Lobéké National Park in Cameroon is part of the Sangha Trinational and is one of the complex’s three contiguous national parks. At Lobéké, the focus is therefore both on a specific national park and on its role within a larger, connected complex. Other nature topics focus not on a park complex, but on the range of landscapes within a biosphere reserve or on a particular type of landscape. Korup and Waza bring these other perspectives into focus.

Forest diversity in Korup

In the Korup Biosphere Reserve in Cameroon’s Southwest Region, evergreen lowland forest shapes the landscape. Its range extends from foothill and swamp forests to submontane outliers on granite peaks. The description therefore goes beyond lowland forest, naming both forest types and a landscape of elevation and granite. Those who classify natural areas by their landscape forms will find several aspects within the same reserve at Korup. The range of types mentioned is the point of comparison with Waza, where the Yaéré floodplains define the landscape.

The Cross River gorilla (Gorilla gorilla diehli) and Preuss’s red colobus (Piliocolobus preussi) also live in the reserve. The Cross River gorilla is classified as Critically Endangered and Preuss’s red colobus as Endangered; these categories may change over time. These species add a distinct wildlife focus to the landscape perspective. If you would like your travel reading to focus on wildlife as well as landscapes, both names and their respective threat categories provide a precise point of reference.

Waza and the Yaéré plains

In the Waza Biosphere Reserve in Cameroon’s Far North Region, Yaéré floodplains with perennial grasses are part of the landscape. Compared with Korup, the emphasis shifts: Waza represents the plains and their grass cover, while Korup represents evergreen lowland forest, foothill and swamp forests, and submontane outliers on granite peaks. This is a specific comparison between two landscape descriptions, not just between the names of two reserves. When organizing the nature-focused part of a trip to Cameroon by theme, you can first decide whether you are more interested in the different forest types or the floodplains.

Ngondo: a cultural calendar

Another way in is through the Ngondo traditions of Cameroon’s Sawa community. They are based on the worship of water oracles and take place annually from September until the first Sunday in December. This adds a cultural calendar to the landscape themes: the annual cycle is the key point of reference for Ngondo, while landscape forms distinguish Korup and Waza. If you would like to plan your trip around this tradition, check the dates for the specific year.

The different nature perspectives stand side by side: the connection between parks in a complex, the range of landscapes in Korup, and Waza’s Yaéré plains. Ngondo adds a cultural perspective with an annual time frame. This makes it possible to decide first whether landscapes, wildlife or a tradition should be the main focus of your trip.

Discover more destinations: Littoral, Centre, Southwest, South, West, Southwest, North, Northwest, Adamawa.