Batéké Plateau National Park, National park in Haut-Ogooué Province, Gabon.
Batéké Plateau National Park is a protected area in eastern Gabon with open grasslands, broad savannas, and forests that follow the rivers. The landscape shifts between wide open spaces and bands of green along the waterways.
The park was created in 2002 to protect this landscape and its wildlife. Three years later, it gained international attention when added to the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List.
The Bateke people have lived on this plateau for generations, passing down knowledge about which plants to use and how to move through the land. Today, you can see how communities still understand and interact with their surroundings.
You can explore the park only with experienced guides who lead hiking trails and help with wildlife spotting. Bring sturdy shoes and weather-resistant clothing, as the terrain is uneven and rain is common in this region.
In 2015, a male lion was spotted and photographed in the park, an animal of great rarity in this region. DNA testing showed the cat was genetically linked to historical populations that once roamed these lands.
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