Bolivia - Noel Kempff Mercado National Park Total Area: 1.5 million ha More Information Detailed Map of Site Destination Site Overview

Partners: Fundacion Amigos de la Naturaleza (FAN)

Location: Amazon Region, Bolivia

Site Description:

Noel Kempff Mercado National Park (NKMNP) is located in the extreme northeastern corner of Bolivia, sharing an international border on the north and east with Brazil. The park is situated in an ecological transition zone that bridges the rich, wet Amazon Basin from the north and the drier ecological communities of the Gran Chaco and Cerrado to the south and west, respectively. As a result of its remote and unique biogeographic location, the relatively unstudied 3.8 million acres of Noel Kempff are believed to contain some of the highest levels of biological diversity found in the world.

Over 130 mammal species and over 630 bird species have been identified in NKMNP. This translates into one fourth of all existing bird species in the Neotropics! In addition, the park is adorned with a number of physical features including rivers, waterfalls and the Huanchaca Plateau, which rises abruptly from the thick, wet rainforests approximately 1,800 feet to an enormous elevated plain of grassland, similar in appearance and structure to the savannas found in Africa.

There are two sites within NKMNP that have appropriate tourism infrastructure:

Flor de Oro Lodge

Flor de Oro is located in the extreme north-central section of NKMNP, in an area of seasonally flooded savannah and forests on the banks of the Rio Itenez.

Principal Ecotourism Attractions:

• Probable sightings of freshwater dolphins and giant otters and possibilities of seeing other mammals including monkeys and the giant anteater.
• Great birding.
• Arco Iris waterfall (accessible from late November to early May).
• Ahlfeld waterfall (accessible from late November to early May).
• Caiman Lake.
• Both rainforest and seasonally inundated savannah habitat accessible from Lodge.
• Hike up to the edge of the plateau to Monkey Point overlook.
• Bays and backwaters to explore by boat and foot.

Infrastructure:

• On-site comfortable lodging facilities for up to 32 people:
  • 8 double occupancy cabins w/ private bathrooms
  • Large dormitory style rooms (for 16 persons)
  • Solar generated electricity (110 and 220 volts)
  • A large kitchen/dining area
• 40 kilometers of trails for wildlife viewing, birding and hiking
• Visitor center and conference facilities for 30 people
• Two six-seater aluminium boats with 4 stroke outboards
• Two five-seater Cessna 206's
• Airstrip

Los Fierros Camp