Niokolo-Koba is the largest national park in Senegal. It was established in 1925 and expanded in 1969. The park straddles the Gambia River and the water attracts lots of animals, including baboon, bouffon cobs, buffalo, bushbuck, civet, crocodile, dikdik, eland, hartebeest, hippo, kob, leopard, lion, monkey (green and hussar), porcupine, roan antelope, sables, vervet, warthog and waterbuck.

The park is home to over 80 species of mammal, as well as some 330 bird species. Most of the area is covered with lush vegetation.

The best time to visit Niokolo-Koba is during the dry season from December to May, when animals are easier spotted. You need a vehicle to enter, as walking is not allowed in large parts of the park, but if you don't have your own vehicle, it is always possible to take a safari-tour.

The park headquarters is in Tambacounda, 75 km to the north. Buses running between Tambacounda and Kédougou stop at the park entrance in Badi. From Badi transportation to the campement in Simenti can be arranged. In Simenti bungalows are available and a campsite is nearby.

The Niokolo-Koba National Park is located in the south of Senegal, some 500 km southeast from Dakar, close to the border with Guinea-Bissau. It was inscribed into the UNESCO list of world heritage sites in 1981.