Yankari National Park
Yankari National Park is a major wildlife park located in Bauchi State, Nigeria's northeastern region. It has an area of around 2,244 square kilometers and is home to various natural warm water springs as well as a diverse range of flora and fauna. Its location in the center of the West African savanna offers it a one-of-a-kind opportunity for tourists and vacationers to observe wildlife in its native habitat. Yankari was established as a game reserve in 1956 before being declared Nigeria's largest national park in 1991. It is the most popular tourist attraction in Nigeria, and as such, it plays an important role in the growth and promotion of tourism and ecotourism in Nigeria. It is also one of West Africa's most prominent eco-tourism locations.
Many global environmental organizations and assistance agencies now advocate ecotourism as a platform for sustainable development. It encourages biological diversity conservation through safeguarding habitats, and its main attractions are the local culture, flora, and animals. Yankari National Park meets these requirements.
Yankari National Park welcomed approximately 20,000 visitors from over 100 countries in 2000. This makes it Nigeria's most popular tourist attraction, and if properly managed, it has the potential to play a big role in the growth and promotion of tourism throughout the country. It is one of West Africa's last surviving locations where wild animals are protected in their native habitats.
Yankari National Park is located in the Sudan Savannah's southern region. It is mostly savannah grassland with some well-developed wooded sections. It is also a region of rolling hills, generally between 200 and 400 meters in elevation. Kariyo Hill, at 640m, is the highest point. During the dry season, the park's greater fauna relies on the Gaji River and its tributaries for survival. This river is the park's only watershed and divides it in two. Marshall calculated that elephants use around 40 square kilometers of the Gaji River Valley during the dry season. This improves the likelihood of spotting elephants during this time of year.
The park's main entrance is located near Mainamaji village, approximately 29 kilometers from Dindima. It is situated in the districts of Duguri, Pali, and Gwana of Alkaleri LGA, Bauchi State. This LGA has a total land area of 7,457.78 square kilometers and a population of 208,202 people.
Location: Bauchi State, Nigeria
