W National Park- Travel Tips

What to See, How to Plan & Tours

W National Park, a transboundary protected area spanning Niger, Benin, and Burkina Faso, is named after the distinctive W-shaped meander of the Niger River. Established in 1954 and designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996, the park covers roughly 10,000 km² of wetlands, rocky hills, and savannah. It supports diverse flora, including 454 plant species, and is a critical habitat for large mammals such as elephants, lions, cheetahs, and hippos, alongside over 350 bird species. The park also holds archaeological significance, with traces of ancient human settlements.