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Nigeria boasts an innate natural beauty, full of lush green forest and thick vegetation. Nigeria has profuse physical attractions including sinewy hills, cascading waterfalls, natural springs, deep caves, awe inspiring lakes and mountains across the length and breadth of the country. |
The fascinating features and beautiful scenes provide interesting sites for leisure, adventure and other tourism related activities. Here is a list of some of the must see national parks in Nigeria:
1: Yankari Game Reserve
Yankari game reserve is one of Nigeria's best parks for observing wildlife. With some luck you one can encounter elephants, waterbucks, bushbucks, hippos, crocodiles and the occasional lion. This Premier Game Reserve is spread across 2,058 sq km of Savanna woodland. The best time for tourists is between November and May.
Started in 1956 and opened to the public in 1962, the main game-viewing areas are open all year round. The Wikki Warm Springs is one of the reserve’s great features. Flood-lit at night with lovely warm water to bath in at night, the spring comes out form under a cliff and the water is about 6ft deep, extending to a 600ft open area. There are Tennis Courts, squash courts, gas stations and a small museum aswell inside the reserve.
2: Mambilla Plateau
This is a high grassland plateau extending 1800m. It is very relaxing and one can get away from all the hustle and bustle’ here. You can see cattle ranches, tea plantations and lovely grassy plains. This place has its own flora and fauna different from the rest in Nigeria. This Plateau is home to some very rare species of birds and animals.
3: Gashaka-Gumti National Park
Gashaka-Gumti National Park covers an area of 6,000 sq km. it is a home to Nigeria’s highest mountain, Chapal Wadd (2490m). This area is filled mostly with mountains. Many rivers flow through the park, including the Taraba, a major tributary of the River Benue. Animals found here range from buffalo, roan antelope, chimpanzee, colobus, monkey, hippos, hyena, giant forest hog, lion and leopard. Loved by birdwatchers and fisherman alike the River Kam is teaming with fish and attracts rare birds. The park is best explored on foot and guides and porters are available.
4: Cross River National Park
Created from two existing forest reserves of Bashi-Okwango and Oban Forest Reserves, this park is famous for its rain forest vegetation and it is a home to a herd of forest elephants, the white-faced monkey (found only in Nigeria), buffalo, leopards and lowland gorillas, (plus thousands more species).
5: The Kainji National Park
Established in 1979 the Kainji National Park contains the Kainji Dam. This artificial lake is 1, 370sq km long. The land boasts many animals including antelope, lion, hippopotamus, buffalo, roan antelope, jackal, baboon, monkey and crocodile. Open December till June this park is a must to see.
