Akanda National Park is one of 13 National Parks in Gabon set up in 2002 by President Omar Bongo after a two year study by the DFC, WCS and WWF. The 13 national parks are designed to represent the biodiversity of the country and encourage tourism. Akanda National Park is located in the northeast of the country, near Libreville, with coastline along the Mondah and Corisco bays.