Cufada Lagoons Natural Park
A lagoon and forest park on the mainland south, a Ramsar wetland with hippos.
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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.
What you actually see
- 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.
Honest expectations
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 west.
What to pack for Cufada Lagoons Natural Park
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.