# Sambaya, Tonkolili District – Sections, Population & Map > Source: https://wherepedia.org/sierra-leone/northern/tonkolili/sambaya/ Chiefdom · Tonkolili District # Sambaya Sambaya is a chiefdom of Sierra Leone in Tonkolili District, Northern Province. It had an estimated **35,671 people** in 2020 on 689 km² (about 52 per km²). It is divided into 4 sections. 53 named villages and localities are recorded here. - 35,671people (2020) - 689km² - 4sections ## How many people live in Sambaya? Sambaya had an estimated **35,671 people** in 2020 — 6.0% of Tonkolili District, 76th of 161 chiefdoms. There are 962 women for every 1,000 men (below the Tonkolili District figure of 981). Spread over 689 km², that is about **52 people per km²**, 131st of 161 chiefdoms. 40.8% of people are children under 15 and 3.5% are 65 or older; the median age is about 19 years (it is 19 across Tonkolili District). For every 100 people of working age (15–64) there are 80 children and older people. 0–4 ****4,721** 5–9 ****5,578** 10–14 ****4,264** 15–19 ****4,394** 20–24 ****3,330** 25–29 ****3,055** 30–34 ****2,182** 35–39 ****2,117** 40–44 ****1,506** 45–49 ****1,221** 50–54 ****941** 55–59 ****556** 60–64 ****566** 65–69 ****371** 70–74 ****330** 75–79 ****200** 80+ ****339** Source: [Statistics Sierra Leone (SSL) _ Population and Housing Census / UNFPA via OCHA HDX, population 2020 (COD-PS, CC BY-IGO)](https://data.humdata.org/dataset/cod-ps-sle). ## Where is Sambaya? Sambaya lies in [Tonkolili District](https://wherepedia.org/sierra-leone/northern/tonkolili/), [Northern Province](https://wherepedia.org/sierra-leone/northern/), [Sierra Leone](https://wherepedia.org/sierra-leone/). It borders 5 other chiefdoms: [Diang](https://wherepedia.org/sierra-leone/northern/koinadugu/diang/), [Kafe Simiria](https://wherepedia.org/sierra-leone/northern/tonkolili/kafe-simiria/), [Kalansogoia](https://wherepedia.org/sierra-leone/northern/tonkolili/kalansogoia/), [Kunike](https://wherepedia.org/sierra-leone/northern/tonkolili/kunike/) and [Nieni](https://wherepedia.org/sierra-leone/northern/koinadugu/nieni/). By area it is the 29th largest of 167 chiefdoms in Sierra Leone. It covers 10.7% of [Tonkolili District](https://wherepedia.org/sierra-leone/northern/tonkolili/). The centre of Sambaya is about 195 km in a straight line from Freetown, the capital. The centre point is at 9.0125° N, 11.5440° W. Source: [Government of Sierra Leone via OCHA HDX, administrative boundaries (COD-AB, CC BY-IGO)](https://data.humdata.org/dataset/cod-ab-sle). ## Know before you go: Sambaya - Time zoneUTC+0, no daylight saving · Africa/Freetown - CurrencyLeone (SLE) - Country calling code+232 - LanguagesEnglish, Mende, Timne - Plug typesType G · 230 V - Driving sideRight ### Nearest airports - Lungi International Airport (FNA) · Freetown (Lungi-Town)187 km - Ahmed Sékou Touré International Airport (CKY) · Conakry235 km ### Daylight Days are longest in Jun (about 12.6 hours, sunrise around 06:26) and shortest in Dec (about 11.6 hours, sunrise around 06:53, sunset around 18:29). Source: [GeoNames country and time-zone files (CC BY 4.0)](https://www.geonames.org/); [Wikidata (CC0) — plug types, mains voltage, driving side; retrieved 2026-11-02](https://www.wikidata.org/); [OurAirports (public domain)](https://ourairports.com/data/). Airports with scheduled passenger flights; straight-line distances. Daylight is calculated for the 15th of each month in local standard time. Check entry and visa rules with official government sources before travelling. ## Sections of Sambaya Section Area km² Localities Services [Borowah](https://wherepedia.org/sierra-leone/northern/tonkolili/sambaya/borowah/) 97 8 0 [Buyan](https://wherepedia.org/sierra-leone/northern/tonkolili/sambaya/buyan/) 281 25 0 [Dayie](https://wherepedia.org/sierra-leone/northern/tonkolili/sambaya/dayie/) 171 12 0 [Sambaya](https://wherepedia.org/sierra-leone/northern/tonkolili/sambaya/sambaya/) 140 8 0 Source: [Government of Sierra Leone via OCHA HDX, administrative boundaries (COD-AB, CC