It is also one of 13 National Parks in Gabon set up in 2002 by President Omar Bongo after a two-year study by the Directorate of Widlife and Hunting, 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 north-west of the country, near Libreville, with coastline along the Mondah and Corisco bays.

The national park is composed chiefly of mangrove and tidal beach habitats.

They play an important role in the ecosystem and help stabilise the coastline around Libreville.