National Parks In Senegal

There are six national parks and four reserves in Senegal. If the main reason for a visit to Senegal is to see the African animals in their natural environment, then come anytime between October and April. The Senegalese Ministry of Tourism has a strictly enforced policy that seeks to regulate tourism, conservation and preservation of the natural habitat. Accommodation is available, in the form of camps and or lodges.

Parc Nationale De Basse Casamance is southwest of Ziguinchor. It has several kinds of vegetation that includes grassland, forest swamps, mangroves and tidal mud flats. Animals include the Red Colobus Monkey and the duiker. Do check the current situation before venturing into the area as it was the scene of recent skirmishes between various guerrilla factions.

Parc Nationale De Niokolo-Koba straddles two diverse geographical areas, the Sudanese savannah and the Guinea forests and spreads across an area of over 9000 sq km. The park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is the home to 86 species of animals including the elephant, lion, leopard, panther, the giant derby eland, hippo, crocodile, waterbuck, bushbuck, baboon, buffalo, monkey, roan antelope, hartebeest and over 350 species of birds. Niokolo Koba can be reached by plane to the nearest airport of Simenti plus a 2-hour drive to the park; by road from Dakar to Tambacounda or by the biweekly train service from Dakar to Tambacounda, the park’s headquarters.

Birdwatchers have more than just a few sanctuaries to visit in Senegal - the parks and nature reserves in the coastal regions are famous bird sanctuaries and breeding grounds for a variety of migratory and native birds. Coastal parks often involve boat trips through swampy lands, estuaries and deltas.

Parc National des Oiseaux de Djoudj: Spread across 40,000 acres of protected water stretches along the Senegal River, at the southern most edge of the Sahara desert is the world heritage site of the Parc National de Oiseaux de Djoudj. The park cum sanctuary is only 60km from St Louis and is one of the most important bird sanctuaries in the world. From November to April, some three million birds migrate south from Europe and stop here, as it is the last place with perennial water. Its position makes it the favourite nesting and resting spot for migratory birds. The park literally teems with an abundance of bird species from around the world and a number of previously unknown bird species have been identified. Pink flamingos, ducks and waders, white pelicans, spur winged geese, herons, egrets, spoonbills; bustards, tree ducks and black tailed godwits are some of the birds seen here.

Parc National Langue De Barbarie is 20 km south of St. Louis is also a good place for a quick trip if you are short of time. It is a narrow strip of sandy marsh lands lying between the Atlantic and the River Senegal, and is the perfect place to see birds and sea tortoises that come here to breed. Boat trips from St Louis make the trip even more exciting.

Parc National du Delta du Saloum lies in the Saloum Delta, 80km east of Kaolack in an area extending over 180,000 acres. The park is characterised by small islands, sand dunes and swamps providing a perfect habitat for hundreds of bird species, including pelicans, storks and pink flamingos, egrets, cormorants, ducks and spoonbills.