Taï National Park, Rainforest national park in Montagnes District, Côte d'Ivoire
Taï National Park is a major forest reserve in the Montagnes District spanning thousands of square kilometers of dense primary rainforest between two rivers. The park contains several distinct forest zones, each with its own mix of trees, wildlife, and water patterns.
French authorities created a forest reserve here in 1926, which became a national park in 1972 and received UNESCO World Heritage status in 1982. These three protective designations show how the site gained increasing recognition as critical for conservation.
The Guéré and Oubi communities have traditionally lived alongside this forest with customs that protected chimpanzee populations through respect for wildlife. Today, villages at the forest edges show how people continue to coexist with the surrounding woodland.
The northern section is drier from November through March and easier to navigate, while the southern area stays wet year-round with heavy rainfall. Visitors should wear sturdy footwear and prepare for slippery, muddy conditions, especially in the wetter months.
The park is home to five critically endangered mammal species found nowhere else in such concentration, including pygmy hippopotamuses and Jentink's duikers. The chimpanzee populations here have passed down tool-use skills across generations, making them unusual among African primates.
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