National parks in Cameroon
Few other countries on the African continent reflect the diversity of the continent as comprehensively as Cameroon. The country is located in Central Africa, directly on the Atlantic Ocean.
In the central region, tropical temperatures and rainy periods prevail, while in the northernmost tip of Cameroon, directly on Lake Chad, the climate is dry. As diverse as the climate is the flora and fauna of the country. For the protection of nature, Cameroon has a large number of national parks, some of which are also part of the UNESCO World Natural Heritage.
The Dja Wildlife Reserve
Named after the Dja River, this reserve has been officially designated as a national park since 1981. The park is one of the best-preserved rainforests on the entire continent. Over an area of 5,260 km², more than 100 different mammal and around 350 bird species live here. Endangered animal species such as forest elephants, lowland gorillas and some primate species are under special protection by local rangers.
Crocodiles are native to the riverbanks, and reptiles, including the poisonous black-and-white rinkhals, can be found throughout the park. For tourists, there are two notable starting points to explore the area. The villages of Lomié and Djoum lie on the edge of the national park and are ideal as starting points for exploring the Dja Wildlife Reserve.
The Takamanda National Park
As the most recent protected area, the Takamanda National Park was added to the list of national parks in 2008. Located on the border with Nigeria, the rangers in this area have a special task. In the mountainous region, parts of the Mbe Mountains are within the protected area, Cross River gorillas are native here. There are fewer than 300 of these animals left worldwide. Their preservation is of the utmost priority.
In addition to the gorillas, reptiles are also at home in this national park. African spurred tortoises, hinge-backed tortoises and Nile softshell turtles have perfectly adapted to the adverse conditions in the rainy mountain region.
The Waza National Park
One of the oldest national parks in the country lies far to the north, in the region of Lake Chad: the Waza National Park. Founded as a reserve in 1934, this protected area has had the status of a national park since 1968 and may soon also be part of the UNESCO World Natural Heritage.
Symbolic of the park are vast grasslands in the east, which are flooded during the rainy season from June to October. The west of the country is heavily forested, mostly with acacias.
Despite its size of about 1,700 km², the Waza National Park is not very densely populated, which makes the preservation of the animal species all the more important. The last elephants in West Africa are native to Waza, their population numbers a few hundred animals. Occasionally, larger populations of giraffes can be encountered in the park, a sight that is now rare within the Sahel zone.
Antelopes, warthogs and gazelles are found in significantly larger numbers in the Waza National Park. In the densely forested areas, numerous bird species can also be found, their number is estimated at around 300. Perhaps the most imposing bird species is the grey crowned crane, which draws attention with its feathered crown.
