Sierra Leone

Gola-Tiwai complex

WHS Score 1.15
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Votes 2 Average 1.5
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Votes for Gola-Tiwai complex

1.0

  • Mihai Dascalu

2.0

  • Bill Maurmann

The Gola-Tiwai Complex represents one of the few remaining large forest blocks within the Upper Guinean Forest.

Due to its high rainfall and limited deforestation, its moist tropical forest is mostly intact. The four components, across Gola Rainforest National Park and Tiwa Island Wildlife Sanctuary, are rich in plant species with over 10% endemics. Notable mammals that live here include the endemic pygmy hippopotamus, African forest elephant, zebra duiker, chimpanzee, Diana monkey, western red colobus and three species of pangolin. Its rivers and lakes are known for freshwater fish.

Community Perspective: the sole review so far concerns Tiwai Island and its dense jungle.

Site Info

Official Information
Full Name
Gola-Tiwai complex (ID: 1746)
Country
Sierra Leone
Status
Inscribed 2025 Site history
History of Gola-Tiwai complex
2025: Inscribed
Meets criteria 9 and 10
2022: Added to Tentative List
Added to tentative list
2022: Revision
Successor to the TWHS of Tiwai Island Wildlife Sanctuary and Gola Rainforest National Park (both 2012)
Type
Natural
Criteria
  • ix
  • x
Links
UNESCO
whc.unesco.org
All Links
UNESCO.org

Community Information

  • Community Category
  • Natural landscape: Forest
Travel Information
No travel information
Recent Connections
View all (12) .
Connections of Gola-Tiwai complex
Ecology
  • Hippos
    "the flagship Pygmy Hippopotamus" (IUCN ev)
  • Over 300 bird species
    "Reports of bird species range as high as 448 but, according to the nomination dossier, this is currently under review by independent experts." (AB ev)
  • Pangolin
    three species of pangolins (the Giant, the White-bellied, and the Long-tailed)
  • Rainforests
    Gola Rainforest National Park
  • Chimpanzee habitat
    Western Chimpanzee
  • Elephants
    African Forest Elephant
  • Fish
    "a cradle for Tilapia evolution" (AB ev, Crit IX)
World Heritage Process
  • Natural sites filling gaps cited by IUCN
    "a 2020 IUCN World Heritage gap analysis called for the creation of a transnational serial site in the Upper Guinean part of the Guinean Forests of West Africa biodiversity hotspot to complement the existing Taï National Park" (AB ev)
  • First inscriptions
    Sierra Leone 2025
  • Perfect Inscriptions

    2025

  • Potential Transboundary sites
    the adjacent Gola Rainforest National Park (Liberia)
  • Extension Supported
    "Encourages the State Party of Sierra Leone to continue to build cooperation on management of the GTC with the adjacent Gola Rainforest National Park (Liberia), and coordinate with the State Party of Liberia towards a significant boundary modification for a transboundary World Heritage property"
News

No news.

Community Reviews

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First published: 15/03/25.

Bill Maurmann

Gola-Tiwai complex

Gola-Tiwai complex (Inscribed)

I visited Tiwai Island on a Lupine Travels tour in June 2023. The intent was to stay overnight at a community center dormitory in the middle of the island. Rugged road going in. Vehicle was parked and local guides loaded our luggage onto small boats. We drifted downriver about ten minutes before banking on the opposite shore. We followed a short trail to the center where we had dinner, were entertained by locals doing traditional dances and a role play involving a demon. The next morning a guide took us through island trails. The jungle was dense. Most impressive vegetation were the banyan trees. We didn’t see any animals other than a large impressive spider, but there were plenty of birds. 

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