Outamba-Kilimi National Park

Outamba-Kilimi National Park is located in northwest Sierra Leone near the border with the Republic of Guinea. The park is divided into two areas, Outamba (741 km²) and Kilimi (368 km²). The area became a game reserve in 1974, and was formally gazetted as a National Park in October 1995.[1] The park is named after its highest peak in one part, Mount Outamba, and its longest river in the other, River Kilimi. The area was originally chosen for preservation as it contains a large number of chimpanzees. The vegetation is called woodland savanna, with a mixture of jungle and savanna.

Outamba-Kilimi National Park
IUCN category II (national park)
LocationNortheast Sierra Leone
Nearest cityKabala
Coordinates9°46′10″N 12°01′34″W
Area1,109 km2 (428 sq mi)
Established1 January 1986
Outamba Mountain and the vista of the parks woodland savannah seen from the Karangia Trail.

Wildlife
Hippos in Outamba-Kilimi National Park, Sierra Leone.

Wildlife includes primates such as chimpanzees, colobus monkeys and sooty mangabeys; hippopotamuses and pygmy hippos; elephants; common warthogs; rare bongo antelopes and over a hundred species of birds. The UN Environment Programme lists the Outamba Area as protected. More information can be seen as a map.

Susu
Karangia (Hill of Learning in Susu) Trail in Outamba-Kilimi National Park, Sierra Leone.

The Susu (or Soso) tribe live in and around the park and most park personnel are Susu. Some villages were originally in the park itself, but most agreed to move to the buffer zone. An exception was made for those who had ancestral sites and graves within the park. Those who remain have agreed to only harvest using sustainable methods. Mining and hunting are prohibited. The National Tourism Board is attempting to increase tourism in an effect to compensate them for the loss of revenue.

Buffer zone
A community of green monkeys commute over the guests in Outamba-Kilimi National Park, Sierra Leone.

There is a 1 km buffer zone around the park, where most of the villages are. The restrictions are less here. Hunting is allowed except for certain protected species, farming is practiced and areas of gmelina trees have been planted to replace the Parkland as a source of wood for use in making furniture, housing and firewood.

Facilities
Group Hut in Outamba-Kilimi Park, Sierra Leone.

Simple one bed and group huts are available to sleep in the park. These are made using local materials.

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References
  1. P G Munro,“Geza Teleki and the emergence of Sierra Leone’s wildlife conservation movement” Primate Conservation: 29(2015): 115-122.
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