Waza National Park

Far North Region (near Mora), Cameroon

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Waza National Park is a large wildlife reserve in the Far North Region of Cameroon, located in the Logone‑et‑Chari department near the town of Mora and close to the borders with Nigeria and Chad.

Established originally as a hunting reserve in 1934 and later upgraded to a national park in 1968, it covers about 1,700 square kilometers of Sahel‑to‑Sudan savanna, floodplains, and scattered acacia forests. The park lies in a semi‑arid Sudano‑Sahelian zone with a short rainy season and long dry period, and its Yaéré floodplains provide vital water and grazing for animals when the land around becomes parched.

It is home to a rich array of wildlife, including lions, African bush elephants, West African giraffes, cheetahs, hyenas, various antelopes, warthogs, and over 300 bird species, making it one of Cameroon’s prime safari destinations. Recognized as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and an important conservation area, Waza also serves local pastoralist communities while aiming to balance tourism, livestock use, and protection of its dry‑zone ecosystems.