Located amidst awe-inspiring inselbergs and mountain formations, Siniaka Minia may be the youngest national park in Chad, but it is also the largest, stretching across an impressive 4,158 km2 .
Originally established as a reserve in 1965 to protect black rhino, the Chadian government invited African Parks to manage Siniaka Minia Wildlife Reserve in 2017, together with Bahr Salamat Wildlife Reserve (BSFR). With an already established partnership with the government to manage Zakouma National Park, this new management mandate now included the entire Greater Zakouma Ecosystem (GZE). Seven years later another significant step was taken for Siniaka-Minia when the government officially announced it as a national park in 2024.
As a vital part of the broader conservation strategy in south-eastern Chad, Siniaka Minia plays a crucial role in maintaining wildlife corridors that connect to Zakouma National Park – essential for ensuring the movement and survival of key species such as northern lion, cheetah, Kordofan giraffe, buffalo, greater kudu and roan antelope. Now, as a national park, a new chapter has begun for Siniaka Minia, giving it the highest national conservation status, which will see long-term benefits, both for biodiversity and as a national asset and vital resource for the people of Chad.
