• Mount Nimba
    Mount Nimba

Mount Nimba

Lace up your hiking boots and visit Mount Nimba for incredible views over three West African countries which will be tough to beat. Keep your eyes peeled for an amazing array of wildlife and birdlife, as well as over 100 species of orchid and the African Giant Swallowtail, Africa’s largest butterfly, all of which find sanctuary in this rich, rainforest habitat.

Beyond this rewarding outdoor experience is an opportunity to learn about the region’s fascinating mining history. In the 60s, Swedish workers of the Liberian American Mining Company, LAMCO, paved the mountain trail. Remnants of their activities remain and are being swallowed up by the surrounding rainforest. Still, the trail provides excellent opportunities for bikers, hikers, and drivers to explore the cliffs and rich biodiversity of this part of the East Nimba Nature Reserve.

As you begin to make your way to the summit on a paved road built in the ’60s by the Liberian American Mining Company, LAMCO, you first arrive at the Nimba Ecolodge and Reserve reception to pay an entrance fee, organize guided hikes, and gather information about the reserve. From there, you enter the reserve through the main gate. 

As you make your way up to the summit, the landscape of Mount Nimba changes dramatically from forest to savannah and then to the misty green staircase of the former mine. The main road into the reserve will bring you to Blue Lake, an old mine pit now converted into a beautiful lake. From Blue Lake, hikers can enjoy multiple trails through the forest or a longer guided trek on the tri-border trail that leads to a breathtaking lookout of two neighboring countries. Ask your hotel or the Nimba Ecolodge and Reserve Reception to help you arrange a guide for day hikes in reserve.

Mount Nimba is in Nimba County and is about a 4-5 hour drive from Monrovia, mostly on paved roads (from Monrovia to Ganta). Nimba Ecolodge and Reserve, located next to the beautiful Blue Lake, is the only option for accommodation and food services within East Nimba Nature Reserve. Outside the Reserve, Sanniquellie and Yekepa are convenient locations to access East Nimba Nature Reserve, which have several accommodation options and restaurants.