Mayumba National Park, Marine national park in southwestern Gabon.
Mayumba National Park is a marine protected area on southwestern Gabon's coast that extends roughly 15 kilometers into the Atlantic. The park combines long sandy beaches, dunes, open grasslands, and rainforest sections stretching between the towns of Mayumba and Congo.
The protected area was established in 2002 by Gabon's National Agency for National Parks to safeguard marine habitats and coastal ecosystems in this region. Its creation came from growing awareness that these coastal zones required special protection.
The area has long been a livelihood center for local fishing communities who continue their traditional practices in designated zones. The lagoon and beaches remain integral to how people here make their living and spend their daily lives.
The best time to visit is during sea turtle nesting season from October through March, with peak activity between December and January. The protected beaches are most active during these months and offer the best chance to witness this natural event.
Between June and October, around ten percent of the world's humpback whale population passes through these waters during their migration. This makes the park a major waypoint for this whale species as it travels across the Atlantic.
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