Sapo National Park located in southeast Sinoe County is Liberia’s first national park. The largest remaining part of the Upper Guinean forest ecosystem, it is the second-largest area of primary tropical rainforest in West Africa. It was formally designated in 1983 and then extended in 2003 at the end of the civil war, to its current size of 697 square miles.

The Upper Guinean Forest Ecosystem has been described as a biodiversity hotspot that contains high species diversity, and Sapo National Park represents one of the most intact forest ecosystems in West Africa. It has been selected as Liberia’s first UN-REDD (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation) pilot area. Many unique and rare species to have been found in the park include pygmy hippos, forest elephants amongst other rare birds and mammals.

The park is relatively flat and marshy, comprising of lowland swamps and rainforest, making it an ideal habitat for pygmy hippos to flourish.  It has a tropical climate, with temperatures between 22-28°C and a wet season from May to October.

In 2003 a new initiative was established for the management of the park in order to develop support among local communities and recognize and foster Liberia’s conservation capacities. Activities such as farming, construction, hunting, logging, and human settlement are now prohibited in Sapo National Park.

Despite protected area status, peace has brought new threats as people have looked to the resources within Sapo National Park, and illegal mining and hunting for bushmeat have soared in the last eight years.  Environmental damage, polluted waterways, and de-forestation all contribute to undermining the integrity of the forest which, once a continuous landscape, is becoming more fragmented blocks.

Human settlement and logging are other illegal activities within the park, are on the rise, and are major contributing factors to the degradation of the park.

Sapo National Park remains relatively inaccessible to outside visitors.  There are no roads or trails within the park, and there are almost no facilities for visitors.  Consequently, this significant and environmentally rich area remains somewhat penetrated by researchers and tourists.

Size of Sapo national park

Located in Sinoe County in south-western Liberia, Sapo National Park covers an area of 1,804 km² (697 sq mi).

Location of Sapo national park

Sapo National Park is a national park in Sinoe County, Liberia. It is the country’s largest protected area of rainforest, was the first national park established in the country

How to get to Sapo national park

It’s located in the Sinoe Province; you’ll need to take a 4WD from Monrovia to Greenville, then head north to Juarzon and then southeast to Jalay’s Town. You’ll need to allow at least a full day’s travel to here from the capital.

Things to do in Sapo national park

Sapo, Liberia’s only national park is a lush 1808-sq-km tract containing some of West Africa’s last remaining primary rainforest. Within it lurk forest elephants, pygmy hippos, chimpanzees, antelopes, and other wildlife, although these populations suffered greatly during the war.

When to visit Sapo national park

As in other West African nations, it’s always warm in Liberia, but the best time to go is the dry season of November to April when the roads will be passable, and the weather fine for both big city exploration and off-the-beaten-track wildlife walks.

Where to stay in Sapo national park

Travelers can stay at the basic Vera camp that is situated inside the park