Behind the capital city of Freetown, inland, explosive nature climbs the mountainous terrain, home to tropical paradise oases, small Krio villages, idyllic waterfalls and the Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary.
Back in 1988, a Sri Lankan man named Bala Amarasekaran came across a baby chimpanzee being held in captivity in a village in Sierra Leone and sold to the highest bidder. From that day on, Bala conducted a series of investigations into the disturbing reality of poaching and trafficking of chimpanzees in Sierra Leone and began to develop what became his life’s mission.
The Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary was set up in 1995 with the aim of combating poaching, recovering captive-bred animals, caring for them, rehabilitating them and finally reintroducing them into their natural habitat.
This perseverance led to the formation of an experienced and willing team, and the creation of suitable facilities, set in a vast tract of primary forest, granted to him by the Wildlife Conservation Branch of the Ministry of Forestry, which became the new home and hope of a second chance for hundreds of chimpanzees, otherwise doomed to certain death.
Today it is one of the most important and best-organised shelters in the camp, open for visits with the aim of raising awareness of the reality of the problem and the protection of these animals, whose physical suffering and psychological trauma intensified during the decades of civil war.
The loving care of veterinarians, psychologists, educators and caregivers bring traumatised and injured chimpanzees back to a new birth and their release into the wild when they are strong enough, ready to be accepted into a herd and survive in the wild.
An eco-lodge has also been created to welcome volunteers or visitors who wish to get closer to the project and learn more about these beautiful and docile animals, so similar to humans in their genetics, thus allowing an economic income to support the organisation through responsible and eco-sustainable tourism.
A touching and moving experience, in contact with the activities of the centre and discovering this oasis of peace, immersed in the most luxuriant nature of the Freetown Peninsula, just 30 minutes from the capital. Also nearby are two beautiful, refreshing waterfalls, Charlotte Falls and Bathurst Falls with their natural pools of crystal clear water, and the possibility of small paradisiacal treks in contact with the wilderness, where you can listen only to the sound of the forest and hundreds of birds, including the colourful blue turaco.
