The park covers about 13,500 square kilometres — that is nearly the size of Northern Ireland! Tall trees stretch so high their tops form a roof called the canopy, keeping the forest floor cool and shady. Streams and rivers weave between the roots, carrying fresh water to thousands of animals.
The bais — muddy, grassy clearings — are Odzala's most special feature. Forest elephants, gorillas, buffaloes and red river hogs all gather at bais to lick minerals from the soil and eat the soft plants that grow there. Visitors who sit quietly in a wooden lookout platform can watch these amazing animals without disturbing them.
The sounds of the forest never stop. Tree frogs sing at night, birds call at dawn and chimpanzees hoot in the distance. Scientists who study animals here say that some parts of the park have barely been explored by humans — meaning there may still be creatures waiting to be discovered.