Where to see African Manatee
The parks with the most verified sightings, out of 5 safari areas where it has been recorded.
- 1Réserve de Faune du Lac OssaRareLodges
South-West Coastal & Volcanic, Cameroon · Rare
- 2Réserve naturelle de mangroveRareLodges
Kinshasa & Bas-Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo · Rare
- 3Forêt classée de DiamelRareLodges
Central Ferlo & Eastern Sahel, Senegal · Rare
- 4Réserve sylvo-pastorale de LambangoRarePark
Central Ferlo & Eastern Sahel, Senegal · Rare
- 5Zone d'intérêt cynégétique 8bisRareLodges
Northern Savanna & Bénoué Basin, Cameroon · Rare
Common: 500+ verified sightings. Occasional: 50 to 499. Rare: under 50.
African Manatee facts
Best months to spot
Most sightings recorded in Oct. Data from GBIF - a global database of verified wildlife observations by researchers and citizen scientists.
Conservation status
Faces a high risk of extinction in the wild.
African manatees face threats from hunting for meat and traditional medicine, as well as habitat degradation and accidental entanglement in fishing gear. While specific large-scale recovery programs are limited, conservation efforts focus on community engagement and reducing bycatch. Responsible safari tourism can help by raising awareness of the species and its challenges, and by supporting local economies that may offer alternatives to hunting.
Conservation hubAbout the african manatee
The African manatee, also known as the West African manatee, is a species of manatee that inhabits much of Western Africa – from Senegal to Angola. It is the only manatee species to be found in the Old World, as well as one of the two living Sirenians that live in the Old World, the other being the Dugong.
Adapted from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.