Gola National Park National Park

Gola National Park is a large tract of tropical rainforest in eastern Sierra Leone, protected for its high biodiversity and intact forest habitats. The area is one of the country’s most important remaining blocks of closed-canopy rainforest and supports a range of large mammals, primates and forest birds.

The park was created from formerly managed forest reserves and community lands to provide longer-term protection for the forest and its species. It is the focus of conservation work and research on West African rainforest ecosystems and species such as chimpanzees.

Visitors come for guided forest walks, wildlife observation and community-led ecotourism experiences rather than for developed tourist infrastructure. Access is by road from regional towns and visits are typically organised through conservation or tour operators.

Gola National Park lies in Sierra Leone’s Eastern Province, near the country’s border with Liberia and Guinea and within the broader Upper Guinean rainforest region. The nearest regional towns provide staging points for park access.

• Biodiversity importance: The forest is a key stronghold for West African biodiversity, including populations of chimpanzees and a variety of forest-dependent bird and mammal species.
• Protected-area status: Designated a national park in the 21st century after conservation campaigns, the area is managed for conservation alongside community-based forest use and tourism initiatives.

Gola National Park (Gola Rainforest) is reached by road from the main towns in eastern Sierra Leone - Kenema and Kailahun - on unsealed local roads; a 4x4 vehicle is normally required. Visitors travelling from Freetown will travel overland to Kenema and then on local tracks to the park; park entry and trail access are managed from park/ranger stations, so arrange transport and permits in advance. Trails start at the ranger stations and require escorted walks into the forest.

• Visit during the dry season (roughly November-April) when trails and forest tracks are most passable and wildlife is easier to locate from hides and paths.
• Arrange park entry and guided walks in advance through the Gola Forest/park office or Conservation Society of Sierra Leone - guided, permitted visits are the norm and local guides improve chances of seeing primates and birds.
• Start walks early in the morning for the best wildlife activity and plan to spend at least two days to reach different sectors of the park and avoid rushing through the most biodiverse areas.
• Don't skip arranging community visits: many biodiversity and conservation projects around Gola are run by local communities and are best experienced by booking a guided village visit through the park office.