W National Park, Biosphere reserve in Niger and Benin, West Africa.
W National Park is a transborder protected area of some 10,000 km2 around a meander of the Niger River shaped like the letter W, shared by Niger, Benin and Burkina Faso. Its wetlands, formed by the delta of the Mékrou River, were a malarial zone until the 1970s, broken by rocky hills; tiger bush plateaus reach their southern limit here in Niger.
This protected area was established as a national park in 1954 and later gained recognition as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The designation came as part of a broader conservation effort that linked several nature reserves across the region.
Several ethnic groups have lived alongside the wildlife and water sources in this region for many generations. Their traditional hunting and fishing practices shaped how people interact with the land today.
The park is mainly accessible during the dry months from November to April and requires organized safari tours with local guides. Visitors should prepare for long drives through remote areas and bring appropriate gear for changing weather conditions.
The park's name comes from the distinctive W-shaped bend in the Niger River along its northern border. This geographic feature is barely visible from ground level, but becomes immediately clear when viewed from the air.
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