Deux Balés National Park
Boucle du Mouhoun
Deux Balés National Park is a significant protected area in central eastern Burkina Faso, spanning approximately 810 square kilometers of Sudano-Zambezian savanna. Established originally in 1937 as classified forests during French colonial rule, it was later designated a national park in 1967, although its legal status remains unconfirmed. The park features an undulating granitic plain with lateritic plateaux and is characterized by aging baobab trees and diverse vegetation including Anogeissus leiocarpus, Isoberlinia doka, and Terminalia laxiflora. It shelters important wildlife such as elephants, buffalo, hippopotamuses, antelopes, crocodiles, and other species, though poaching and human activities have reduced fauna diversity. The park's gallery forests along the Black Volta River provide critical habitats for many species. Deux Balés is notable for hosting one of West Africa's largest elephant populations alongside the nearby Baporo Forest. Conservation efforts emphasize sustainable wildlife management to preserve its unique ecosystem.
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Consiglio: Visitors should plan their visit during the dry season for easier wildlife viewing and safer travel conditions. Due to ongoing poaching concerns, guided tours with local conservation authorities are recommended. Advance arrangements may enhance the experience and support park management. Awareness of local regulations and respect for protected areas are essential to help preserve wildlife. No specific ticketing information is widely published, so checking with local tourism offices before visiting is advised.
Fatti interessanti
- •Deux Balés National Park covers about 810 square kilometers of savanna and bushland.
- •It is home to one of the largest elephant populations in West Africa, with around 400 elephants recorded in 2001.
- •The park includes gallery forests along the Black Volta River, providing vital habitats for diverse species.
- •Established in 1937, it was originally classified as forest before being named a national park in 1967.
- •Despite its designation, the park lacks a formal legal framework confirming its national park status.
Storia
Originally established in 1937 as the Deux Balés Classified Forests under French West Africa, the area was later designated a national park in 1967 by the Republic of Upper Volta.
Despite this designation, no formal law has established its national park status.
The park has faced challenges such as poaching, particularly noted in 1968, which led to significant declines in large mammal populations.
By 1989, the International Union for Conservation of Nature recommended a review of its legal status due to conflicts from agricultural and mining activities.
By 2001, Deux Balés, together with the Baporo Forest, housed roughly 400 elephants, making Burkina Faso a key refuge for West African elephant populations.