The elephants
Among the grass.
Ji-Elle — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Ji-Elle — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Ji-Elle — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Ji-Elle — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Ji-Elle — CC BY-SA 4.0
Pendjari National Park lies in north-west Benin, next to Arli National Park in Burkina Faso, and takes its name from the Pendjari River. It is known for its wildlife, sheltering some of the last populations of big game in West Africa, such as elephants, lions, hippos, buffalo and antelope. It is also famous for its many birds. It covers about 2,755 square kilometres and is part of the wider W-Arli-Pendjari complex spanning Benin, Burkina Faso and Niger. UNESCO added it to the World Heritage List in 2017 as part of a cross-border extension of the complex. From inside the park you can see the hills and cliffs of the Atakora range. You see straight sandy tracks across dry grassy plains with scattered trees, and elephants feeding among the tall grass. At the entrance is a high gate with a green welcome sign, and the camp has round pink huts with thatched roofs under the trees. The river runs between forested banks. It is about 84 km from Natitingou in a straight line and about 28 km from Tanougou Falls. The UK Foreign Office advises against all travel to this park, so read the current advice before any planning.
Among the grass.
Scattered trees.
Forested banks.
North-west Benin, on the Burkina Faso border
The UK Foreign Office advises against all travel there, so read the advice.
Elephants, lions, hippos, buffalo, antelope and many birds.