Unknown to most travelers, Pendjari Park is nonetheless a true concentration of wild life. Located in Benin, it harbors exceptional fauna and flora. Yet between poaching, deforestation, and political neglect, this national park finds itself fragile. To breathe new life into it, the Beninese government has committed to protecting it with the support of African Parks and the assistance of the National Geographic Society and the Wyss Foundation. A closer look at this preservation program !

The Incredible Biodiversity of Pendjari Park

Located in northwestern Benin, the Pendjari National Park covers an area of nearly 4,800 km² and extends across Benin, Burkina Faso, and Niger. It is one of three parks in the transnational WAP complex (W-Arly-Pendjari) and is renowned as the last great wildlife sanctuary of West Africa. Naturally, it is home to countless plant and animal species. Among them, the world's fastest animal: the cheetah. It has become the official emblem of the park. But that's not all—you can also observe hippopotamuses, hyenas, African wild dogs, jackals, antelopes, buffalo, elephants, a few groups of lions, crocodiles, and other reptiles… Not to mention over 400 bird species ! As you can see, Pendjari National Park is an ecosystem unto itself.

An Ecosystem Still Under Threat…

While the park is home to incredible animals and sublime plant species, it has long suffered from political and economic neglect. Nearly abandoned, the park was a former hunting ground during colonization and continues to endure poaching, timber felling to respond to constant demographic pressure, and the exponential erosion of its resources. The result ? The consequences for fauna and flora are deplorable, and certain species have seen their populations decline considerably.

Objective: Rehabilitate and Secure the Park !

To reverse the trend and give the park's species a chance to recover, Benin is committed to rehabilitating the sanctuary. In May 2017, the government signed a management contract with the renowned NGO African Parks, known for its incredible work protecting African parks. By their side comes the support of the National Geographic Society and the Wyss Foundation. A management mandate signed for ten years with a total cost of 23 million dollars (approximately 15.6 billion CFA francs).

The preservation program is built around four pillars: biodiversity conservation, scientific research, infrastructure development, and site security. In other words, the goal is to increase the number of species in the park while establishing a management policy that favors local communities. On the tourism front, the project should attract more visitors by offering controlled and respectful safaris for all.

Concrete actions have already been implemented, such as deploying numerous rangers and creating an anti-poaching task force, establishing a stricter legal framework, creating an education and awareness program in schools, using satellite collars to monitor and better understand species…

With this program announcement, the Beninese president hopes to double the park's animal population and create 100,000 jobs over the coming decade. And to contribute to the park's development, he intends to attract nearly one million tourists by 2021 ! One thing is certain: we can only wish a long life to Pendjari National Park…

Take advantage of our confirmed departure on our trip A Safari in All Its Forms, to discover the magnificent parks of Benin during an unforgettable safari experience.