Gola Rainforest National Park Sierra Leone

Gola Rainforest National Park Sierra Leone

The Gola Forest is the largest remaining area of the Upper Guinea tropical forest in Sierra Leone. It shows a high variety of different forest habitats in different stages (pristine to disturbed, and various succession stages) and is home to many species, many of them being endemic to the Upper Guinean forests, and even to smaller areas in the region.

The Gola Forest lies within the wet tropical climatic zone and the average rainfall is estimated at 2,800mm (White 1972). The predominant features of Gola include extensive rolling hills, but also areas of swampy terrain. Gola South, as far as the Mahoi River, is typified by relatively small trees with a dense understory and frequent swamps along the river valleys. The Gola Forest provides important local water supplies to villages around the forest and the forest reserves are an important catchment for the Moro, Mahoi, Mano, and Moa rivers. The total number of plant species recorded is 970 species with 599 forest species endemic to the Upper Guinea forests. Forty-nine species of larger mammals are known from the Gola Forest. The most important mammals of conservation value and significance are pygmy hippopotamus, African forest elephant, zebra duiker chimpanzee, Diana monkey, and western red colobus. All but the African elephant and chimpanzee are endemic to the Upper Guinea forests making Gola Forest exceptionally important for their conservation. Approximately 313 species of birds have been recorded with at least eighteen species of global conservation concern. To date, 43 species of amphibians have been identified in the NP, and six are listed as near threatened or vulnerable.

Size of Gola Rainforest national park

It covers an area of nearly 700 square kilometers where more than 330 bird species have been recorded, 14 of which face the global risk of extinction, including the endangered rufous fishing-owl and the Gola Malimbe.

Location of Gola Rainforest national park

Located in the south-eastern edge of Sierra Leone, on the border with Liberia, the Gola Forest is the largest remnant of the Upper Guinea tropical moist lowland high evergreen forest in Sierra Leone.

How to get to Gola Rainforest national park

Gola Rainforest national park is located 280 km from the main capital Freetown and using a 4×4 safari vehicle the trip is about 3-4 during the dry season and upon arrival, the community offices can help guide with necessary activities.

Things to do in Gola Rainforest national park

Visit Tiwai Island Wildlife Sanctuary

The Tiwai Island Wildlife Sanctuary is an amazing grassroots project aimed at raising awareness of the value of ecological conservation for locals and visitors. Locals are employed in all aspects of the project, which makes this effort sustainable

Wildlife encounters

49 species of large mammals are known to occur, of which 9 species are currently considered to be threatened. One species listed as Critically Endangered, four species as Endangered, and four as Vulnerable. The forest is home to healthy populations of several species of endemic primates including the Upper Guinean Red Colobus, the Western Pied Colobus (pictured), and the Diana Monkey. Several species of ungulates that are known to occur in the project zone are endemic to the Upper Guinea forests, such as the elusive Jentink’s Duiker and the smaller Zebra Duiker.

Canoeing

Canoeing along the river can be done arrangements by the community group of Kenema

Birding

Holds a high proportion of the threatened and endemic species of the region and a good representation of Guinea-Congolian forest biome species White-necked Picathartes, Rufous Fishing-Owl, White-breasted Guinea fowl, and Gola Malimbe Besides the high species diversity, several threatened species occur in good numbers.

When to visit Gola Rainforest national park

The climate is tropical and humid all year. Between November and June, it is very hot and dry, although the coastal areas are cooled by sea breezes. In December, January, and February the dry, dusty Harmattan wind blow from the Sahara. Rainfall can be torrential during the rainy season between May and November.

Where to stay in Gola Rainforest national park

The accommodation is simple but comfortable, the food simple but delicious, and the guided forest tours are beautiful and informative. A short ocada ride from Potoru and a boat trip across the river gets you relatively easily to the compound. One of the highlights of a visit to Sierra Leone!

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