Monte Alén National Park

Monte Alén protects a large block of rainforest behind Bata thick enough to hold gorillas and mandrills, though seeing either takes real patience and some luck rather than any guarantee. Waterfalls drop through the dense canopy along the marked trails, and the birdlife alone justifies the walk for anyone who slows down enough to notice it properly. Facilities on site are minimal, and a guide arranged from the park office is genuinely required. Roads leading in here turn to a genuine mess once the rains set in properly, which narrows the practical visiting season quite considerably.