Ziama Massif

The Ziama massif in southeastern Guinea holds one of the largest surviving blocks of Upper Guinean rainforest, protected as a biosphere reserve, with forest elephant, chimpanzee and pygmy hippopotamus among its mammals and a bird list of nearly three hundred species. It rises to over a thousand metres and is one of the wettest parts of the country. Access is by rough road and then walking, and visitors are very few. The reserve covers about 1,160 square kilometres and was designated a biosphere reserve in 1980.

The landscape

• The rainforest block - one of the largest surviving in Upper Guinea.
• The pygmy hippopotamus - the rare forest species recorded here.
• The forest elephants - the population moving through the massif.
• The elevation - ground rising over a thousand metres under canopy.

When to go

November to February is the drier season and the practical window. The forest is wet in every month. The long rains make access impossible.

Practical notes

Infrastructure is minimal and everything must be arranged in advance with guides. Large mammals are heard rather than seen and sightings are very unlikely. Logging and farming pressure on the edges is heavy.

Nearby

Sérédou is nearby, and Nzérékoré is southeast.

Key facts