There are two main things Sierra Leone is known for – beaches and wildlife! You’ll find lots of information on our blog and social media about beaches, and we do have some articles about birds and wildlife in Sierra Leone.
For this post, we’ve decided to go back to basics and write an introduction to the kind of animals you’re likely to see in Sierra Leone. Are you ready? Let’s go!
A Wildlife Lover’s Guide to Sierra Leone
1. Primates
In Sierra Leone, you’ll find 15 primate species, including one great ape – the chimpanzee, our national animal – and the bush baby. Other primate species include the red and western red colobus, olive and Guinea baboon, and rare species such as the Diana monkey and lesser spot-nosed monkey.
2. Other Mammals
Besides primates, there are plenty of other mammals to see in Sierra Leone! This includes endangered species like the rare pygmy hippo and African bush elephant, as well as mammals found in other parts of Africa, for example the warthog, wild dog and serval. Another interesting mammal you might see in Sierra Leone is the bongo, a medium-sized antelope with a striking striped coat.
3. Birds
Sierra Leone is heaven for twitchers! There are over 600 bird species, 10 of which are considered endangered – the rufous fishing owl and Gola malimbe are just two examples. If you like birds, you should also consider visiting Tasso Island, home to an successful project to reintroduce Timneh’s grey parrot, which was teetering close to extinction.
4. Reptiles
Our country is also home to 67 reptile species, including large and endangered reptiles. You may get the chance to see three different species of crocodiles – the Nile crocodile, slender-snouted crocodile, and dwarf crocodile, mainly found in mangrove areas. Keep your eyes open as you go snorkeling for marine turtles – the green and leatherback turtle are known to nest on Sherbro Island.
5. Marine Animals
Wildlife diversity doesn’t stop on land! Marine life is also rich in Sierra Leone – you might see several species of whales and the African manatee, the only manatee species found in the Old World. There are also hundreds of different fish species – and scuba diving or snorkeling is the best way to see them!
