Nigeria is home to a broad range of plants and animals. This rich natural endowment is a product of the climatic variations resulting into various north-south gradations of habitats and ecosystems. Habitats support more than 1,340 species. Several animals, such as the Nigerian mole rat, live nowhere else on Earth. Apart from the most remote areas, people and animals are often in competition for land. There are nearly 400 species of animals and plants at risk, including lions, crocodiles, monkeys, trees, and fish. |
In 1979, Kainji Lake National Park was established as the first national park in Nigeria. Today, Nigeria has eight national parks, which cover about 24,400 sq km or 3% of the country. These national parks are: Chad Basin, Cross River, Gashaka Gumti, Kainji Lake, Kamuku, Okomu, Old Oyo, and Yankari. Each of them has its own unique attributes in terms of biophysical and anthropogenic resources to offer to visitors.
Chad Basin National Park is located in northeastern Nigeria, in the Chad Basin, which is the largest drainage basin in Africa, centered on Lake Chad. National park has a total area of 2,258 sq km and it consists of three sectors. The Chingurmi-Duguma sector is in Borno State, in a Sudanian Savanna ecological zone, while the Bade-Nguru Wetlands and Bulatura sectors are in Yobe State in the Sahel ecological zone. Park is globally significant for its birdlife conservation. More than 300 different species have been recorded in the park. It remains the only existing stronghold of wild ostriches and giraffes in Nigeria.
Cross River National Park is located in southeastern Nigeria, in Cross River State. It is Nigeria's last great rainforest reserve. Park is an important biotic reserve, which contains one of the oldest rainforests in Africa. Studies have revealed that vegetation here has evolved more than 60 million years ago. Cross River National Park covers a total area of about 4,000 sq km of mainly primary moist tropical rainforest ecosystem in the north and central parts, and montane mosaic vegetation on the Obudu Plateau. Some parts of the park lies in the Guinea-Congolian region of the lowland rainforest refugia with closed canopy and scattered emergent trees, which reach a height between 40 and 50 metres. Park consists of two divisions. Oban division in the south covers about 3,000 sq km, while Okwangwo divison in the north covers about 1,000 sq km. Park is rich in faunal resources and many species are endemic. The Cross River gorilla is significant as the only colony of gorillas in the whole Sub-Saharan Africa. It also harbours about 30 species of other non primate mammals, including African forest elephant, hippopotamus, forest buffalo, giant otter shrew, etc. Park is characterized by high floral species richness and endemism. 1546 species of plants have been recorded, among which six are new record for Nigeria and four are new to science.
Gashaka Gumti National Park is located in the mountainous region in eastern Nigeria, in states Adamawa and Taraba. With a total area of 6,731 sq km it is the largest national park in Nigeria. Park experiences varying pleasant weather conditions, depending on location within the park. These range from tropical dry humid, tropical moist humid in the lowlands, to subtropical highland weather on the high plateau around Chappal Waddi, Sabere and Fillinga. It has five distinct ecological zones, which are based on both, latitudinal and altitudinal gradients of the biogeography of the park. This mix has resulted in the evolution of a staggering variety of habitats and niches, which have allowed for a diverse assemblage of biodiversity, some endemic to thrive. Park is an intricate mosaic of montane grasslands, savanna grasslands, wood lands, swamps, lakes, rivers, and montane rainforest, each supporting its unique community of plants and animals. Gashaka Gumti National Park is surely one of Africa's best kept secrets.
Kainji Lake National Park is located in central Nigeria, in states Kwara and Niger. It is the oldest national park in Nigeria and it was established by the amalgamation of two former game reserves, Borgu and Zugurma. Park has a total area of 5,340 sq km and it lies in the northern part of the Guinea Savanna ecological zone. It is separated into two distinct non-contiguous sectors, Borgu sector with an area of 3,970 sq km and Zugurma sector with an area of 1,370 sq km. Long history of conservation of the area made the park to be a home for a large pool of fauna resources, among which are lion, hunting dog, pangolin, aardvark, kob, hippopotamus, buffalo, hyena, baboon, roan antelope, warthog, oribi, western hartebeest, leopard, crocodile, etc. Kainji Lake National Park's poaching have created adequate security for its wildlife, and consequently contribution to increase the number of animals, plants, and even tourists that visit the most protected conservation enclave in Nigeria.
Kamuku National Park is located in central Nigeria, in Kaduna State. It covers 1,120 sq km of typical savanna vegetation. Park distinctly represents one of the best remaining blocks of the Sudan-Guinea Savanna vegetation in the country. It has rich, close canopy vegetation of savanna woodland type. Tall, tough grass cover populates the marshy areas of the park, especially during the rainy season. Kamuku National Park has an enviable biodiversity profile. It supports about 19 species of mammals, including elephant, roan antelope, western hartebeest, etc. About 177 species of birds as well as several reptiles, fishes, and insects have been sighted and documented in the park.
