Yankari Games Reserve is Nigeria’s largest national park and can be said to be the first favourite among other tourists destination within Nigeria. Since its creation in 1956, the Yankari Game Reserve has served as one of the most popular eco-destinations offering sightseers and adventurers a peek into the lives of natures most treasured species.
Located in Bauchi State, Nigeria the Yankari National Park covers an expansive area of 2242 square kilometres. Wild animals roam the reserve without a care in the world, and every turn stimulates you with the chirp of an endangered bird or the swing of a baboon monkey, wildlife that would be almost difficult to spot anywhere else.
When planning your next outdoor escape, you wouldn’t be wrong to make the Yankari Games Reserve number one on your list with Exotic continental and African dishes served at the numerous restaurants, perfect for enjoying a meal while gazing at the wildlife that surrounds you. You wouldn’t find fancy clothes or gadgets at Yankari but the stores at the Wikki camp feed your curiosity with animal tusks, skins, bones and traps used by poachers, all things worthy as souvenirs.
Visitors can stay at the Wikki Camp as Troopers are provided for tourists who want to see the vast woodlands. They are rugged and sturdy with a shade and open sides providing great views of the engaging scenery.
SPECIAL ATTRACTION AT YANKARI
Wikki Warm Springs
The Yankari Games Reserve holds four warm springs but the Wikki Warm Spring stands out as the largest.
The clean and clear water from the spring maintains a constant temperature of 31.1 degrees Celsius thanks to the thermal activity beneath the rocks that form its foundation. It supplies a massive 21,000,000 litres of spring water into the Gaji River daily and is mainly used for fun and recreational activities.
Gaji River
The Gaji River is the major river serving the Yankari Games Reserve. Large wildlife gather at the Gaji River during the dry season from October to April to grab a drink in the midday sun. This makes it the perfect time for spotting animals such as the buffalo, hippopotamus, elephant and lion.
Wikki Camp
As more and more tourists visit the reserve to discover its unique ambiance, untamed wildlife and vast flora, the Wikki Camp was built to create a relaxing atmosphere for them; one where they could see the animals from afar and bathe in the sunlight after a midday swim.
The Wikki camp sits beside the Wikki Warm Spring to give tourists a one of a kind experience right at the centre of the Yankari Game Reserve. At least two safari tours leave the camp daily inviting all that stay there to explore the flora and fauna around them. The Wikki Camp which stands for “Where are you?” in Duguri language contains 110 chalets providing royal, presidential and executive accommodation at affordable rates.
Marshall Caves
The Marshall Caves are a set of 59 interconnected dwellings believed to have provided shelter to ancient people during the slave trade in the 19th century. It was dug out of sandstone escarpments found in a gorge 7km north-east of the Wikki Camp in the Yankari Game Reserve. One can find rock paintings and writings on the walls of the caves which further suggest that the caves may have been inhabited by prehistoric man.
