Located in the expansive countryside, just outside of Sierra Leone’s vibrant Freetown, is family owned and run, Stafford Lodge. Our 15-room lodge caters to the long-term traveler looking for an intimate experience with all amenities required for a seamless stay.
Stafford Lodge
Stafford Lodge’s history is unique, rooted in the principles of family, relentless dedication, and hope. The concept arose in our founder, Stafford, after the passing of his beloved grandmother. Stafford, a Sierra Leone native, was born and raised in the economic hub of Makeni, and left to build a life in the United states in 1991. Upon the passing of his grandmother, Alice, he returned home to visit his family and took a room at a hotel in downtown Freetown. While Stafford took comfort in having his own private space when visiting, he noted that the hotel did not have many of the essential amenities that one would expect when traveling. He was inspired to establish his very own hotel at the same affordable rate with a focus on including the fundamental requirements that every traveller needs including a meticulously clean space, uninterrupted electricity and hot water, a private bathroom, uncompromising security, and exceptional service.
Enlisting his brother, Sullay’s, help, the two began to build Stafford Lodge from the ground up in 2004 with an inspired vision to have all who would enter as guests, leave as friends.
Stafford returned to Columbus, Ohio to secure funding in the United States while Sullay remained in Sierra Leone to run the lodge’s day-to-day operations. It took 12 years of dedication, and financial and personal sacrifice to complete lodge, with the brothers finally realizing the dream of opening Stafford Lodge in 2016.
For 3 years, the lodge operated with Stafford taking care of the finances from the United States and Sullay running the lodge in Freetown. However, the overwhelming task of managing and growing the lodge, as well as hiring the right personnel to support their vision was becoming more and more challenging in Stafford’s absence.
In the United States, Stafford married his partner, Dori, in 2010 and the couple welcomed a child the next year. However, having seen the massive sacrifices that Stafford was making to keep the lodge afloat, Dori had asked him to explain what his intentions were with the venture before they got married. Stafford passionately expressed that he would have loved to have gone to Sierra Leone to run the hotel with his brother but, because of his family commitments in the US, he felt that this was not a possibility. Making, perhaps the ultimate sacrifice, Dori agreed to relocate to Freetown with Stafford after much thought and prayer. Taking a leap of faith, she made plans for their transition and the couple, along with their daughter Destiny, arrived in Freetown in 2019, determined to realizing Stafford’s ambitious dream.
Today, the brothers work side-by-side to achieve Stafford’s vision of a thriving lodge that provides all of the necessities and comforts of home to travellers who are looking for a memorable experience in Sierra Leone. While maintaining the uncompromising standards that the lodge promises, the brothers are committed to excellence as they continue to expand their team of experts and build enduring relationships with each guest that choses to enjoy a stay at Stafford Lodge.