Okomu National Park is located in southwestern Nigeria, in Edo State. With a total area of 202 sq km it is the smallest national park in Nigeria. Park is a rainforest ecosystem and the last habitat for numerous endangered flora and fauna species. The vegetation is made up of mainly secondary forest on well drained plateau sites. Park still remains the least degraded, the largest and the last remaining representatives of lowland rainforest ecosystem west of the river Niger. It contains a unique assemblage of primates, ungulates, tropical birds, reptiles, amphibians, and butterflies, which make the park a highly potential destination for quality tropical rainforest ecotourism. There is 94 species of mammals (forest elephant, forest buffalo, etc.), 231 species of birds (hornbill, grey parrot, African palm-nut vulture, etc.), 40 species of amphibians, and 700 species of butterflies. Okomu National Park is a tourist paradise.
Old Oyo National Park is located in southwestern Nigeria, in Oyo State. Park has a total area of 2,512 sq km and it is made up of two former forest reserves, Upper Ogun and Oyo-Ile. Topography of the whole area has a beautiful uniqueness as most of the park lie in plain lowland between 330 and 508 metres above the sea level and continues with a gentle slope along the Ogun River walleys. Outcrops of granite characterize the northeastern part of the park, especially at Oyo-Ile. Central part has isolated hills and ridges of numerous rock outcrops. The extreme northern part has caves as well as rock shelters dominating the axis. Entire park lies in the southern part of the Guinea Savanna ecological zone. For a very long period in the past, this area has suffered indiscriminate human activities, including hunting. As a result, animal species have been greatly depleted and some species have either become locally extinct or rare. However, several large mammal species are still common. These include western kob, roan antelope, western hartebeest, duiker, oribi, and baboon.
Yankari National Park is located in northern Nigeria, in Bauchi State. It covers 2,244 sq km and it is Nigeria's best known national park. Park lies in the southern part of the Sudanian Savanna ecological zone, and it is composed of savanna grassland with well developed patches of woodland. More than 50 species of mammal can be spotted in the park. Baboon, warthog, and waterbuck are regularly seen. Roan antelope, patas monkey, western hartebeest and various duikers are present. There are still approximately 350 elephants, 150 buffaloes, 30 lions, rock pythons, crocodiles, monitor lizards, and hippopotamus are common in the Gaji River. Park is excellent for birdwatching, and more than 350 species have been recorded. Another feature of the park are five springs, which drain into the Gaji River. Yankari National Park is the most popular tourist destination in Nigeria.
Chad Basin National Park is located in northeastern Nigeria, in the Chad Basin, which is the largest drainage basin in Africa, centered on Lake Chad. National park has a total area of 2,258 sq km and it consists of three sectors. The Chingurmi-Duguma sector is in Borno State, in a Sudanian Savanna ecological zone, while the Bade-Nguru Wetlands and Bulatura sectors are in Yobe State in the Sahel ecological zone. Park is globally significant for its birdlife conservation. More than 300 different species have been recorded in the park. It remains the only existing stronghold of wild ostriches and giraffes in Nigeria.
Cross River National Park is located in southeastern Nigeria, in Cross River State. It is Nigeria's last great rainforest reserve. Park is an important biotic reserve, which contains one of the oldest rainforests in Africa. Studies have revealed that vegetation here has evolved more than 60 million years ago. Cross River National Park covers a total area of about 4,000 sq km of mainly primary moist tropical rainforest ecosystem in the north and central parts, and montane mosaic vegetation on the Obudu Plateau. Some parts of the park lies in the Guinea-Congolian region of the lowland rainforest refugia with closed canopy and scattered emergent trees, which reach a height between 40 and 50 metres. Park consists of two divisions. Oban division in the south covers about 3,000 sq km, while Okwangwo divison in the north covers about 1,000 sq km. Park is rich in faunal resources and many species are endemic. The Cross River gorilla is significant as the only colony of gorillas in the whole Sub-Saharan Africa. It also harbours about 30 species of other non primate mammals, including African forest elephant, hippopotamus, forest buffalo, giant otter shrew, etc. Park is characterized by high floral species richness and endemism. 1546 species of plants have been recorded, among which six are new record for Nigeria and four are new to science.
