Pendjari National Park

Home - Independent Countries - Benin - Pendjari National Park

Pendjari National Park

Pendjari National Park is located in the north-west of Benin, adjacent to Arli National Park in Burkina Faso. The national park, named after the Pendjari River, is famous for its wildlife, as it is home to one of the last populations of big game in West Africa. Animals such as the African Forest Elephant, lion, hippo, African Buffalo and various antelopes can be found here. The park is also famous for its colorful birdlife. Every two years, aerial surveys are carried out to estimate the population of large mammal species and understand their movements in the park and the larger W-Arly-Pendjari complex. The park has a fairly large elephant population, with more than 800 individuals. The Northwest African Cheetah is one of the rarest large predators in the area. By the beginning of the 21st century, only 5-13 individuals remained in the national park and the adjacent W National Park. The lion population in the WAP complex was around 100 animals by 2009, and was probably the largest in West Africa at that time. Pendjari National Park is also home to the endangered West African Wild Dog, African Leopard, Spotted Hyena, Side-Striped Jackal and African Civet. There are around 300 different species of birds in the park. But Pendjari is famous for large, conspicuous species such as the African Openbill Stork, the Abdim's Stork, the Saddle-Billed Stork and seasonal flocks of European White Storks. The African Fish Eagle and Pel's Fishing Owl are also present.