Nature and Wildlife

These are areas in Sierra Leone which have undoubted eco-tourism potential but this still needs to be developed in a structured and responsible manner for the most economic visit for communities in the area. Unfortunately, some of these sites are also threatened by human influences such as logging, mining, agriculture, fishing and hunting. In some cases access is also an issue. If you wish to visit these sites please make arrangements well ahead of time. Please contact the National Conservation Society of Sierra Leone if you want more specific information on these areas.

Yawri Bay

Yawri Bay has rich tidal mudflats and mangroves, which are home to tens of thousands of birds for a third of the year. It supports a major local fishing industry.

Location of Yawri Bay

Found on the southwestern coast of Sierra Leone, this bay is about 60km southeast of Freetown. It is bounded by the Ribbi, Bumpe and Kagboro Chiefdoms of the Moyamba District, Southern Province and the southern coast of the Western Area Peninsula. The Yawri Bay is a shallow coastal wetland with a 9,100 ha expanse of intertidal mudflats that extends along 60 km of foreshore. The mudflats are backed primarily by mangrove swamp interlaced with a network of creeks stretching to 24,505 ha. It accounts for 14.3% of the total mangrove swamp in Sierra Leone (Chong, 1987).
Village.

Kangari Hills Forest Reserve

The forest reserve at Kangari Hills is home to an important forest wildlife community, including forest and savanna dependent birds, chimpanzees and elephants.

Location of Kangari Hills Forest Reserve

This reserve is located in the Kunike and Bonkolenken Chiefdoms in the Tonkolili District, Northern Province and the Valunia Chiefdom in the Bo District, Southern Province. It occurs about 210 km east of Freetown. The forest at Kangari is part of a range of hills, the highest being Kang-ari, which is outside the reserve. The hills are drained by a number of rivers and the valleys support swamps suitable for agriculture. The region is the source of two main rivers passing through the centre of the country - The Pampana River to the northeast and the Moa River to the southwest.

Tingi Hills

The Tingi Hills is the easternmost outlying forest in Sierra Leone. It has the second highest peak in Sierra Leone, the Sankan Birriwa. The scenic undulating nature of the topography and the rich game and plant diversity are attractive to visitors and scientists.

Location of Tingi Hills Forest Reserve

Tingi Hills Forest Reserve is located close to Sierra Leone’s eastern border with the Republic of Guinea. It occurs between the Nieya Chiefdom, Koinadugu District, Northern Province and the Sando and Lei Chiefdoms in the Kono District, Eastern Province, about 470 km east of Freetown.

The Tingi Hills is the easternmost mountain range in Sierra Leone. The forest reserve includes areas encompassing the massif called Sankan Birriwa, which has two peaks separated by a narrow gorge. Both peaks stand over 1800m, but the northernmost which is 1850m high, is the second highest in Sierra Leone. The terrain is generally rocky, with numerous streams, which have their sources from the massif. These streams are the tributaries of two major rivers in the country; the Mano River, which runs along the border with the Republic of Liberia and Sewa River.

Kambui Hills Forest Reserve

The Kambui Hills Forest reserve, which is found in the southeast of the country, is classified as a production forest reserve for the supply of timber to local and international markets. The reserve is situated on the north and south of Kenema town.

Location of Kambui Hills Forest Reserve

The Kambui Hills Forest Reserve is situated in the southeast of Sierra Leone about 300 km south-east of Freetown. The reserve covers sections of the Nongowa, Bambara, Dama and Koya Chiefdoms of the Kenema District, Eastern Province. The two sections of the reserve (Kambui North 20,348 ha and Kambui South 880 ha) are separated by the main highway leading to Kenema town. The forest reserve includes areas encompassing the highest peak in the southern sector of the country, which stands at 645m. The reserve supports catchment areas for a number of reservoirs that supply water to Kenema and surrounding communities.

Mamunta Mayosso Wildlife Sanctuary

This site is important for its variety of vegetation types and is one of the few areas in Sierra Leone holding the threatened Dwarf Crocodile. The site is important for the economy and culture of the local people and is the first site to be managed as Wildlife Sanctuary in Sierra Leone. It holds 252 species bird species in a relatively small area and has an excellent ecotourism potential.

Location of Mamunta Mayosso Wildlife Sanctuary

This sanctuary is occurs in the Kholifa and Mabang Chiefdoms, Tonkolili district, Northern Province, about 180 km east of Freetown. Located almost at the centre of the country, this sanctuary supports a wide range of vegetation types. The predominant vegetation is boliland (seasonally flooded grassland) with occasional occurrence of swamps, savanna, secondary forest and two perennial lakes. Water depths in swamps rise to 1.5 m during flooding. Mean annual rainfall ranges from 3048 to 3556 mm, Mean daily temperatures vary from 26-32 0C in the dry season, and 20-30 0C in the wet season. Relative humidity at 1500h varies between 50% and 80% annually. The area is founded on Precambrian-Bintumani granite rocks.