Dja Faunal Reserve, Natural reserve in southeastern Cameroon.
Dja Faunal Reserve is a large forest protected area in southeastern Cameroon, largely enclosed by a major river. The region consists of dense rainforest with varied habitats that support a wide range of wildlife.
The reserve was established in 1950 to protect animals and their habitats. Decades later, UNESCO recognized its global importance and granted it World Heritage status in 1987.
Baka communities have called this forest home for generations and continue practicing traditional forest use. Visitors who travel here can observe how people and nature coexist in daily life.
Access is via Lomié in the East Region; the reserve lies roughly 200 km southeast of Yaoundé. A conservator heads Dja Conservation Services, which manages the site with internationally funded projects. The Dja River forms the boundary, so entry is by boat or forest track, and the Baka are permitted to hunt with traditional weapons only.
A camera-trap campaign in 2017 confirmed the African golden cat and the leopard in the reserve; the previous proof of a leopard dated from December 1994 to January 1995, when hunters trapped one. The reserve lies within the TRIDOM area, alongside Odzala-Kokoua in Congo and Minkébé in Gabon.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 92,756 contributors worldwide.
