Cufada Lagoons Natural Park

The Cufada lagoons in southern Guinea-Bissau are the country's largest freshwater wetland, three connected lagoons in forest and savanna designated a Ramsar site, holding hippos, crocodiles, manatees in the river channels and a heavy bird population including pelicans, storks and large numbers of wintering ducks. Chimpanzees live in the surrounding forest. It is the main mainland protected area. The park covers around eighty nine thousand hectares and was designated under the Ramsar convention in 1990. Its lagoons hold water through the dry season when almost everything else in the region does not.

Highlights

• The lagoons - the country's largest freshwater wetland system.
• The hippos - the animals in the lagoon water.
• The waterbirds - pelicans, storks and wintering ducks in numbers.
• The forest - the surrounding woodland with its chimpanzees.

When to go

November to May is the dry season and wildlife concentrates on the water. The rains from June make tracks impassable. Early morning is best for animals.

Practical notes

Infrastructure is minimal and access needs a guide and four wheel drive. Hippos are dangerous and the shore should be treated with care. Wildlife sightings need patience.

Nearby

Buba is nearby, and Cantanhez is south.

Key facts