Badiar National Park

Badiar covers savanna and woodland on Guinea's northern border with Senegal and runs directly into Niokolo-Koba on the far side, so the two together form a single block of protected Sudanian habitat. Antelope, warthog, baboon and a range of birds live in it and elephants have crossed between the two parks. Infrastructure is minimal and the park sees very few visitors. The Guinean side is much smaller than the Senegalese, at around four hundred square kilometres against Niokolo-Koba's nine thousand.

Background

Badiar National Park, Parc National du Badiar in French, lies in Guinea along the border with Senegal, where it adjoins the much larger Niokolo-Koba National Park. It was created on 30 May 1985, partly because Senegal was worried about poaching in Niokolo-Koba, and it is an IUCN Category II park. Its main rivers are the Mitji and the Koulountou, one of the Gambia River's two main tributaries. Badiar is also one of three core areas of the Badiar Biosphere Reserve, created in 2002.

Source: Wikipedia, "Badiar National Park"

What's there

• The transboundary block - protected habitat continuous with Niokolo-Koba.
• The Sudanian savanna - the woodland and grass across the park.
• The antelope and baboon - the animals most likely to be seen.
• The bird list - the range of species the savanna carries.

When to go

November to April is the dry season and the practical window. Wildlife concentrates near water late in the dry. The rains make tracks impassable.

Practical notes

There is essentially no infrastructure and very few visitors. Wildlife has been heavily reduced and sightings are unlikely. Access needs a guide, a permit and four wheel drive.

Nearby

Koundara is nearby, and Senegal is north.

Key facts