Niokolo-Koba National Park

🇸🇳 Senegal

🐊 Riverbanks Teeming With West African Crocodiles
🌍 #36 Global · 4.7 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #25 in Africa #27 in Savanna & Grassland
Senegal, Senegal 899 spp. recorded

Niokolo-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

SIGHTING PROBABILITY Share of citizen-science records from the park that report this species
<5%
Rare5–20%
With luck20–40%
Possible40–70%
Likely>70%
Very likely
ACTIVITY PATTERN
☀️ Diurnal 🌙 Nocturnal 🌅 Crepuscular ☀️🌙 Day & Night

⭐ Iconic Species

Common Hippopotamus ★
VU

Common Hippopotamus

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Hippopotamus amphibius

60–70% · Likely
Roan Antelope ★
LC

Roan Antelope

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Hippotragus equinus

50–60% · Likely
Lion ★
VU

Lion

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Panthera leo

20–30% · Possible
West African Crocodile ★

West African Crocodile

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Crocodylus suchus

60–70% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Long-tailed Glossy Starling
LC

Long-tailed Glossy Starling

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Lamprotornis caudatus

80–90% · Very likely
Red-throated Bee-eater
LC

Red-throated Bee-eater

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Merops bulocki

80–90% · Very likely
Green Monkey
LC

Green Monkey

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Chlorocebus sabaeus

80–90% · Very likely
Hamerkop
LC

Hamerkop

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Scopus umbretta

70–80% · Very likely
African Palm-Swift
LC

African Palm-Swift

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cypsiurus parvus

70–80% · Very likely
Guinea Baboon
NT

Guinea Baboon

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Papio papio

70–80% · Very likely
Black-billed Wood-Dove
LC

Black-billed Wood-Dove

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Turtur abyssinicus

70–80% · Very likely
Western Grey Plantain-eater
LC

Western Grey Plantain-eater

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Crinifer piscator

70–80% · Very likely
African Fish-Eagle
LC

African Fish-Eagle

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Haliaeetus vocifer

70–80% · Very likely
Senegal Coucal
LC

Senegal Coucal

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Centropus senegalensis

70–80% · Very likely
Vinaceous Dove
LC

Vinaceous Dove

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Streptopelia vinacea

70–80% · Very likely
Hadada
LC Endemic

Hadada

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Bostrychia hagedash

70–80% · Very likely

⭐ Iconic Species

Common Hippopotamus ★
VU

Common Hippopotamus

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Hippopotamus amphibius

60–70% · Likely
Roan Antelope ★
LC

Roan Antelope

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Hippotragus equinus

50–60% · Likely
Lion ★
VU

Lion

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Panthera leo

20–30% · Possible

📊 Most Spotted

Green Monkey
LC

Green Monkey

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Chlorocebus sabaeus

80–90% · Very likely
Guinea Baboon
NT

Guinea Baboon

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Papio papio

70–80% · Very likely
Northern Bushbuck
LC

Northern Bushbuck

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Tragelaphus scriptus

60–70% · Likely
Waterbuck
LC

Waterbuck

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Kobus ellipsiprymnus

60–70% · Likely
Kob
LC

Kob

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Kobus kob

60–70% · Likely
Common Warthog
LC

Common Warthog

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Phacochoerus africanus

60–70% · Likely
Western Red Colobus
EN

Western Red Colobus

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Piliocolobus badius

60–70% · Likely
Red-Flanked Duiker
LC

Red-Flanked Duiker

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Cephalophus rufilatus

40–50% · Likely
African Civet
LC

African Civet

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Civettictis civetta

30–40% · Possible
Banded Mongoose
LC

Banded Mongoose

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Mungos mungo

30–40% · Possible
Oribi
LC

Oribi

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Ourebia ourebi

30–40% · Possible
West African Large-spotted Genet
LC

West African Large-spotted Genet

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Genetta pardina

30–40% · Possible

📊 Most Spotted

