National Parks in the Central African Republic
The Central African Republic, as its name suggests, is located in Central Africa. The country is roughly twice the size of Germany and lies at the heart of Africa’s tropical rainforest.
While the entire south of the country is inhabited by dense rainforest, the rainforest becomes sparser towards the north and transitions into a dry savanna. Endangered animal species live in the territory of the Central African Republic, including some of the last lowland gorillas. Several national parks have been established to protect them.
The Dzanga-Sangha Protected Area
Located at the tripoint of Cameroon, the Republic of the Congo and the Central African Republic is the Dzanga-Sangha Protected Area. On an area of 28,000 km², the tropical rainforest along with its flora and fauna is protected here. Among tourists, the Dzanga-Sangha National Park is the most popular park in the country; it is undoubtedly the flagship of the Central African Republic. It was named after the Dzanga and Sangha rivers, home to various crocodile and reptile species.
It rains here all year round, especially heavily from October to November. The Dzanga-Sangha Protected Area is home to the critically endangered lowland gorillas; additionally, other primate species such as chimpanzees, colobus monkeys and baboons live here. In the dense tropical forest, forest elephants, bongos and forest buffaloes also find ideal living conditions under the protection of rangers.
The Manovo-Gounda Saint Floris National Park
In the north of the country lies the Manovo-Gounda Saint Floris National Park, which has also been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1988. Due to its diverse and significant animal and plant life, protecting this area is of particular importance. However, the park still suffers greatly from poachers who migrate from the neighboring countries of the Central African Republic.
In the vast dry savanna, large herds of elephants and gazelles live, which are also prey for the local predators. Cheetahs, lions and leopards are native to the Manovo-Gounda Saint Floris National Park.
Towards the south, the area becomes significantly more fertile; in some parts, certain park areas are permanently under water. In this region, African buffaloes graze, and a variety of different bird species also make their home in the national park.
The Dzanga-Ndoki National Park
Perfect for safari tours is the Dzanga-Ndoki National Park in the southwest of the Central African Republic. It is very popular among tourists as it reflects the diversity of the flora and fauna in the country. Here, dense tropical forest alternates with expansive grasslands and smaller lakes, which can also be explored by boat and canoe. It rains almost every day in this area for eight to ten months of the year, so tourists should visit during the dry season from December to March.
The protection of the area is of high importance; the last forest elephants in Central Africa are native to the region. The population of native lowland gorillas has noticeably recovered, although gorillas are rarely seen on tours. They often live deep in the rainforest, where other primates, sloths and a variety of reptiles also feel at home.
