Sierra Leone

Hammer-headed Bat, Hypsignathus monstrosus, Gola Rainforest.

I first visited Sierra Leone in late March 2017 for a fabulous 10 days.  The mammal watching far exceeded expectations both in terms of the diversity of species we encountered but also the rarity of many of the species we found, with mega mammals like Water Chevrotain, Yellow-backed Duiker and Pygmy Hippo.

Water Chevrotain, Hyemoschus aquaticus. Gola Rainforest National Park. Photo by Phil Telfer.

Beyond the mammal watching, a trip here is a real chance to help with conservation efforts. The community run forest on Tiwai Island, for examples, relies on a very few ecotourists each year for its sustainability. So a trip to Sierra Leone is a chance both to see some amazing mammals but also to feel virtuous in the process. I visited two sites: Tiwai Island, and Gola Rainforest National Park.

Tiwai Island

Olive Colobus, Procolobus verus, Tiwai Island.

I spent four nights here in March, 2017 and our group saw the following.  There was exceptional primate watching with 10 species seen: Demidoff’s Galago, West African Potto,  Western Pied Colobus, Western Red Colobus, Olive Colobus, Sooty Mangabey, Campbell’s Monkey, Diana Monkey, Lesser Spot-nosed Monkey and Green Monkey. We also heard Thomas’s Galago. Other species included a Lord Derby’s Anomalure, Red River Hog, Gambian Sun Squirrel, Red-legged Sun Squirrel, Miller’s Striped Mouse, Allen’s Wood Mouse, Straw-colored Fruit Bat, Buettikofer’s Epauletted Bat, Noack’s Roundleaf Bat, Beatrix’s Bat and an unidentified horseshoe bat.

Gola Rainforest National Park

Campbell’s Monkey, Cercopithecus campbelli

I spent 6 nights here in April 2017 and our group saw Hammer-headed Fruit Bats, Demidoff’s Galago, Thomas’ Galago, West African Potto, African Palm Civet, Giant Squirrel, Slender-tailed Squirrel, Fire-footed Rope Squirrel, Pygmy Hippopotamus, Red River Hog (heard), Water Chevrotain, Royal Antelope, Maxwell’s Duiker, Yellow-backed Duiker and Western Tree Hyrax. We also heard Chimpanzees.

Lord Derby’s Anomalure, Anomalurus derbianus

Elsewhere we saw a Green Squirrels and Striped Ground Squirrels.