The Mekrou River forms the eastern boundary of the park on the Niger side before joining the Niger River near the famous W bend. Driving along the Mekrou circuit in the dry season — when the gallery forest is stripped back and animals are forced to drink — offers some of the most productive wildlife watching in the park.
Elephant sightings are most consistent along the Mekrou, where small herds use the corridor between the river and the savanna. The circuit is long and the tracks require a good 4WD, but the rewards are proportionate: very few other visitors and an atmosphere that feels genuinely remote.
Allow a full day for the circuit. Carry food and enough water for two people in case of breakdowns. The track rejoins the main Tapoa access road in the early afternoon if you leave at dawn.