Batia is a small village inside the southern edge of the park, traditionally the operational hub for Pendjari and the site of the historic park lodge. African Parks, who manage Pendjari, run the main field operations from this area — anti-poaching patrols, community work, and visitor reception. For most travellers, Batia is the practical centre of any in-park stay: the place where game drives are organised, guides are picked up, and where you are most likely to spend your nights.
Accommodation in and around the village ranges from the renovated Pendjari Lodge to simpler camping options. The drives east and north from Batia reach the main waterhole circuit and the river country, and a good guide will adjust the route to where animals have been seen that morning. Even outside the park boundary, the surrounding bush is rich enough that you often see hartebeest, warthog, and baboon on the approach road.