Korup National Park

Korup National Park

Korup National Park is located in the south-western region of Cameroon and covers 1260 km2 of mostly undisturbed primeval forest. It is said to be one of Africa's richest and most ancient tropical forests in terms of flora and fauna diversity. From a floristic point of view, Korup is very rich, with more than 1 100 species of trees, shrubs, herbs and lianas described so far, and a high level of endemism (30%). The large trees, which can grow up to 50 m in height, puncture the mostly continuous but uneven canopy of mainly Annonaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Leguminosae, Olacaceae, Scytopetalaceae and Verbenaceae at a height of about 15-25 m. The plant ecology in Korup is highly seasonal, with flowering typically taking place between January and July, followed by the fruiting season. The park is a popular birdwatching site and is also famous for its primate watching. Species such as the Drill, the Preuss's Red Colobus, the Red-Eared Guenon and the Nigerian Chimpanzee are among the species to be seen here. Korup National Park is one of the richest lowland African forests, especially for birds, reptiles, amphibians and butterflies. The mammal species list includes 161 species in 33 families, with 14 species (8 diurnal and 6 nocturnal) in the primate community. The climate of Korup is pseudo-equatorial, with two seasons in place of four: a distinct dry season from December to February, with an average monthly rainfall of less than 100 mm, and a longer and intense rainy season from about May to October.