PARK PENDJARI

100% NATURE DESTINATION

 Visit www.pendjari.net

The Pak National of Pendjari is situated in Benin and helps make up a protected area of 2,500,00 ha between Benin, Burkona Faso and Niger.  Park Pendjari covers an area of 275.000 ha and was created in 1961.  It is a unique national park for Western Africa, where a large number of fauna species can be observed with the same abundance and density as many of the Eastern African parks.  In its conservatory role, Park Penjari protects a wide variety of plants, mammals and birds.  It is assured that the park represents a sound ecological example of the ecosystems in Benin..

 

The only water course found in the park is it namesake the Pendjari, of its 300 km of length 200 km are found within the parks boundaries.  There are also small lakes also scattered throughout the park.  The Sudanese climate, common throughout the savanna region, is made of a long dry season (consisting of harmattan a cold period with blowing winds from November to April) and a raining season. (Le Guide à l'Éducation Environnementale)

The park is opened each year from the mid-December to mid-June.  There are 6 tourist routes that traverse 400 km of the parks terrain:  Bali route (piste Bali), the Route of the Hunt (piste de chasse), the Route of the Pendjari (piste de la Pendjari), the Route of the Elephants (piste aux éléphants), the Route of the Podiéga (piste de la Podiéga), and the Route of the Bonadjagou (la piste de Bonadjagou).  The best time to see animals is from March to April in the early morning and the early evenings. 


Animals and Birds of the Park 

Elephant
Lion
Leopard
Hippopotamus
African Buffalo
Roan Antelope
Waterbuck
Kob
Baboon

Fat-tailed Dwarf Lemur
African Water Hog
West African River Eagle
Jacana
Crowned Crane
Gaint Kingfisher
Crocodile
African Python
Giant Pangolin

Entrance Fees 

        Foreigner: 10,000 F  CFA 
        National:   3,000 F  CFA
        Student:    1,000 F  CFA (national)
        Area Resident:     300 F  CFA (national)

Price includes access for a month and photographs

Entrance price per vehicle : 3,000 F CFA

Lodging 

There is hotel equipped with a restaurant found in the park.  Rooms cost from 18,000 to 28,000 F CFA per night for 2 people( with fans or air conditioning). 

Visitors can eat at the hotel:
            Breakfast - 2,500 F CFA
            Lunch - 5,500 F CFA
            Diner - 6,500 F CFA

 

Getting There

From Benin
Leaving from Cotonou there are two principals routes(via Parakou or Savalou) that can be taken to arrive at Parc Pendari and take the better part of a day.  It is advised to leave Cotonou no later then 7 am in the morning to avoid driving through the north at night which is dangerous.  Along the route many comfortable lodging options are available throughout the country allowing visitors spend a night in transit.  The distance from Cotonou to Park Pendjari is 730 km.     

Elsewhere
To arrive at Park Pendjari from Ouagadougou(370km) or Niamey(440km) is a good half-day trip in route.  The roads are safe and in good condition.  There area number of villages and marches along the way offering places to stop and eat.  As always it is advisable to take precautions while traveling in Africa

(from the 2002 Park Pendjari Tourism Brochure) 

 

 

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