National park · Sierra Leone
Gola Rainforest National Park
Enter Gola Rainforest National Park for a day: pay the entry fee (check) at the Gola Conservation Centre, then hike the Diana Monkey trail (2 h) in the morning; avoid the rainy season (May–Oct).
- Source checked
- A source and a date are on record: we read it from an official or published page. Not yet confirmed on the ground.
- Field checked
- Someone checked it on the ground, with the date shown.
- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify
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Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
711 km² (274 sq mi)274 sq mi (711 km²)
approximate
Established
2025
Best months
Jan–Apr
UNESCO
World Heritage
Rules in force · 6Nine African countries on this site have no trip line bec…Carry an original yellow fever vaccination certificate on…
- Africa ↗When a route touches a yellow-fever country — even a transit of 12 hours or more — keep the original yellow card (ICVP) in your hand luggage; health desks and airlines can refuse boarding or entry without it.
- Africa ↗Nine African countries on this site have no trip line because governments advise against travel; several others have no-go regions. Read your government's advice for every country on the route before paying deposits.
- West Africa ↗Carry an original yellow fever vaccination certificate on any West African trip: several countries on the coast road demand it of every arrival, and the rest demand it after you have passed through a neighbour.
- West Africa ↗Cross land borders and drive between cities in daylight only; plan each crossing as a full travel day with cash for fees and passport copies for checkpoints.
- Sierra Leone ↗Check visa and entry rules for your passport on official Sierra Leone government sources before booking.
- Sierra Leone ↗Book the Lungi–Freetown crossing (water taxi or ferry) before you land, and check how the operator handles late arrivals.
At a glance
- Country
- Sierra Leone
- Area
- 711 km² (274 sq mi)274 sq mi (711 km²)
- The park covers about 710.7 km² of rainforest (71,070 ha). Figures are from the official site and Wikipedia.
- Established
- 2025
- Best months
- Jan–Apr
- Permits
- For some areas
Gola Rainforest National Park protects Sierra Leone's largest remaining Upper Guinean rainforest, offering birdwatching, primates and community‑run trekking experiences.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- UNESCO World Heritage · 2025Listed together with Tiwai Island.
Size and age
711 km² (274 sq mi)274 sq mi (711 km²) · national park since 2025
The park covers about 710.7 km² of rainforest (71,070 ha). Figures are from the official site and Wikipedia.
Why go
- Birdwatching among 330 species, including rare forest birds.
- Spotting primates such as western chimpanzees and pygmy hippopotamuses.
- Trekking through the largest remaining rainforest in Sierra Leone.
When to go
- JanBest
- FebBest
- MarBest
- AprBest
- MayCaution
- JunCaution
- JulCaution
- AugCaution
- SepCaution
- OctCaution
- NovGo
- DecGo
- JanDry, cool.
- FebDry, cool.
- MarDry, warming.
- AprDry, warm.
- MayStart of rains.
- JunRainy, trails slippery.
- JulRainy, high humidity.
- AugRainy, possible flooding.
- SepRainy, occasional dry spells.
- OctEnd of rains, still wet.
- NovTransition to dry.
- DecDry, cooler.
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birds (330 species, including forest specialists)All year | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Western chimpanzees, pygmy hippopotamuses, forest elephantsAll year | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Diana monkeys, red colobus, black‑and‑white colobusAll year | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
Show 3 sectionsHideHow to get there, Zones and sectors, Sketch map
How to get there
From Freetown
Drive or hire a car north via the M4 to Lalehun (approx. 4 h, 200 km (124 mi)).Drive or hire a car north via the M4 to Lalehun (approx. 4 h, 124 mi (200 km)).
4–5 h
Open the page →
From Bo
Drive east to Kenema then north to Lalehun; about 3 h total.
3–4 h
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Gola Conservation Centre (Lalehun) | Main entry gate, visitor lodge, information desk, and trailhead for short hikes. | Open with entry ticket. |
| Diana Monkey Lodge area | Half‑day nature trails to see Diana monkeys and other primates. | Guided walks from the lodge. |
| Belebu Community area | Village guesthouse, cultural evenings, and moderate trekking routes. | Community‑run, bookings required. |
Sketch map
Take the points offline
3 points as a GPX waypoint file, plus a plain-text list of coordinates. Save it while you have signal: maps apps show the points without a connection.
Coordinates from official website; approximate for trailheads.
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Show Top experiencesHide
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Show 8 sectionsHideEntry fees and permits, Park rules, Where to stay, Safety, Accessibility, Visiting lightly, Questions people ask, Related
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park entry (Gola Conservation Centre) | Free | person | Price not published; check on arrival. |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Park entry permit or guide
Park rules
- Guides
- Required for longer treks and camping trips.
- Camping
- Only in designated sites or with lodge arrangements.
- Fire
- Open fires prohibited; use provided stoves.
- Litter
- Carry out all rubbish.
- Wildlife interaction
- Do not feed or approach animals.
Where to stay
In the park
Gola Conservation Centre lodge
Simple rooms, shared facilities, 1 km (0.6 mi) from gate.Simple rooms, shared facilities, 0.6 mi (1 km) from gate.
Near the park
Diana Monkey Lodge
Cottages and dormitory blocks, 3 km (1.9 mi) from gate.Cottages and dormitory blocks, 1.9 mi (3 km) from gate.
Near the park
Belebu community guesthouse
Village‑run rooms, cultural evenings.
Safety
Rain and slippery trails medium
Wild animal encounters low
Limited mobile coverage medium
How much daylight do you have?
Time out
Finding the local time zone…
Times are local to the spot (zone loading). The half-hour margin is our rule of thumb, not an official figure; light fades earlier in forest or under cloud. Carry a headlamp on any route that could run late.
Accessibility
- Main gate reachable by car; short trail to Diana Monkey area is wheelchair‑incompatible due to uneven ground.
Visiting lightly
- Stay in community‑run lodges; fees support local conservation.
- Avoid single‑use plastics; use refillable water bottles.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Gola Rainforest National Park?
Entry fee is collected at the Gola Conservation Centre; the exact price is not listed online and should be confirmed on arrival (check).
What are the best hikes in Gola Rainforest National Park?
The Diana Monkey trail (2 h, easy) and the Belebu community trek (4–5 h, moderate) are popular; longer multi‑day treks require a guide.
When is the best time to visit Gola Rainforest National Park?
The dry season from December to April offers the most reliable trails and wildlife viewing.
Can I camp in the park without a guide?
Camping is only allowed in designated sites or through lodge arrangements, which include a guide.
Is a visa required for Sierra Leone?
Yes, most visitors need an e‑visa or visa on arrival; arrange before travel.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go
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Ask about Gola Rainforest National Park
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