Birougou National Park

Birougou covers the highest part of the Chaillu massif in southeastern Gabon, a block of montane and lowland forest that is among the least studied in the country, and it holds the sun-tailed monkey, a species unknown to science until 1984 and formally described in 1988, found only in this part of Gabon. Chimpanzees, gorillas and forest elephants also occur. There is no infrastructure and access is on foot with guides.

Background

Created in 2002, the park spreads over 690 km² and is also called the Monts Birougou Wetlands, or Marais des monts Birougou in French. It takes its name from Mount Birougou, which reaches 975 metres and ranks among the highest peaks in Gabon. The rain forest here in the Chaillu Mountains is extremely dense. The endemic sun-tailed guenon lives in only two parks, and this is one of them. On October 20, 2005 the park joined the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List, and parts of it have formed the Ramsar site Site Ramsar des Monts Birougou since 2 February 2007.

Source: Wikipedia, "Birougou National Park"

The landscape

• The sun-tailed monkey - a species unknown to science until 1984, found only here.
• The Chaillu highlands - the highest forested ground in the massif.
• The undisturbed forest - one of the least studied blocks in the country.
• The guided walking - the only way into a park with no roads or facilities.

When to go

June to September is the long dry season and the practical window. The rains make the approach impassable. Trekking is hard at any season.

Things to know

There is no infrastructure at all and access is genuinely difficult. Sun-tailed monkey sightings are unlikely even for people who look. Everything must be arranged well ahead.

Nearby

Koulamoutou is north, and Lékédi Park is east.

Key facts