Tofala Hill Wildlife Sanctuary

Tofala Hill in the Lebialem highlands of the south-west was gazetted as a wildlife sanctuary in 2014 after years of work by conservationists and local chiefs, and its purpose is connective: the forest here sits between other blocks of Cross River gorilla habitat in a landscape that farming has broken up, and protecting it keeps a corridor open between populations that would otherwise be isolated. Drills, chimpanzees and forest monkeys also live in it, along with a montane bird list. The forest is steep, wet and dense. As at other Cross River gorilla sites the animals are not habituated and visits are about the habitat and the conservation work rather than wildlife viewing.

What you actually see

• A corridor between gorilla populations - the connective purpose of the sanctuary.
• Steep montane forest - the habitat on the Lebialem hills.
• Drills and forest monkeys - the other primates present.
• Community and chieftaincy involvement - the local role in creating it.

When to go

November to February in the drier months. Two days. Permits and guides are arranged in advance through the conservation organisations working there.

Honest expectations

Gorillas are not habituated and will not be seen. Walking is steep and muddy and there are no trails in the developed sense. There is no visitor infrastructure. Ask locally how the area stands before planning a trip.

Nearby

Menji is north-east; the Bakossi mountains lie east.