national park of Senegal and UNESCO World Heritage Site
Niokolo Koba is a national park in the Tambacounda Region of in south eastern Senegal near the Guinea border. It's been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
The park lies in an upland region through which the upper stretch of the Gambia River flows, towards the northwestern border of Guinea.
Most of the park is woodland savannah and semi-arid Soudanese forest, with large areas of wooded wetlands and seasonal wetlands. The park contains over 1500 species of plants and 78% of the gallery forest in Senegal.
The national park is known for its wildlife. The government of Senegal estimates the park contains 20 species of amphibians, 60 species of fish, 38 species of reptiles (of which four are tortoises). There are some 80 mammal species. These included (as of 2005) an estimated 11,000 buffaloes, 6,000 hippopotamuses, 400 western giant eland, 50 elephants, 120 lions, 150 chimpanzees, 3,000 waterbuck, 2,000 common duiker, an unknown number of red colobus (Colobus badius rufomitratus) and a few rare African leopards and West African wild dogs (Lycaon pictus manguensis), although the dogs were thought to have been wiped out throughout the rest of the country.
Other mammals include roan antelope, Guinea baboon, green monkey, patas monkey, warthog.
Around 330 species of birds have been sighted in the park, notably the Arabian bustard, black crowned crane, Abyssinian ground hornbill, martial eagle, bateleur, and white-faced duck.
There are also reptiles such as three species of crocodiles, and four species of tortoises.
It is served by Niokolo-Koba Airport, an unpaved airstrip.
There are several lodges along the Gambia River, offering excellent views.