Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Amid the majestic landscape of the Atakora's rugged cliffs and wooded savannah live
lions, cheetahs, leopards, elephants, baboons, hippos, myriad birds and countless ante-
lopes. The 275,000-hectare
Parc National de la Pendjari
(Pendjari National Park;
www.pendjari.net
;
per per-
son CFA10,000, per vehicle CFA3000; 6am-5pm)
, the main entrance of which is 100km north of
Natitingou, is one of the best in West Africa. The best viewing time is near the end of the
dry season, when animals start to hover around waterholes.
To maximise your chances of seeing animals, go for an accredited guide (graded as 'A'
or 'B'). The list of accredited guides can be found on the park's website, at park entrances
and in Nati's better hotels. It costs CFA10,000 for a 'A' guide and CFA8000 for a 'B'
guide.
The main entrances to Pendjari are roughly 100km north of Natitingou, in Porga (near
the border with Burkina Faso) and Batia (41km northeast of Tanguiéta, on a good track).
On the park's periphery, some 11km before Batia in Tanougou, you can take a dip in the
lovely natural pools at the bottom of the
Tanougou Falls
(admission CFA1000)
.
Sleeping & Eating
Many visitors stay in Natitingou and make excursions from there, but you'll have a better
chance of seeing animals if you stay at the park itself.
Pendjari Lodge
LODGE
$$
( in France 336 68 42 73 43;
www.pendjari-lodge.com
; tents CFA31,000; Nov-Jul; )
A lovely
place in a beautiful setting on a small hill (views!), Pendjari Lodge mixes old-style safari
ambience with nouveau bush chic. It sports a handful of luxury, semipermanent tents and
a large dining area and lounge with wooden decks overlooking a valley. One quibble: the
menu (mains from CFA4000) is a bit limited. No phone network, but wi-fi is available.
Hôtel de la Pendjari
HOTEL
$$
( 23 82 11 24;
www.hoteltatasomba.com
;
r with fan/air-con CFA21,000/26,000, bungalows without bathroom
CFA15,000; Dec-May; )
Although it's starting to fray around the edges, this estab-
lishment offers spacious, utilitarian rooms with good bedding, and its location at the heart
of the park is hard to beat. If you're watching your money, opt for the spartan bungalows.
Electricity runs for a few hours a day only. There's an on-site restaurant (meals
CFA6000), but service can be absent-minded.
Getting There & Away
