Akanda National Park

Akanda covers mangrove forest, tidal mudflats and estuary north of Libreville, and its significance is what uses the flats: tens of thousands of migratory shorebirds stop here on the route between Europe and southern Africa, feeding on the mud at low tide. Turtles nest on the beaches at the seaward edge. The park is close to the capital but almost entirely water and mangrove, so access is by boat.

What you actually see

• The tidal flats - the mud exposed at low water where the shorebirds feed.
• The migratory waders - tens of thousands of birds using the park on passage.
• The mangrove channels - the waterways worked by boat through the forest.
• The seaward beaches - the sand at the park's outer edge where turtles nest.

When to go

June to September is the drier season and the easiest for boats. Migratory birds peak between October and March. Rain is heavy the rest of the year.

Honest expectations

Access is by boat only and must be arranged; there is no infrastructure. Bird numbers depend entirely on the tide and the season. Mosquitoes are severe in the mangroves.

Nearby

Cap Estérias is west, and Libreville is south.