Niokolo-Koba National Park
🇸🇳 Senegal
🐊 Riverbanks Teeming With West African CrocodilesNiokolo-Koba National Park is a vast protected area in southeastern Senegal, featuring open tropical savanna, wooded grasslands, and broad river floodplains along the Gambia River. Visitors walk through tall grasses, gallery forests, and seasonal wetlands under the African sun.
13.075° N 12.770° W
Wildlife
⭐ Iconic Species
★ 
Common Hippopotamus
Hippopotamus amphibius
★ 
Roan Antelope
Hippotragus equinus
★ 
Lion
Panthera leo
★ 
West African Crocodile
Crocodylus suchus
📊 Most Spotted
Long-tailed Glossy Starling
Lamprotornis caudatus
Red-throated Bee-eater
Merops bulocki
Green Monkey
Chlorocebus sabaeus
Hamerkop
Scopus umbretta
Guinea Baboon
Papio papio
African Palm-Swift
Cypsiurus parvus
Black-billed Wood-Dove
Turtur abyssinicus
Western Grey Plantain-eater
Crinifer piscator
African Fish-Eagle
Haliaeetus vocifer
Senegal Coucal
Centropus senegalensis
Vinaceous Dove
Streptopelia vinacea
Hadada
Bostrychia hagedash
⭐ Iconic Species
★ Common Hippopotamus
Hippopotamus amphibius
★ Roan Antelope
Hippotragus equinus
★ Lion
Panthera leo
📊 Most Spotted
Green Monkey
Chlorocebus sabaeus
Guinea Baboon
Papio papio
Northern Bushbuck
Tragelaphus scriptus
Waterbuck
Kobus ellipsiprymnus
Kob
Kobus kob
Common Warthog
Phacochoerus africanus
Western Red Colobus
Piliocolobus badius
Red-Flanked Duiker
Cephalophus rufilatus
African Civet
Civettictis civetta
Banded Mongoose
Mungos mungo
Oribi
Ourebia ourebi
West African Large-spotted Genet
Genetta pardina
📊 Most Spotted
Long-tailed Glossy Starling
Lamprotornis caudatus
Red-throated Bee-eater
Merops bulocki
Hamerkop
Scopus umbretta
African Palm-Swift
Cypsiurus parvus
Black-billed Wood-Dove
Turtur abyssinicus
Western Grey Plantain-eater
Crinifer piscator
African Fish-Eagle
Haliaeetus vocifer
Senegal Coucal
Centropus senegalensis
Vinaceous Dove
Streptopelia vinacea
Hadada
Bostrychia hagedash
Pied Kingfisher
Ceryle rudis
Yellow-crowned Gonolek
Laniarius barbarus
⭐ Iconic Species
📊 Most Spotted
Nile Monitor
Varanus niloticus
West African Banded Cobra
Naja savannula
Puff Adder
Bitis arietans
African Redhead Agama
Agama picticauda
Rainbow Agama
Agama agama
Antillean House Gecko
Hemidactylus angulatus
Senegal Soft-shelled Turtle
Cyclanorbis senegalensis
Helmeted Turtle
Pelomedusa subrufa
African Rock Python
Python sebae
Senegal Chameleon
Chamaeleo senegalensis
Chevron-throated dwarf gecko
Lygodactylus gutturalis
Sierra Leone Wall Gecko
Tarentola parvicarinata
Recent sightings in Niokolo-Koba National Park
LIVEiNaturalistAnimal Events
1Riverine Bird Breeding Peak
During the dry-season contraction of water levels in April, the African Fish-Eagle and the Giant Kingfisher engage in intense hunting and breeding activities along the shrinking channels.
2Dry Season Waterhole Concentration
As interior pools dry up in February, large mammals such as the Roan Antelope and Common Warthog congregate around the remaining permanent water sources.
3Wetland and Floodplain Foraging
Following the rainy season, receding floodwaters in November prompt specialized birds like the Egyptian Plover to feed extensively on exposed sandbanks and mudflats.
Sighting Calendar
Average chance of spotting the park's most-spotted species, month by month
- 1Riverine Bird Breeding Peak
- 2Dry Season Waterhole Concentration
- 3Wetland and Floodplain Foraging
Sighting Zones
Warmer areas are where all species together are recorded most often.
Essentials
Climate
Quick answers
What animals can you see in Niokolo-Koba National Park?
The most likely sightings are Long-tailed Glossy Starling (seen by about 90% of wildlife watchers), Red-throated Bee-eater (seen by about 80% of wildlife watchers), Green Monkey (seen by about 80% of wildlife watchers), Hamerkop (seen by about 80% of wildlife watchers), Guinea Baboon (seen by about 80% of wildlife watchers) — among 899 recorded vertebrate species, based on citizen-science data from GBIF.
When is the best time to visit Niokolo-Koba National Park for wildlife?
February has the highest combined sighting rate for the park's top species in our month-by-month GBIF data. The full sighting calendar on this page shows each species' best months.
Can you see Common Hippopotamus in Niokolo-Koba National Park?
Yes — about 70% of wildlife watchers report a Common Hippopotamus sighting in Niokolo-Koba National Park, based on 34 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
Can you see Roan Antelope in Niokolo-Koba National Park?
Yes — about 60% of wildlife watchers report a Roan Antelope sighting in Niokolo-Koba National Park, based on 23 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
Can you see Lion in Niokolo-Koba National Park?
Yes — about 30% of wildlife watchers report a Lion sighting in Niokolo-Koba National Park, based on 5 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
Can you see West African Crocodile in Niokolo-Koba National Park?
Yes — about 60% of wildlife watchers report a West African Crocodile sighting in Niokolo-Koba National Park, based on 271 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
Where Wildlife Score
How good is this park for seeing wildlife?Biodiversity
GoodHow rich is the wildlife?
Sighting
ExcellentHow likely to see animals?
Experience
ExcellentHow easy and pleasant is the visit?
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