Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo (Republic)

Sangha Trinational

WHS Score 3.61
rate
Votes 6 Average 4.42
Show votes
Votes for Sangha Trinational

3.5

  • SHIHE HUANG

4.0

  • Els Slots
  • Sascha Grabow

5.0

  • Janos
  • Randi Thomsen
  • Svein Elias

Sangha Trinational is a large and intact natural landscape, mainly consisting of humid forests plus wetlands and natural clearings.

These three contiguous national parks are centered along the Sangha River, a tributary to the Congo River. They harbour tree and mammal species that are much threatened elsewhere due to exploitation and poaching. Large mammals such as Forest Elephants, Gorillas, Chimpanzees, Sitatunga and Bongo are still present in healthy numbers.

Community Perspective: Els visited Dzanga-Ndoki National Park in the Central African Republic, as did Randi, arriving from Congo by the Sangha River. The other two parks, Lobéké National Park in Cameroon and Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park in Congo, have stayed unreviewed so far.

Site Info

Official Information
Full Name
Sangha Trinational (ID: 1380)
Countries
Cameroon Central African Republic Congo (Republic)
Status
Inscribed 2012 Site history
History of Sangha Trinational
2011: Referred
2011: Advisory Body overruled
IUCN had advised Deferral
2012: Inscribed
Inscribed
WHS Type
Natural
Criteria
  • ix
  • x
Links
UNESCO
whc.unesco.org
All Links
UNESCO.org
Related Resources
News Article

Community Information

  • Community Category
  • Natural landscape: Forest
Travel Information
Transboundary sites
Transboundary sites
3 countries (Cameroon, Centr. Afr. Republic, Congo (Republic))
Red Zone Travel Advisory
Red Zone Travel Advisory
C.A.R. fully off-limits, Cameroon part as well due to proximity to C.A.R., only Congo …
One thousand visitors or fewer
One thousand visitors or fewer
DD: “The development of touristic infrastructure is adequate for such a remote area and …
Recent Connections
View all (26) .
Connections of Sangha Trinational
Geography
Trivia
Ecology
Damaged
  • Poaching
    Excessive commercial poaching for bush meat and/or trophies may well constitute the single most important threat to TNS. Poaching for ivory remains a strong concern despite successful anti-poaching efforts, including across international boundaries.

    See whc.unesco.org

World Heritage Process
Human Activity
  • Traditional Hunting
    Baka indigenous people have the right to extract natural resources within Lobéké NP (IUCN Outlook 2020)
  • Indigenous groups expelled
    Baka . “This pattern is similar in CAR and Congo and, in all three countries, large areas customarily used by Pygmy communities have been included in national parks, where all access is prohibited.” (WHS-IPR)
WHS on Other Lists
  • Ramsar Wetlands
    Fleuve Sangha situé en République Centrafricaine - Partie camerounaise du fleuve Sangha - Sangha-Nouabalé-Ndoki
  • Plant WHS not in a CPD
    "The property represents a wide spectrum of the species-rich humid tropical forests in Central Africa’s Congo Basin, and provides protection for a range of endangered species. The flora is enriched by species occurring exclusively in the many types of forest clearings."
Visiting conditions
  • Red Zone Travel Advisory
    C.A.R. fully off-limits, Cameroon part as well due to proximity to C.A.R., only Congo part is not advised against
  • One thousand visitors or fewer
    DD: “The development of touristic infrastructure is adequate for such a remote area and seems appropriate to deal with the currently very low numbers of visitors” (AB ev)
WHS Names
News
instagram.com 05/17/2024
Dzanga Sangha loses its silverback…
news.mongabay.com 10/06/2021
Cameroon plans a new road in Lobék…
wildlifenews.co.uk 05/10/2013
Elephant death toll at Dzanga Bai …

Community Reviews

Show full reviews
First published: 29/12/24.

Els Slots

Sangha Trinational

Sangha Trinational (Inscribed)

Sangha Trinational by Els Slots

These natural clearings filled with wildlife from the Congo Basin are the holy grail among mammal watchers. For me, Dzanga Ndoki (the Central African Republic part of this transnational site) was to be a splurge visit in March 2020 – but it became my Covid travel disaster. After the park reopened, I still wanted to go but the prices rose beyond belief. Fortunately, I found a group tour operator wanting to do it for much less by entering overland from Cameroon.

This site also had been unreviewed so far on this website. Sangha Trinational WHS consists of 3 parks, of which the one in the Central African Republic (C.A.R.) surprisingly is the best equipped to receive visitors. Lobéké in Cameroon is rundown, while Nouabalé-Ndoki in Congo is temporarily closed and rumours have it that they want to turn it into a luxury destination. I wrote a Getting There topic on the Forum to elaborate on the practicalities of visiting the park in the C.A.R. This review further deals with what you can expect there.

Our first day was spent at Dzanga Bai, the most famous forest clearing, known as ‘the Serengeti of the Forest’. It’s already a fine place to get to, starting with a drive through the forest of about 45 minutes and then an easy hike of the same duration. The latter includes a foot crossing of some flooded areas, where the water reaches just below the knee. Especially on the way back the cool water …

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First published: 12/12/24.

Randi Thomsen

Sangha Trinational

Sangha Trinational (Inscribed)

Sangha Trinational by Randi Thomsen

After a long day on the Sangha River from Oesso, we arrived at Dzanga-Sangha National Park we arrived at eight o’clock, the last leg in darkness. The speedboat journey through untouched nature, passing isolated villages and local fishermen, was serene and surreal - we encountered only one motorized boat the entire day.

Our stay was at Doli Lodge, managed by WWF and beautifully situated on the Sangha River. The lodge exceeded expectations and offered more comfort than its counterpart in Odzala-Congo. Though the original plan was for four nights, it was shortened to three due to the temporary suspension of gorilla trekking. The unfortunate loss of the last silverback means the groups need time to stabilize. However, the park has much more to offer.

Day 1:The day began with a visit to Dzanga Bai, the most famous mineral-rich clearing in the area. A 45 minutes drive, then a 40-minute easy walk, including a river crossing, brought us to this magical spot. As we arrived, around 120 forest elephants of different sizes and colors were gathered on the plain. What a sight!. It was mesmerizing to sit in the observation tower and watch their coming and going. They even have their own spa treatment covering themselves in golden mud. Researchers counted up to 144 elephants at its peak, an unparalleled wildlife experience. Late in the afternoon, a family of forest hogs made an appearance. At four o’clock, we returned to the lodge for a cold beer and a …

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