Pendjari National Park
Benin UNESCO World Heritage Site
Established in 1961, Pendjari National Park is a national park and biosphere reserve located in the Atakora Department of Benin. It is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site known as the W-Arly-Pendjari Complex and is one of the most looked-up sights in Benin on English Wikipedia.
Planning a visit
The dry season is the most suitable time for a visit, particularly between November and February when there is little to no rain. During this period, temperatures remain generally high, with lows around 20 °C and highs reaching up to 38 °C. March and April are significantly hotter, with temperatures climbing to 40 °C. The rainy season begins in May and continues through October, with the heaviest rainfall occurring in August, which sees rain on about 29 days. The park, which covers an area of 2,755 km² at an elevation of 198 meters, is accessible via the Diori Hamani International Airport in Niamey, Niger, located 258 km away. It is 544 km from the capital, Porto-Novo. As the park is part of the W-Arly-Pendjari Complex, visitors often combine time here with travel to other sections of this broader UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Weather by month
The warmest month is March, with an average high of 40 °C. The wettest is August, with about 241 mm of rain.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average high, °C | 35 | 38 | 40 | 40 | 38 | 35 | 31 | 30 | 31 | 35 | 37 | 36 |
| Average low, °C | 20 | 22 | 24 | 27 | 26 | 25 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 20 |
| Rainfall, mm | 0 | 1 | 7 | 39 | 89 | 126 | 164 | 241 | 170 | 44 | 2 | 0 |
| Rainy days | 0 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 18 | 24 | 28 | 29 | 27 | 15 | 1 | 0 |
Temperatures and rainfall: 1981–2010 averages for this spot (4 km grid), from CHELSA. Rainy days: 2015–2024, NASA POWER.
