Kono District, Sierra Leone
Located in the Tingi Hills Forest Reserve is the second highest mountain in Sierra Leone, Sankan Biriwa. Standing 6,070 feet above sea level, the mountain is completely surrounded by dense jungle and is a hard fought two-day hike from the nearest village, Kenewa. Xtreme Xcursions led a pilot trip through the Tingi Hills, with sights set on summiting Sankan Biriwa to determine the viability of future commercial trips and capture the raw beauty of the area. This group would be the first outside of locals to attempt the summit since the 1930’s, where one member of the party fell to their death. As legend is told, after the Devil appeared claiming to hold the secret to reaching the summit, the man chased the devil off of the side of the mountain to his death. The man is still buried at the base of the mountain, and a glass bottle, some 90 years old, remains at the top of the mountain as a place to leave an offering to his spirit.
