

-They appreciate that there is no cultural need to dress modestly, as they typically find that clothes that show a lot of skin are most suited to the climate here.

-They get propositioned several times a day for either sex or marriage. Some propositions are more discrete or delayed than others, but invariably they find that Sierra Leonean men cannot resist trying their luck with a foreign woman.

Whether the unwanted attention affects their experience really depends on the personality of the woman and how she reacts to it. My feeling is that you can't ignore it--the men will just persist until you give them your attention. If you try to ignore it, or put a quick stop to each encounter you may become frustrated. Probably the best way is to come up with a nice retort that can throw the guy off guard and perhaps give you the chance to take control of the conversation. If you start asking the questions, not only might you learn something interesting, but you'll keep the guy from getting to the proposal, and probably the outcome of the exchange will be pleasant, and even fun for everyone.

As for Christmas, it's not such a big deal here. There will be some music shows, and other special events around the 25th, but you won't see Christmas lights, trees, or shopping malls here. People don't do big gift exchanges. It's very non-commercial. I'm not sure what exactly you are trying to avoid, but if your aim is to pass the day without any acknowledgement whatsoever that it is Christmas, you could probably go to a smallish village in the north, many of which are entirely muslim communities.

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Thanks - very helpful!

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vedicaudio - I'd just like to comment on your reference that "clothes that show a lot of skin are most suited to the climate here". If you are showing a lot of skin it's easy to get sunburnt. Being sunburnt does not make you feel cooler. It's best to at least cover your shoulders when outdoors in a hot climate, no matter whether it's culturally appropriate or not.

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Did you go to Sierra Leone as planned. If you did, tell us about your holiday! I am planning to go this summer. Can anybody tell me what the weather is like in June July and August in Kono district? Thank you