Boumba Bek National Park

Boumba Bek covers around two thousand three hundred square kilometres of lowland forest in the south-east between the Boumba and Bek rivers, adjoining Nki park across the Dja and forming part of the block of protected forest that runs along this corner of the country. Like its neighbours it has bais, forest clearings where elephants, gorillas, bongo and buffalo come out to feed on mineral-rich mud, and platforms have been built at some of them. The forest is largely undisturbed, with rivers cutting through it and few tracks. Baka and Bantu communities live around the boundary. Visits require permits, guides and vehicles arranged well before arrival.

History

The forest was never logged, and in 1995 it received its first official status as an Essential Protection Zone. A summit of seven central African leaders at Brazzaville in February 2005 led to its creation, together with Nki, as a national park by decree on 17 October 2005, and it is part of the TRIDOM plan for a cross-border forest zone with Gabon and Congo (Wikipedia, Boumba Bek National Park).

Highlights

• Bais between the rivers - clearings where forest animals gather.
• Forest elephants and bongo - the large mammals of the clearings.
• Undisturbed lowland forest - a block with very few tracks.
• The Boumba and Bek rivers - the water the park is named for.

When to go

December to February and June to August, the drier periods. Four to six days including travel. Everything is arranged through operators; there is no visitor infrastructure to arrive at.

Before you go

Access is by rough track over long distances and vehicles get stuck. There are no lodges, only camps you bring or arrange. Malaria risk is serious and medical help is far away. Wildlife viewing requires patience and long waits.

Nearby

Nki is west across the Dja; Lobeke lies east.

Key facts