Wildlife lovers heading to Sierra Leone will probably already have heard of Tiwai Island (Mende for ‘Big Island’), a river island in the Moa River, hidden in the depths of the Upper Guinea Rainforest in southern Sierra Leone. The Upper Guinea Rainforest stands as a living testament to the ancient woodlands that once blanketed the entirety of West and Central Africa. Its profound biodiversity endures, showcasing the remnants of a bygone era. Adventurers setting foot on Tiwai Island are presented with plenty of opportunities to engage with nature. Guided excursions through the forest, immersive encounters with local communities, captivating boat journeys in search of rare wildlife species are just some of the experiences on offer in this fascinating nature retreat. To make matters even better, Tiwai Island is one of the easiest protected natural areas to visit from Freetown, being located approximately 4 hours drive from the capital. Let’s have a look at 5 very good reasons to visit Tiwai Island, and add it to your Sierra Leone itinerary!

1. Top 5 Reasons to Visit Tiwai
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2. August 22, 2023 Eco-Tourism, Nature
Wildlife lovers heading to Sierra Leone will probably already have heard of Tiwai Island (Mende for ‘Big
Island’), a river island in the Moa River, hidden in the depths of the Upper Guinea Rainforest in southern
Sierra Leone.
The Upper Guinea Rainforest stands as a living testament to the ancient woodlands that once
blanketed the entirety of West and Central Africa. Its profound biodiversity endures, showcasing the
remnants of a bygone era.
Adventurers setting foot on Tiwai Island are presented with plenty of opportunities to engage with
nature. Guided excursions through the forest, immersive encounters with local communities,
captivating boat journeys in search of rare wildlife species are just some of the experiences on offer in
this fascinating nature retreat.
To make matters even better, Tiwai Island is one of the easiest protected natural areas to visit from
Freetown, being located approximately 4 hours drive from the capital.
Let’s have a look at 5 very good reasons to visit Tiwai Island, and add it to your Sierra Leone itinerary!
Top 5 Reasons to Visit Tiwai
1. Walk the Tiwai Island Heritage Trail
The Tiwai Island Heritage Trail was set up in 2013 by Karma Cola, a soft drink company that wanted to
empower the communities they buy kola nuts from.
The trail is 50 km long, and visits all eight communities living in Tiwai Islands. It can be covered in
about 4 to 5 days, partly walking and partly by dugout canoe, and accommodation is in rainforest
camps or in Mende villages.
It’s the best way to truly immerse yourself in the nature of this corner of Sierra Leone and experience
the culture of Mende people, who lived in this part of the country for over a thousand years.
2. Support Community-Based Tourism
The Tiwai Island Heritage Trail is a great opportunity to support community-based tourism, but we
understand that 4 to 5 days in the rainforest may be a touch too much for some – but fear not, there are
other opportunities to support local communities with your stay!
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3. Tiwai Island plays host to one of Sierra Leone’s pioneering ecotourism initiatives. Tourists can stay
overnight at a rainforest-surrounded camp managed by the national non-governmental organization,
Environmental Foundation for Africa – Sierra Leone (EFASL). The proceeds from tourism are
strategically reinvested into the island, through a Community Development Fund that channels aid into
diverse programs, all aimed at enhancing the lives of Tiwai’s eight Mende communities.
3. See Wildlife
A number of wildlife species call Tiwai Island home, including a thriving population of pygmy
hippopotami, a species about half the size of regular river hippopotami, usually living in rainforest
areas. Pygmy hippopotami are very shy and elusive, but they are regularly spotted in Tiwai Island –
although you need a fair bit of luck on your side.
Tiwai is also home to over 100 avian species, including some that are endemic to this part of the
country. It’s also worth mentioning that the island is a true primate haven, harboring 11 distinct primate
species – it’s one of the prime spots in the world in terms of concentration and variety of primates.
Primate species found in Tiwai Island include red colobus monkeys, endangered black and white Diana
monkeys, and the rarely-spotted sooty mangabey. Chimpanzees also live on Tiwai Island – who knows,
you may be lucky to spot one in the wild!
4. Take A Sunset Boat Tour
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4. There are two ways to spot wildlife in Tiwai Island – either on foot, guided by eagle-eyed locals, or on
boat tours.
Sunset boat tours are especially unforgettable. It’s a very peaceful experience to glide on the placid
waters of the Moa River, surrounded by the golden hues of the setting sun, looking out for animals
among the trees. You may spot hornbills resting on the trees, or monkeys jumping from one branch to
the other, or even a duiker (miniature deer) ambling in the undergrowth.
On your way back to camp, you’ll be welcomed by a delicious home-cooked dinner with Sierra Leonean
specialties!
5. Night walks
When the sun sets on Tiwai Island, you can decide to rest and prepare for new adventures for the day
ahead, or enjoy one more activity – a night walk!
You’ll be following a local guide along the paths of the island, using a flashlight to look for nocturnal
species like small, wide-eyed primates, reptiles, spiders and insects. Night excursions are also the best
time to see pygmy hippos, that tend to be more active under cover of darkness.
Tours are usually between one and two hours long – a great opportunity to see species that tend to
hide during the day.
Lumley Beach Road, Freetown P.O. Box 1435
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