Eastern Province: Forests, Highlands and History

In Eastern Province, striking highlands, forest reserves and local history come together. The Tingi Hills bring an impressive mountain landscape into view, while Masakpaidu tells the story of a fortified village and its destruction. When choosing a vacation rental, it helps to first consider which of these aspects of the region you want to shape your stay.

The Highlands of the Tingi Hills

The Tingi Hills Forest Reserve includes the Sankan Birriwa massif, with two peaks separated by a narrow gorge. Both are higher than 1,800 metres; the northern peak reaches 1,850 metres. The terrain is mostly rocky and crossed by numerous streams that originate in the massif. The peaks’ elevation is thus part of a landscape shaped by rock and waterways.

The reserve’s location is also regionally complex: it lies between Nieya Chiefdom in Koinadugu District of Northern Province and Sando and Lei Chiefdoms in Kono District of Eastern Province. The Tingi Hills therefore cannot be reduced to a single provincial boundary. Those interested in mountain landscapes will find specific details here about the structure of the massif and its setting between the chiefdoms.

Masakpaidu: Fortifications and Village History

The abandoned village of Masakpaidu lies in Nimmi-Yema Chiefdom in Kono District. Its fortifications date from around 1800, before the Protectorate. Twelve-foot-high Cotton Tree poles enclosed the fortified area. Some took root; their stumps are still there. Outside the line of poles ran a ditch about 300 yards long. These measurements make clear that the structure was more than a simple enclosure.

The village’s end is also part of its history: after the Sofas under Alimamy plundered it around 1893, it was permanently abandoned. Masakpaidu is a destination in its own right for travellers interested in the history of Kono District.

Forest Reserves and Their Extent

Kambui Hills Forest Reserve consists of two sections: Kambui North covers 20,348 hectares, and Kambui South covers 880 hectares. The main road to Kenema separates the two areas. From Kenema, the reserve can be reached via a passable unpaved road; check local road conditions before setting out.

Gola Forest is also divided across a large area: Gola North covers 45,800 hectares, Gola East 22,800 hectares, and Gola West 6,200 hectares. The three reserves lie in Eastern and Southern Provinces. Gola North is the largest of the three reserves, and Gola West the smallest.

Sierra Leone as the Wider Travel Context

The broader destination of Sierra Leone also includes places with a different character. The Sierra Leone National Museum is in central Freetown, beneath the branches of the Cotton Tree, and is a hub for numerous cultural activities. The programme may vary. In southeastern Sierra Leone, Tiwai Island is a wildlife sanctuary and a community-run tourism site.

The Gola-Tiwai Complex comprises four component areas in two protected areas: Gola Rainforest National Park and Tiwai Island Wildlife Sanctuary in Eastern and Southern Provinces. Most of it consists of primary, moist or semi-evergreen tropical rainforest that has never been commercially exploited. Its birdlife includes up to 448 species, among them the white-breasted guineafowl, Timneh parrot and white-necked rockfowl.

When choosing a vacation rental, you can therefore start by deciding on your main interest: the highland terrain of the Tingi Hills, the history of Masakpaidu or the forest reserves. Then compare the location of a specific accommodation with the place you most want to explore.

Kono is also one of the subordinate destinations in Eastern Province and can be explored separately here.

Discover more destinations: Western Area, Northern.

Back to the main travel overview: Sierra Leone.