World Heritage Identification Number: 153
World Heritage since: 1981
Category: Natural Heritage
WHE Type: Protected Areas & National Parks
Transboundary Heritage: No
Endangered Heritage: No
Country: 🇸🇳 Senegal
Continent: Africa
UNESCO World Region: Africa
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Niokolo-Koba National Park: A Biodiverse Haven in Southeastern Senegal
Niokolo-Koba National Park, located in the well-watered region along the banks of the Gambia River, is a significant World Heritage Site in Senegal, bordering Guinea to the east. This expansive protected area, covering approximately 1,172 square kilometers, offers a unique blend of gallery forests and savannahs that harbor a rich and diverse fauna.
More to come…UNESCO Description of the World Heritage Site
Located in a well-watered area along the banks of the Gambia river, the gallery forests and savannahs of Niokolo-Koba National Park have a very rich fauna, among them Derby elands (largest of the antelopes), chimpanzees, lions, leopards and a large population of elephants, as well as many birds, reptiles and amphibians.
UNESCO Justification of the World Heritage Site
Criterion (x): Niokolo-Koba National Park contains all the unique ecosystems of the Sudanese bioclimatic zone such as major waterways (the Gambia, Sereko, Niokolo, Koulountou), gallery-forests, herbaceous savanna floodplains, ponds, dry forests -- dense or with clearings-- rocky slopes and hills and barren Bowés. The property has a remarkable diversity of wildlife, unique in the sub-region. It counts more than 70 species of mammals, 329 species of birds, 36 species of reptiles, 20 species of amphibians and a large number of invertebrates. Lions, reputedly the largest in Africa, are a special attraction, as well as the Derby Eland, the largest antelope in existence. Other important species are also present, such as the elephant, leopard, African wild dog and chimpanzee. The wealth of habitats should be noted, along with the diversity of flora, with over 1,500 important plant species.
Encyclopedia Record: Niokolo-Koba National Park
The Niokolo-Koba National Park is a World Heritage Site and natural protected area in southeastern Senegal, near the Guinea border. It is served by Niokolo-Koba Airport, an unpaved airstrip.Additional Site Details
Area: 913,000 hectares
Number of Components: 1
Coordinates: 12.841271 , -12.899781
IUCN World Heritage Outlook
The 2025 Conservation Outlook on Niokolo-Koba National Park reports the following assessment:
Source: International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) · View assessment
