The Kambui Hills Forest reserve, which is found in the southeast of the country, is classified as a production forest reserve for the supply of timber to local and international markets. The reserve is situated on the north and south of Kenema town.

Location of Kambui Hills Forest Reserve

The Kambui Hills Forest Reserve is situated in the southeast of Sierra Leone about 300 km south-east of Freetown. The reserve covers sections of the Nongowa, Bambara, Dama and Koya Chiefdoms of the Kenema District, Eastern Province. The two sections of the reserve (Kambui North 20,348 ha and Kambui South 880 ha) are separated by the main highway leading to Kenema town. The forest reserve includes areas encompassing the highest peak in the southern sector of the country, which stands at 645m. The reserve supports catchment areas for a number of reservoirs that supply water to Kenema and surrounding communities.

Birds

G.D. Field conducted a survey of the bird of Kambui Hills forest reserve in the mid 1960s and recorded over 200 species including two globally threatened – Green-tailed Bristlebill (Vu) and White-necked Rockfowl (Vu) – and three near-threatened species. Thompson (1993) did an extensive survey of the White-necked Rockfowl as part of a study of the ecology and breeding biology of the species. Five active breeding colonies containing a total of 16 nesting sites were discovered.

Mammals and other fauna

The forest reserve at Kambui Hills is home to a variety of mammal species including the following threatened primates : Western Chimpanzee (En), Red Colobus Monkey (NT), Black-and-white Colobus Monkey (NT), Sooty Mangabey (NT) and Diana Monkey. Several other threatened mammals occur, including Western Elephant (Vu), Jentink’s Duiker (Vu) Black Duiker and Maxwell Duiker.

Access and Facilities

Kambui Hills can easily be reached by a motorable unsurfaced road from Kenema, the headquarter town in the Eastern Province, less than 5 km east of Kambui North and Kambui South respectively. Sections of the reserve are also accessible via Hangha, Gbandama and Lago, which are on the main highway 9, 10 and 23 km north of Kenema respectively. Several reservoirs occur in the heart of the Kambui Hills and a water treatment and supply plant is situated in one of these reservoirs.

Information provided courtesy of the Conservation Society of Sierra Leone