Things to Do in Taï National Park

Taï National Park represents one of West Africa's last remaining fragments of pristine rainforest, stretching across 3,300 square kilometers of dense canopy and winding rivers in southwestern Ivory Coast. The park actually holds UNESCO World Heritage status for good reason - it's home to some of the continent's most endangered species, including forest elephants, pygmy hippos, and eleven primate species you won't find anywhere else. What makes this place genuinely special isn't just the wildlife, though that's obviously impressive, but the fact that you're walking through primary rainforest that's been undisturbed for millennia. The research stations scattered throughout give you a sense of just how much scientific work happens here, particularly around chimpanzee behavior studies that have been ongoing for decades.

Dining options around Taï National Park are pretty limited, which you'd expect given the remote location. Park guesthouses typically provide basic meals as part of accommodation packages - simple but filling dishes featuring rice, plantains, and local vegetables. In nearby Soubré, you'll find small restaurants serving typical Ivorian cuisine like attiéké (cassava couscous) with grilled fish or chicken, plus the usual West African staples. For longer stays, many visitors arrange meal packages through their tour operators since restaurant options become even more scarce the closer you get to park boundaries. If you're camping, bringing some of your own supplies from Abidjan makes sense, though basic provisions are available in Soubré.

The dry season from December through March offers the most comfortable conditions for forest trekking, with less mud on trails and generally easier wildlife spotting around water sources. That said, the forest stays pretty humid year-round, so don't expect dramatic temperature differences. Rainy season (April-November) actually has its advantages - the forest is more lush, bird activity increases, and you'll have fewer other visitors, though trail conditions can be genuinely challenging. For chimpanzee tracking specifically, the shoulder months of November-December and March-April can be ideal since the chimps are more active and fruit availability affects their ranging patterns.