The park is named after the Cantanhez peninsula, a finger of land where the forest runs right down to the edge of the sea. Inside, tall trees create a canopy so thick that the forest floor is cool and shady even in the hottest part of the year. Local communities have lived alongside this forest for generations and know it like the back of their hands.
Chimpanzees are the park's most famous residents. Guinea-Bissau has one of the westernmost populations of wild chimpanzees in the world. They live in family groups, use sticks as tools to collect food, and call to each other with loud hoots that travel far through the trees. Spotting one is a memorable moment for anyone lucky enough to visit.
The rivers that wind through Cantanhez are home to the African manatee - a gentle, slow-moving mammal that feeds on water plants. Manatees look a little like large grey sausages with flippers, and they surface quietly to breathe. They are quite shy, so you have to be very still and patient to see one.
Local villages work with conservationists to protect the park. Community rangers patrol the forest, and local people share their traditional knowledge about the plants and animals. This partnership means both the wildlife and the people who live near the park benefit from keeping it healthy.