Gbarpolu

Gbarpolu is a rural county in northwestern Liberia, with its capital and main administrative centre at Bopolu. Created in 2001 from parts of Lofa County, it covers roughly 9,689 km² of forest, farmland and small settlements, and shares a border with Sierra Leone to the west.

Bopolu, the county seat, lies about 100 km north of Monrovia. It was historically the centre of the Kondo Confederation, which brought together Gola, Dei, Lorma and Vai communities, and the grave site of King Sao Boso remains a notable local landmark.

The county is known for its Upper Guinea Forest landscapes, with extensive tropical forest, rivers and wildlife habitat. Most of the population lives in small towns and villages, and agriculture, artisanal gold mining and some logging are among the main local activities.

Visitors usually arrive by road from Monrovia, and travel within Gbarpolu generally requires a sturdy vehicle because many routes are unpaved. Facilities remain limited but improving, with small guesthouses, markets and local restaurants concentrated in Bopolu.

For travellers, Gbarpolu offers a look at rural Liberia, forest scenery and the heritage of the Kondo Confederation, while business and NGO visitors come for mining, forestry, agriculture and development work across the county.