Gashaka Gumti National Park is located in the mountainous region in eastern Nigeria, in states Adamawa and Taraba. With a total area of 6,731 sq km it is the largest national park in Nigeria. Park experiences varying pleasant weather conditions, depending on location within the park. These range from tropical dry humid, tropical moist humid in the lowlands, to subtropical highland weather on the high plateau around Chappal Waddi, Sabere and Fillinga. It has five distinct ecological zones, which are based on both, latitudinal and altitudinal gradients of the biogeography of the park. This mix has resulted in the evolution of a staggering variety of habitats and niches, which have allowed for a diverse assemblage of biodiversity, some endemic to thrive. Park is an intricate mosaic of montane grasslands, savanna grasslands, wood lands, swamps, lakes, rivers, and montane rainforest, each supporting its unique community of plants and animals. Gashaka Gumti National Park is surely one of Africa's best kept secrets.
Kainji Lake National Park is located in central Nigeria, in states Kwara and Niger. It is the oldest national park in Nigeria and it was established by the amalgamation of two former game reserves, Borgu and Zugurma. Park has a total area of 5,340 sq km and it lies in the northern part of the Guinea Savanna ecological zone. It is separated into two distinct non-contiguous sectors, Borgu sector with an area of 3,970 sq km and Zugurma sector with an area of 1,370 sq km. Long history of conservation of the area made the park to be a home for a large pool of fauna resources, among which are lion, hunting dog, pangolin, aardvark, kob, hippopotamus, buffalo, hyena, baboon, roan antelope, warthog, oribi, western hartebeest, leopard, crocodile, etc. Kainji Lake National Park's poaching have created adequate security for its wildlife, and consequently contribution to increase the number of animals, plants, and even tourists that visit the most protected conservation enclave in Nigeria.
Kamuku National Park is located in central Nigeria, in Kaduna State. It covers 1,120 sq km of typical savanna vegetation. Park distinctly represents one of the best remaining blocks of the Sudan-Guinea Savanna vegetation in the country. It has rich, close canopy vegetation of savanna woodland type. Tall, tough grass cover populates the marshy areas of the park, especially during the rainy season. Kamuku National Park has an enviable biodiversity profile. It supports about 19 species of mammals, including elephant, roan antelope, western hartebeest, etc. About 177 species of birds as well as several reptiles, fishes, and insects have been sighted and documented in the park.
Okomu National Park is located in southwestern Nigeria, in Edo State. With a total area of 202 sq km it is the smallest national park in Nigeria. Park is a rainforest ecosystem and the last habitat for numerous endangered flora and fauna species. The vegetation is made up of mainly secondary forest on well drained plateau sites. Park still remains the least degraded, the largest and the last remaining representatives of lowland rainforest ecosystem west of the river Niger. It contains a unique assemblage of primates, ungulates, tropical birds, reptiles, amphibians, and butterflies, which make the park a highly potential destination for quality tropical rainforest ecotourism. There is 94 species of mammals (forest elephant, forest buffalo, etc.), 231 species of birds (hornbill, grey parrot, African palm-nut vulture, etc.), 40 species of amphibians, and 700 species of butterflies. Okomu National Park is a tourist paradise.
Old Oyo National Park is located in southwestern Nigeria, in Oyo State. Park has a total area of 2,512 sq km and it is made up of two former forest reserves, Upper Ogun and Oyo-Ile. Topography of the whole area has a beautiful uniqueness as most of the park lie in plain lowland between 330 and 508 metres above the sea level and continues with a gentle slope along the Ogun River walleys. Outcrops of granite characterize the northeastern part of the park, especially at Oyo-Ile. Central part has isolated hills and ridges of numerous rock outcrops. The extreme northern part has caves as well as rock shelters dominating the axis. Entire park lies in the southern part of the Guinea Savanna ecological zone. For a very long period in the past, this area has suffered indiscriminate human activities, including hunting. As a result, animal species have been greatly depleted and some species have either become locally extinct or rare. However, several large mammal species are still common. These include western kob, roan antelope, western hartebeest, duiker, oribi, and baboon.
Yankari National Park is located in northern Nigeria, in Bauchi State. It covers 2,244 sq km and it is Nigeria's best known national park. Park lies in the southern part of the Sudanian Savanna ecological zone, and it is composed of savanna grassland with well developed patches of woodland. More than 50 species of mammal can be spotted in the park. Baboon, warthog, and waterbuck are regularly seen. Roan antelope, patas monkey, western hartebeest and various duikers are present. There are still approximately 350 elephants, 150 buffaloes, 30 lions, rock pythons, crocodiles, monitor lizards, and hippopotamus are common in the Gaji River. Park is excellent for birdwatching, and more than 350 species have been recorded. Another feature of the park are five springs, which drain into the Gaji River. Yankari National Park is the most popular tourist destination in Nigeria.