Sapo Ecolodge

The Wild Chimpanzee Foundation in collaboration with the Forestry Development Authority in Liberia is promoting community-based ecotourism at Sapo National Park to ensure long-term benefits for local forest communities. The Sapo Ecolodge is located at the edge of Sapo National Park, close to the park’s headquarters at Jalay Town, Sinoe County. There are six self-contained rooms, a new solar system, an extended eating platform and an additional tent platform. Community members from around Sapo National Park have been trained to actively participate and lead on tourism activities, with a focus on local women. They work at the Sapo Ecolodge and have been trained as tourist guides and caterers. A local cultural troupe was trained that now can offer traditional dancing, drama and storytelling to tourists. Local women received literacy and business training to build up a conservation enterprise, the Sapo Women Conservation Enterprise, that partially manages tourism-related activities. The ecolodge provides livelihood support for six security guards and five cooks/cleaners, including seven women.

Activities to do at Sapo National Park and Sapo Ecolodge:

• Enjoy nature and relax

• Forest hiking

• Bird Watching

• Boat tour on Sinoe River

• Cultural program

• Cooking, craft, dancing and drumming classes