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Gallery of the NationsNigeria: Vacation Spots
Nigeria has abundant beautiful natural physical features that are attractions for tourists. There are natural beaches along the sea coast from Lagos to Port Harcourt. Inland there are many unique hills, waterfalls, springs, caves, lakes throughout the country, many of them now fully developed for tourists' enjoyment and leisure. Obudu Ranch Resort
The Obudu Ranch Resort is part of the Cross River National Park. It is located in the northern part of Cross River State nestled among the rolling green hills of the Obudu country near the Nigerian border with Cameroon. The resort is about 30 minutes by car from Obudu town and five hours (332 km) away from the State capital, Calabar. There is an airstrip and helicopter pad at the ranch for those who may come by air. The resort gets its name from an active cattle breeding ranch. From the base entrance, one can drive up the 11 kilometers of twisting road to the ranch at the top of the mountain or come up by cable car and get to enjoy the beautiful scenery. Obudu Ranch Resort is a good place for nature lovers - eco tourists, bird watchers and hikers. After a hard day's hike through the mountains and forests, visitors can retire to comfortable modern accommodations. The food is excellent and the entertainment varied. There is a water park with a swimming pool and water slide for the use of guests. There is horseback riding, a golf course, and night-time bonfires.
Because of the high elevation (about 1575 meters above sea level), the ranch offers a relative cool climate. During the rainy season months from May to September, temperatures can drop as low as 4 degrees Celsius. The average temperature for the rest of the year ranges between 26 and 32 degrees Celsius. Other Attractions at Obudu
Yankari National Park
The Yankari Game Reserve is in the Alkaleri Local Government Area of Bauchi State, 115km from Bauchi town. It was upgraded to a National Park in 1991. The Park covers an area of 2,250.10 sq km. Yankari is arguably the most popular tourist destination in Nigeria. It attracted well over 20,000 visitors in 2000. Over 50 species of wild animals can be located in the Park, including baboons, elephants, hippos, hartebests and variety of birds and fishes. There are natural formations such as the Marshall Cave Systems and the Wikki Springs, source of the Wikki River which provides cool and clear natural swimming facilities for visitors. Yankari Park contains several archeological preserves including the Dukkey Well System and the Ampara and Shanshau iron smelting works and furnace shafts dating back many centuries. Yankari provides a variety of accomodations and facilities for visitors, from hostels for youth and budget travellers to chalets with indoor and outdoor sports facilities and a conference hall. Kainji National ParkThis Park, in Kwara State, was established in 1979 and contains the Borgu Game and Zugurma Game Reserves. The larger Borgu covers an area of 3,929 sq. km., while Zugurma has an area of 1,370 sq. km., of savanna woodland. The Kainji National Park has developed around the Kainji Dam reservoir or lake. The artificial lake - which covers the old Bussa town where European explorer of the Niger, Mungo Park, lost his life in 1805 - had caused the resettlement of more than 44,000 people when it was started in 1964, is now the nuclues of the reserve and national park, and the source of irrigation water for nearby farmers. The lake is also the nuclues of a thriving and rich wildlife population. Elephants, antelops, hippopotamus, crocodiles, lions, buffaloes, and a variety of primates make their home in the park. Tourists can go on boat trips or fish in the lake and take a tour of the dam complex. Chad Basin National ParkThe Chad Basin National Park is a delight for nature-lovers. Located in the Lake Chad basin, northeast Nigeria, the park has a Birds watching hide at the Water Fowl Sanctuary. Visitors may also stay for the Gogoram village fishing festival or visit the Baturiya Wetland Reserve and cruise the Dabarmagini lake near Nguru. For a quiet and serene relaxation guests can stay at the beautiful amusement garden in the Dagona Base Camp and share the place with the many different types of birds that are also attracted to the garden. The Chad Basin National Park has much to offer the adventure tourist. There is sand-dune walking in the nearby Sahara desert. Tourists can also go for camel rides in the desert; sport fishing at Dagona Ox bow Lake; follow the nature trails in the Oases; engage in bird counts at Baturiya Wetlands, and go boating on Lake Nguru. The Park has good accommodation for tourists and visitors in the various base camps. December through June is the best period for visiting the park. Gashaka Gumti National ParkGashaka Gumti National Park is in the Adamawa region, right on the Nigeria /Cameroon border. There is a 500 km road network throughout the park with ranger posts in strategic places. Visitors can also reach the park by air via the Yola airport and an airstrip in Serti, close to the park. The Park contain a museum of natural history with exhibition of wildlife specimens, fishing gears, old hunting equipment and foorprints of animal species. Accomodation for visitors is available in the form of furnished chalets and good camping sites for those who prefer to rough it. Kamuku National Park
Kamuku National Park is located north west of Kaduna near Birnin Gwari in a mostly Guinea Savanna region of Nigeria. The park is ideal for bird watching with 192 species recorded. The Secretary Bird (Sagittarius serpentarius), Denham’s Bustard (Neotis denhami) and Abyssinian Ground Hornbill (Bucorvus abyssinicus) are all found here. There are viable populations of elephants; game animals like roan antelope, reedbuck and western hartebeest as well as a small number of lions. Kamuku was upgraded from a state Game Reserve to a National Park in May 1999. Okomu National ParkThe Okomu National Park is part of the the 1,082 square kilometer Okomu Forest Reserve, about 60km north-west of Benin City, capital of Edo State, midwest Nigeria. The area is in the Guinea-Congo lowland rainforest zone with heavy rain fall, about 2,100 mm per annum. Over 150 bird species and 33 species of mammals, including forest elephants and theNigerian White Throated Monkey, thrive in the area. Okomu Eco Resort, part of the National Park, is a favorite place for picnickers and tourists. It has comfortable air-conditioned accommodation for visitors. The resort also has conference and entertainment facilities. Okomu National Park is the largest of the remaining undisturbed rain-forests in Nigeria.
Old Oyo National ParkThe Old Oyo National Park is situated in the Upper Ogun/Oyo Ile forest reserves. It has a total land area of 2,512 square kilometers with an average annual rainfall of 1,100mm. The Old Oyo National Park also contains the ruins of the original city of Oyo, capital of the historical Yoruba Oyo Kingdom that was sacked in the late 18th century by the Oyo war leader, Afonja of Ilorin, with the help of Hausa/Fulani jihadists. Tourists and visitors to the Park are required to obtain entry permits from the Park Office going into the park. The vegetation in Old Oyo is forest Savannah woodland. The area has a rich population of both bids and mammals including elephants, buffaloes, Roan Antelopes, Western Hartebeest, Kob, Duiker, Patas monkey, lions etc. The following reptiles are also in abundance: the Nile Crocodile, Rock Python, Land Tortoise, the Cobra, and Gabon Viper. Birds found here include the Guinea Fowl, Hammerkop, White Headed Plover, African Fish Eagle, Bush Fowl, Grey Heron, etc. The Park has good affordable accommodation for tourists. Room rates average N800 (about US$5) per night. Accessibility is good year round, but the best time to visit the park is during the dry season between December and April. Sport fishing is available. |
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