Mefou National Park National Park

Address: Mfou, Centre Region (near Yaoundé), Cameroon

Mefou National Park is a protected forest area in Cameroon’s Centre Region near the national capital, focused on conserving lowland forest habitat and resident primate populations. The area includes a well-known primate sanctuary that rescues, rehabilitates, and cares for confiscated or orphaned monkeys and apes.

The park’s main draw for visitors is the primate sanctuary, where guided tours present a range of species in rehabilitation facilities and adjacent forest enclosures. The surrounding forest supports a diversity of wildlife typical of the region’s moist lowland habitat and provides important habitat connectivity near urban Yaounde.

Conservation organizations and government agencies have cooperated to establish the sanctuary and park-level protections to address wildlife trafficking and habitat loss; the sanctuary component focuses on veterinary care, long-term care, and environmental education. The area has evolved from scattered protected parcels into an organized conservation site with visitor arrangements concentrated on the sanctuary facilities.

Mefou National Park lies in the Centre Region of Cameroon, within driving distance of Yaounde and its metropolitan area, and occupies forested terrain inland from the coastal zone.

• Visiting the sanctuary: Guided visits are the standard way to see the sanctuary and its primates; independent access into the forested areas is generally not recommended due to conservation and safety rules.
• Conservation importance: The park protects lowland forest remnants near the capital and is important for primate conservation and rehabilitation in central Cameroon.

What to See#

• Mefou Primate Sanctuary: A primate sanctuary and rehabilitation centre that cares for confiscated, orphaned, and rescued monkeys and apes; visitors are usually restricted to guided tours arranged through the park or partner organizations.

• Mefou is a primate sanctuary and conservation area near Mfou outside Yaoundé-arrive in the morning for the best chance to see active monkeys and chimpanzees.
• Hire or arrange a guide at the park entrance and confirm opening hours and any visitor rules in advance; guided walks are the most reliable way to reach habituated primates and interpret rehabilitation work.
• Bring local currency for entrance fees and small purchases, and consider allocating time to learn about and support on‑site conservation programs run by the sanctuary.