Sewa River

Sierra Leone's Sewa River is one of longest Rivers in Sierra Leone. The Bagbe and Bafi rivers, which originate in the hilly parts of the country's northeastern region, near the Guinean border, are its most distant origins. Sewa flows 240 kilometers (150 miles) in a south-southwestern direction from the confluence of Bagbe and Bafi in the Kono District, draining an area of 14,141 square kilometers (5,460 sq mi).

The river joins the Waanje River near the Atlantic coast to form the Kittam River. The Kittam River travels westward along the coast for 48 kilometers (30 miles) before entering a network of lagoons and streams divided from the sea by Turner's Peninsula. Kittam drains into the bigger estuary Sherbro River near the island of Sherbro.

The Sewa River is navigable over short distances, but rapids and cataracts dominate the middle and upper portions. Sierra Leone benefits greatly from the river's commercial potential. On a huge scale, diamonds are being panned in Sewa's upper reaches. Rice farming and piassava cultivation, which is exported for the creation of besoms, are key crops closer to the coast.

Length: 240 km