Waza Biosphere Reserve

UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, inscribed 1979, in Cameroon. The Waza Biosphere Reserve is located in the Chad depression in the extreme north of Cameroon. The area is characterised by low relief without permanent rivers, with rocky outcrops around Waza village rising to over 500 metres. Lake Chad once covered part of the area, while today the Yaéré floodplains with perennial grasses are vital to the carrying capacity of the Waza region. The fauna is rich and varied, with large numbers of giraffes (Giraffa camelopardalis), elephants (Loxodonta africana), aardvarks (Orycteropus afer) and warthogs (Phacochoerus aethiopicus). Many animals move to the Yaéré plains towards the end of the dry season.