Outamba-Kilimi National Park is found in the Karene District, which is in the north-west part of Sierra Leone, close to the border with Guinea. The park is split into two parts: Outamba (741 km) and Kilimi (368 km). The park is named after the highest mountain in one part, Mount Outamba, and the longest river in the other part, River Kilimi.

History

The area became a game reserve in 1974 and was officially named a National Park in October 1995. It was chosen to be protected because it has many chimpanzees.

Environment

The land is mostly flat, with some hills and large rivers that flow southwest. The plants include a mix of gallery forest, thick forest, and grassland. Outamba has tall-grass savanna and woodland, with areas of thick forest. Kilimi has more open savanna woodland. Both areas have patches of raffia palm swamp forest and river grassland.

Wildlife includes monkeys and apes like western chimpanzees, colobus monkeys, and sooty mangabeys; hippos, including pygmy hippos; forest elephants; common warthogs; rare bongo antelopes; and over 100 bird species. The park is named an Important Bird Area (IBA) by BirdLife International because it has many bird species living there. The UN Environment Programme lists the Outamba Area as protected. More information is available on a map.

Susu

The Susu (or Soso) tribe lives in and near the park, and many people who work in the park are members of this tribe. Some villages were originally located inside the park, but most agreed to move to the buffer zone, which is a 1 km area surrounding the park. An exception was made for villages that had ancestral sites and graves inside the park. Those who remain in the park agree to use only sustainable methods for harvesting resources. Activities such as mining and hunting are not allowed. The National Tourism Board is working to increase tourism in an effort to help the Susu tribe recover lost income.

In the buffer zone, there are fewer restrictions. Hunting is permitted, except for certain protected species. Farming is practiced in this area, and gmelina trees have been planted to replace the parkland as a source of wood for firewood, furniture, and housing.

Facilities

Simple one bed and group huts are available for visitors to the park. These huts are constructed using local materials.