Niokolo-Koba National Park, designated both a Biosphere Reserve and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is one of the ecological treasures of Senegal and all of West Africa. Created in 1954 and now spanning more than 9,000 km², it stretches mainly across the Tambacounda region along the Gambia River and its tributaries.
This vast expanse of savannas, dry woodlands, gallery forests and seasonally flooded plains forms a critical refuge for exceptional biodiversity in a part of the continent heavily affected by human pressures and climate change.
The park shelters an iconic and increasingly rare array of wildlife. It hosts one of the last remaining populations of West African lions, alongside leopards and the now-elusive cheetah. Elephants, buffaloes, hippos, warthogs and several species of antelope also roam the area, including the giant Derby eland -- one of the world's largest and most threatened antelopes. Primates are abundant, from baboons to West African chimpanzees, while the wetlands attract a rich birdlife, making Niokolo-Koba a major birdwatching destination with over 350 species recorded.
The park's flora is equally remarkable. Its landscapes shift between shrub savannas, open woodlands, clusters of borassus palms and dense forest corridors along waterways. This botanical diversity supports a mosaic of habitats essential for the survival of local wildlife. Ecologically, Niokolo-Koba plays a vital role in preserving the Sudan-Guinean ecosystems and regulating regional water systems by protecting the Gambia River's watershed.
Despite its significance, Niokolo-Koba faces numerous challenges. Poaching, expanding human activities around the park, uncontrolled bushfires and the impacts of climate change all threaten its delicate balance. UNESCO added the park to the List of World Heritage in Danger in 2007, prompting stronger conservation measures.
Senegal, working in partnership with international organizations, has since increased surveillance efforts, implemented sustainable management programs and developed initiatives to better involve local communities in stewardship of the park. These actions are gradually showing positive results, though substantial work is still needed to ensure the long-term recovery of wildlife and habitats.
The park is also a major asset for ecological tourism. Visitors can experience a largely preserved natural environment and observe rare species in an authentic wilderness setting. Accommodation options and guided tours are expanding, though access remains challenging in places -- an obstacle that, paradoxically, helps protect the integrity of this unique natural sanctuary.