Zakouma National Park - March 2024

Day notes

While we are here you will have a range of activities available to us but each day we work out what is going to work best, so we shall keep everything as flexible as possible to get the best from this amazing National Park. We will be able to do Game drives, Bush walks, Night drives and if necessary we can also drive off road.

The day normally starts with a very early breakfast and then just as it starts to get light we will then set off to explore the park and usually return in time for lunch, then it is siesta time in the heat of the day before we set off again later in the afternoon. We would then return to camp in the early evening using the spotlight to look for some of the amazing nocturnal creatures that live here, like pale fox, aardvark, serval, porcupine, genets etc.

Day notes

There are many new species to see here in Zakouma that you may not have seen before which include Llewels Hartebeest, Tiang, Kordofans Giraffe, Red Fronted Gazelle and Buffon's Kob. The buffalo here are the Central African Savannah Buffalo's which look like a blend between the African Buffalo and Forest Buffalo. Pale Fox is another special here to look out for.

Day notes

An interesting thing to do while in this area is to visit one of the Nomad markets that get set up near one of the nearby villages. These are a hive of activity and a really genuine experience as nothing is being set up for tourists and all is as it has been for hundreds of years with the Nomad traders crossing back and forwards across the Sahel bringing various goods that their families have traded for generations. Please note ladies should wear head scarves and long trousers and sleeves to respect the local cultures.

Day notes

The birding here is amazing and I recommend the best bird book for this area as being the Birds of Africa - South of the Sahara. I will have a copy with me but always nice to have your own. For birding enthusiasts or for people who just like birds this has to be one of the most incredible spectacles to see, the volume of birds in Zakouma is breathtaking  and there is always a chance of seeing a previously unrecorded species to the area here.

Day notes

Another full day to spend the day exploring this beautiful park and to try and tidy up the last unseen sightings.

Day notes

A part of our safari here will be to spend the day in search of the herds of elephants that were so badly poached here for generations that they now find it better to move in mostly one huge herd that can number up towards 700 elephants. It is an amazing sight to see if we get it right, you would think it is easy to find a herd that size but they have done well by keeping themselves moving and away from humans.

You will also be able to meet some of the people that make this park work and what happens behind the scenes to keep the park safe and how they work with the local communities to make sure everyone benefits from this park.