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- Old Liberia Mining Company pits: This is what the name Bomi Hills is known for. Liberia’s first big iron ore mine opened here in the early 1950s and closed in the late 1970s. The terraced cuts in the hillsides are now rust-red scars softened by grass and secondary forest, and the ore-stained soil still colors your boots. Walk with a local who knows which ledges are stable.
- Remnants of the mine railway: The line that once hauled ore down to the coast has left embankments, cuttings and rusted fragments running through the bush. Following a stretch on foot gives you a clear picture of how much industry once moved through this valley. Expect heat, tall grass and the buzz of insects.
- Former company staff quarters: Rows of mid-century bungalows and concrete shells, some patched up and lived in, others
- Old Liberia Mining Company pits: This is what the name Bomi Hills is known for. Liberia’s first big iron ore mine opened here in the early 1950s and closed in the late 1970s. The terraced cuts in the hillsides are now rust-red scars softened by grass and secondary forest, and the ore-stained soil still colors your boots. Walk with a local who knows which ledges are stable.
- Remnants of the mine railway: The line that once hauled ore down to the coast has left embankments, cuttings and rusted fragments running through the bush. Following a stretch on foot gives you a clear picture of how much industry once moved through this valley. Expect heat, tall grass and the buzz of insects.
- Former company staff quarters: Rows of mid-century bungalows and concrete shells, some patched up and lived in, others swallowed by vines. Cracked verandas, old drainage channels and mango trees planted decades ago make the layout of the company town easy to read. Ask permission before photographing houses that are occupied.
- The old mine hospital grounds: The hospital was built for the mining workforce and is among the most substantial structures of that era. Its long, low blocks and weathered walls speak of a time when the town had steady wages and services. It is a quiet, reflective stop, and a respectful visit with a local guide goes down well.
- Hilltop clearings above the workings: A few high points give long views over the green folds of Bomi County, with the scarred mine benches below and forest stretching away. Go early, when the air is cooler and woodsmoke from morning cooking drifts upward. Nobody charges for these views, and you will usually have them to yourself.
- Tubmanburg market: The county capital sits right beside the mining hills, and its market is where cassava leaf, palm oil, dried fish and secondhand clothes change hands in loud, friendly bargaining. Eat a plate of rice with soup from a roadside cookshop and ask locals about the mine years. Go in the morning, before the heat builds.
- Village paths through the surrounding rubber and farm bush: Footpaths link small settlements where families tap rubber trees, pound cassava and dry palm kernels on tarps. It is an unpolished look at everyday rural Liberia, and greetings go a long way. Bring small change for water and snacks, and a local companion if you want to go further than the first few villages.
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Hi, I’m Johan (Netherlands 🇳🇱), the creator of TakeYourBackpack. Over the past 3 decades, I’ve backpacked through 90+ countries across six continents, gaining extensive experience with independent travel, long-term trips, and overland routes.