Long-tailed Glossy Starling
LC

Long-tailed Glossy Starling

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Lamprotornis caudatus

80–90% · Very likely
Red-throated Bee-eater
LC

Red-throated Bee-eater

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Merops bulocki

80–90% · Very likely
Hamerkop
LC

Hamerkop

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Scopus umbretta

70–80% · Very likely
African Palm-Swift
LC

African Palm-Swift

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cypsiurus parvus

70–80% · Very likely
Black-billed Wood-Dove
LC

Black-billed Wood-Dove

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Turtur abyssinicus

70–80% · Very likely
Western Grey Plantain-eater
LC

Western Grey Plantain-eater

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Crinifer piscator

70–80% · Very likely
African Fish-Eagle
LC

African Fish-Eagle

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Haliaeetus vocifer

70–80% · Very likely
Senegal Coucal
LC

Senegal Coucal

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Centropus senegalensis

70–80% · Very likely
Vinaceous Dove
LC

Vinaceous Dove

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Streptopelia vinacea

70–80% · Very likely
Hadada
LC Endemic

Hadada

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Bostrychia hagedash

70–80% · Very likely
Pied Kingfisher
LC

Pied Kingfisher

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Ceryle rudis

60–70% · Likely
Yellow-crowned Gonolek
LC

Yellow-crowned Gonolek

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Laniarius barbarus

60–70% · Likely

⭐ Iconic Species

West African Crocodile ★

West African Crocodile

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Crocodylus suchus

60–70% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Nile Monitor
LC

Nile Monitor

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Varanus niloticus

50–60% · Likely
West African Banded Cobra
LC

West African Banded Cobra

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Naja savannula

30–40% · Possible
Puff Adder
LC

Puff Adder

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Bitis arietans

Insufficient data
African Redhead Agama
LC

African Redhead Agama

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Agama picticauda

Insufficient data
Rainbow Agama
LC

Rainbow Agama

🌅 Crepuscular Reptile

Agama agama

Insufficient data
Antillean House Gecko
LC

Antillean House Gecko

☀️🌙 Day & Night Reptile

Hemidactylus angulatus

Insufficient data
Senegal Soft-shelled Turtle
VU

Senegal Soft-shelled Turtle

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Cyclanorbis senegalensis

Insufficient data
Helmeted Turtle

Helmeted Turtle

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Pelomedusa subrufa

Insufficient data
African Rock Python
NT

African Rock Python

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Python sebae

Insufficient data
Senegal Chameleon
LC

Senegal Chameleon

Reptile

Chamaeleo senegalensis

Insufficient data
Chevron-throated dwarf gecko
LC

Chevron-throated dwarf gecko

Reptile

Lygodactylus gutturalis

Insufficient data
Sierra Leone Wall Gecko
LC

Sierra Leone Wall Gecko

Reptile

Tarentola parvicarinata

Insufficient data

📊 Most Spotted

Galam white-lipped frog

Galam white-lipped frog

🌅 Crepuscular Amphibian

Amnirana galamensis

Insufficient data
Crowned bullfrog
LC

Crowned bullfrog

🌅 Crepuscular Amphibian

Hoplobatrachus occipitalis

Insufficient data
Natal Puddle Frog
LC

Natal Puddle Frog

🌅 Crepuscular Amphibian

Phrynobatrachus natalensis

Insufficient data

Animal Events

🐦

Riverine Bird Breeding Peak

Apr

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.

African Fish-Eagle
LC

African Fish-Eagle

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Haliaeetus vocifer

70–80% · Very likely
Giant Kingfisher
LC

Giant Kingfisher

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Megaceryle maxima

50–60% · Likely
🦌

Dry Season Waterhole Concentration

Feb

As interior pools dry up in February, large mammals such as the Roan Antelope and Common Warthog congregate around the remaining permanent water sources.

Roan Antelope
LC

Roan Antelope

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Hippotragus equinus

50–60% · Likely
Common Warthog
LC

Common Warthog

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Phacochoerus africanus

60–70% · Likely
🦎

Wetland and Floodplain Foraging

Nov

Following the rainy season, receding floodwaters in November prompt specialized birds like the Egyptian Plover to feed extensively on exposed sandbanks and mudflats.

