Rio Campo Natural Reserve

Rio Campo covers the coast and estuary at Equatorial Guinea's northern border with Cameroon, taking in mangrove, beach, coastal forest and the river itself, and it holds forest elephant, buffalo, primates and a range of birds. Turtles nest on the beaches. The Ntem river forms the border and boats work it. Access is limited and infrastructure is minimal, which is true of protected areas across the country. The reserve adjoins Campo Ma'an on the Cameroonian side, so the protected forest continues across the border. Together the two cover a substantial block of coastal rainforest.

What you actually see

• The estuary - the Ntem river mouth forming the northern border.
• The mangrove - the stands lining the estuary channels.
• The turtle beaches - the nesting shore along the coast.
• The coastal forest - the woodland behind the beach.

When to go

December to February is the drier season and the practical window. Turtle nesting runs roughly November to February. The long rains make tracks impassable.

Honest expectations

Infrastructure in the reserve is essentially nonexistent and access needs permits and guides. Wildlife is scarce and heavily hunted. Border proximity means checkpoints and paperwork.

Nearby

Bata is south, and the Cameroonian border is north.