BY-IGO)](https://data.humdata.org/dataset/cod-ab-sle); [GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) — settlements, natural and historic features](https://www.geonames.org/); [Overture Maps places (CDLA-Permissive-2.0) and © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)](https://overturemaps.org/). ## Villages and localities in Sambaya Open gazetteers list **53 villages, towns and localities** in Sambaya. Settlements here lie between about 345 m and 595 m above sea level (median 411 m). - Babura - Bamabalia - Banakoro - Basaya - Bendugu - Dandaya - Dankowolia - Dawia - Faransula - Farataw - Fenkembaia - Folia - Furibalia - Gbamabalia - Gberikoro - Herako - Jandugu - Kabaia - Kailankoro - Kamero - Kandaia - Kandambaya - Kangorobaia - Kanigba - Kankorobaia - Karandugu - Kasafoni - Kassafonie - Keradugu - Kombadugu - Komoia - Kulufaga - Kunya - Kurakoro - Kuyi - Ma-Uzni - Makekura - Mamuria - Masindugu - Mindia - Movia - Nanfayi - Nunkekoro - Pinomakondoia - Sahafaria - Sangbaya - Sekuya - Shekoia - Sokurela - Sumania - Sundulukoro - Wesima - Yandugu Source: [GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) — settlements, natural and historic features](https://www.geonames.org/); [© OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), Geofabrik extract — named settlements](https://www.openstreetmap.org/copyright). ## Landscape and landmarks of Sambaya Named natural and historic features inside Sambaya, from the GeoNames gazetteer. ### Water 34 rivers and streams. - Balu - Basia - Bekuli - Buluwa - Kamatomeni - Kapuan - Kebonba - Keru - Kilisegi - Kolowa - Kulako - Ma - Usi - Mabamba - Mafa - Maferni - Makenti - Malugu - Mapampa - Maporo - Matogale - Matura - Mawuru - Miasami - Miyaki …and 10 more. ### Hills and mountains 14 hills; 10 mountains. - Tankabu · 963 m - Simbili · 853 m - Bamabala · 733 m - Sundu · 687 m - Bidali · 685 m - Marangbe · 672 m - Bugubu · 669 m - Turuma · 666 m - Kirifi · 637 m - Mara · 627 m - Sundulumusa · 619 m - Wa · 582 m - Kalla · 571 m - Kulu · 567 m - Kuni · 561 m - Lukinki · 549 m - Birika · 546 m - Sankara · 542 m - Sansalma · 537 m - Wulu · 523 m - Kamakun · 521 m - Mangi · 517 m - Funkuba · 494 m - Sensikirma · 422 m Source: [GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) — settlements, natural and historic features](https://www.geonames.org/). Places of worship are not listed. Elevations are from the GeoNames terrain model and are approximate. ## Weather in Sambaya and the best time to visit Using the climate of Tonkolili District, the warmest month is Apr (average 28 °C) and the coolest is Aug (22 °C), after allowing for this place being about 318 m higher than the climate reference point (about 6.5 °C per 1,000 m). About 2,066 mm of rain falls in a year; the wettest month is Aug (570 mm) and the driest Jan (1 mm). The most comfortable months for a visit are **November to May**. - Jan - Feb - Mar - Apr - May - Jun - Jul - Aug - Sep - Oct - Nov - Dec Month Average °C Rain mm Jan 23 1 Feb 26 4 Mar 27 9 Apr 28 28 May 26 108 Jun 24 310 Jul 23 478 Aug 22 570 Sep 23 346 Oct 23 161 Nov 24 47 Dec 23 3 Source: [NASA POWER climatology, retrieved 2026-10-29](https://power.larc.nasa.gov/). ## Quick answers - Where is Sambaya?In Tonkolili District, Northern Province, Sierra Leone - What is the population of Sambaya?35,671 (2020 estimate) - What is the median age in Sambaya?About 19 years (2020 estimate) - What is the population density of Sambaya?About 52 people per km² - What borders Sambaya?Diang, Kafe Simiria, Kalansogoia, Kunike and Nieni - What time zone is Sambaya in?UTC+0 - What currency is used in Sambaya?Leone (SLE) - What language is spoken in Sambaya?English, Mende, Timne (main languages nationally) - How many villages are in Sambaya?53 named settlements (GeoNames, OpenStreetMap) - What is the elevation of Sambaya?Settlements lie between 345 m and 595 m - What is the highest point in Sambaya?Tankabu (963 m, GeoNames elevation model) - What is the best time to visit Sambaya?November to May - What is the P-code of Sambaya?SL020509 (OCHA common operational dataset)