Nile Monitor
LC

Nile Monitor

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Varanus niloticus

50–60% · Likely
Egyptian Plover
LC

Egyptian Plover

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Pluvianus aegyptius

60–70% · Likely

Sighting Calendar

Chance of spotting each species, month by month

Months
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Species Total
70–80
70–80
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
Common Hippopotamus
60–70
70–80
50–60
40–50
40–50
50–60
60–70
50–60
60–70
60–70
30–40
30–40
Roan Antelope
50–60
60–70
70–80
50–60
30–40
50–60
50–60
40–50
50–60
50–60
30–40
30–40
Lion
20–30
30–40
10–20
30–40
10–20
10–20
20–30
20–30
20–30
20–30
40–50
10–20
West African Crocodile
70–80
50–60
50–60
50–60
30–40
50–60
60–70
50–60
50–60
60–70
70–80
30–40
Long-tailed Glossy Starling
90–100
90–100
70–80
60–70
80–90
80–90
80–90
70–80
90–100
80–90
70–80
80–90
Red-throated Bee-eater
80–90
80–90
80–90
90–100
80–90
70–80
70–80
80–90
90–100
70–80
80–90
70–80
Green Monkey
80–90
70–80
70–80
80–90
70–80
70–80
80–90
90–100
70–80
80–90
70–80
80–90
Hamerkop
80–90
80–90
50–60
80–90
70–80
70–80
60–70
60–70
80–90
70–80
60–70
70–80
African Palm-Swift
60–70
90–100
80–90
70–80
60–70
60–70
70–80
70–80
80–90
70–80
40–50
70–80
Guinea Baboon
70–80
60–70
80–90
60–70
80–90
60–70
70–80
80–90
70–80
70–80
70–80
80–90
Black-billed Wood-Dove
70–80
80–90
70–80
70–80
60–70
60–70
70–80
70–80
60–70
70–80
50–60
70–80
Western Grey Plantain-eater
70–80
80–90
60–70
80–90
60–70
60–70
70–80
70–80
60–70
70–80
40–50
70–80
African Fish-Eagle
60–70
70–80
70–80
80–90
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
80–90
60–70
70–80
70–80
Senegal Coucal
70–80
80–90
50–60
60–70
70–80
60–70
60–70
70–80
40–50
60–70
50–60
60–70
Vinaceous Dove
60–70
90–100
70–80
50–60
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
80–90
60–70
50–60
80–90
Hadada
70–80
70–80
70–80
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
40–50
50–60
60–70
60–70
Animal Events
🐦 Riverine Bird Breeding Peak
🦌 Dry Season Waterhole Concentration
🦎 Wetland and Floodplain Foraging

Sighting Zones

Warm areas are where all species together are recorded most, so they track where people go as much as where animals are. For one species, see the map on its own page.

0.0 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ World-class
🐊 Riverbanks Teeming With West African Crocodiles

Where Wildlife Score

How good is this park for seeing wildlife?
🦜

Biodiversity

Good

How rich is the wildlife?

4.3 Global avg
4.0 ★★★★★ ★★★★★
Species by taxon
🦅 Birds
591
🐒 Mammals
164
🦎 Reptiles
106
🐸 Amphibians
38
899 Total Species
850 Global average across 296 parks
38 Threatened 20 Endemic
🔭

Sighting

Excellent

How likely to see animals?

3.6 Global avg
5.0 ★★★★★ ★★★★★
🎯
Top-12 Avg Probability
62% Global avg
76%
📊
Coverage (226 species at ≥5% of 899 in the inventory)
24% Global avg
25%
🔀
Taxon variety in top 12 (10 bird, 2 mammal)
46% Global avg
37%
🔭
Species per 10 outings (distinct species a visitor would meet over 10 outings — effort held equal across parks)
134 Global avg
169
🌟
Iconic-group species (≥15%) (every species from the 19 iconic groups — monkeys, cats, toucans, macaws, sloths, crocodilians… — not just the 4 highlighted above)
15 Global avg
29
⭐
High-prob species (>40%)
27 Global avg
64

Quick answers

What animals can you see in Niokolo-Koba National Park?

The most likely sightings are Long-tailed Glossy Starling (seen by 80–90% of wildlife watchers), Red-throated Bee-eater (seen by 80–90% of wildlife watchers), Green Monkey (seen by 80–90% of wildlife watchers), Hamerkop (seen by 70–80% of wildlife watchers), African Palm-Swift (seen by 70–80% 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 64% of wildlife watchers report a Common Hippopotamus sighting in Niokolo-Koba National Park, based on 28 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see Roan Antelope in Niokolo-Koba National Park?

Yes — about 57% of wildlife watchers report a Roan Antelope sighting in Niokolo-Koba National Park, based on 21 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see Lion in Niokolo-Koba National Park?

Yes — about 27% of wildlife watchers report a Lion sighting in Niokolo-Koba National Park, based on 5 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see West African Crocodile in Niokolo-Koba National Park?

Yes — about 61% of wildlife watchers report a West African Crocodile sighting in Niokolo-Koba National Park, based on 25 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

⚖️

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