The hook
The best-known wildlife park in Cameroon, a stretch of Sahel savanna in the far north where elephants, giraffes, lions, and vast flocks of birds gather, a classic dry-country safari far from the forested south.
01Why it's worth it
Up in Cameroon's far north, where the country narrows toward Lake Chad, the landscape becomes true Sahel, flat, dry acacia savanna and grassland that floods seasonally, and Waza National Park protects a rich slice of it. Historically it has been the country's premier safari destination, home to elephants, giraffes, lions, various antelope, and, in the wet season, spectacular concentrations of water birds around its pans, offering a savanna wildlife experience quite unlike the rainforests further south and complementing the region's distinctive Sahelian culture and the nearby lunar landscapes of the Kapsiki peaks. It shows the northern, drier, more Islamic face of "Africa in miniature." Importantly, the wider far-north region has faced serious security problems in recent years linked to instability around Lake Chad, and access and safety have been affected, so this comes with a clear caveat to check current advice; conditions vary. Where and when it is safe, Waza remains the classic wildlife draw of northern Cameroon.
02How to experience it
Check the current security situation for Cameroon's far north carefully before any travel, as it has been affected by regional instability. When conditions allow, do dry-season game drives for the elephants, birds, and savanna wildlife, with a local guide, combining it with the striking Sahelian landscapes and cultures of the north.