Pendjari

Pendjari National Park forms part of the transnational W-Arly-Pendjari (WAP) Complex, which straddles the borders of Benin, Burkina Faso, and Niger, and is the largest remaining intact ecosystem in West Africa. Covering 6 445 km2, the park is one of the last refuges for the region’s elephant and population of endangered West African lion, amongst a variety of other species.

In 2017, to help safeguard this natural landscape and drive sustainable development, the Government of Benin and African Parks signed a management partnership for Pendjari. Today, wildlife populations are beginning grow and stabilise; natural resource harvesting is being managed; and employment opportunities, education and healthcare is reaching thousands of people.

Despite the ongoing security challenges in Benin, Pendjari continues to ensure that conservation and community development progresses, supporting the livelihoods of thousands of people who rely on its biodiversity and the vital ecosystem services provided.

• An estimated 4,000 elephant exist across the W-Arly-Pendjari Complex, of which approximately 2,800 are in Pendjari, making it the largest population in the region.
• Over 9,600 schoolchildren and 4,000 community members participated in environmental education events during 2024.
• Human-wildlife conflict (HWC) incidents have dropped by 70% due to infrastructure investment, such as improved fencing and other mitigation measures.
• Socio-economic initiatives, such as beekeeping and soya production, are creating new opportunities for hundreds of households.
• Over 5,000 indigenous trees were planted in 2024 as part of Pendjari’s reforestation programme.

In May 2017, the Government of Benin entered into a long-term agreement with African Parks to restore and develop Pendjari National Park. Pendjari is one of 45 flagship projects of the “Revealing Benin” national investment programme launched in 2016.