Gola National Park, Rainforest national park in Eastern Province, Sierra Leone
Gola National Park sits in the Eastern Province of Sierra Leone and protects lowland tropical forests filled with diverse plant and animal life. The park covers large stretches of forest landscape with different habitats for rare wildlife.
The park was founded in 2011 and marked a turning point in Sierra Leone's environmental protection after years of forest loss. Its creation followed efforts to preserve forest areas that had faced serious threats.
Local communities near the park live closely with the forest and use traditional knowledge in their daily practices. Visitors can observe how this connection shapes the rhythm of life in the surrounding villages.
Visitors should arrange transportation and accommodation in advance because of the park's remote location. Local guides help with navigation and make visits safer and more informative.
The forest is home to around 40 bat species alongside rare mammals like pygmy hippopotamuses and red colobus monkeys. This variety makes it a refuge for animals that have become scarce elsewhere.
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