Unlike most other African countries, Mali is home to a relatively small number of national parks, but that doesn’t make them any less impressive. If you ever find yourself in this country in West Africa, here are three national parks that you should consider checking out during your visit.
Bafing National Park
This national park forms the Bafing Biosphere together with two more national parks in its close proximity—Kouroufing and Wongo. It was established in 2000, and covers an area of 1,900 square miles, mostly consisting of woodlands. Bafing is known for being the only protected area for chimpanzees in this part of Mali.
Wongo National Park
Just like the previous national park, Wongo is part of the Bafing Biosphere and it’s known for its dedication to the conservation of chimpanzees. This national park is also home to the artificial Lake Manantali, but the park itself is still in the early stages of development, with no organized tourist activities on its premises.
Boucle du Baoulé National Park
Boucle du Baoulé was established in 1982, which makes it Mali’s oldest national park. It’s part of UNESCO’s Bouce du Baoulé Biosphere Reserve, and it’s worth the visit for its prehistoric rock art and tombs, in addition to its diverse flora and fauna, scattered across its dry, lightly-wooded savannah.