Safaris are not this country´s strong suit - you won't get Serengeti-style game drives with dense, easily-spotted herds, and infrastructure is patchy and rustic rather than polished lodge-and-guide operations. But that said, there are several worthwhile eco hotspots, including:
Gashaka-Gumti National Park: The country's largest park by far (pictured here, just under 2,600 square miles) straddles Taraba and Adamawa states in the far east near the Cameroon border, reachable by flying two hours to Yola or Jalingo, then hitting the road for another five or so hours to the gateway town of Serti. A rugged mix of montane forest and savanna anchored by the country's highest mountain, the 7,936-ft. Chappal Waddi (aka Gang Peak), GG is genuinely wild and remote, home to chimpanzees, forest elephants, and more than 500 bird species — but it's a serious expedition-style trip, not a drive-through safari — think research-station infrastructure, not resort lodges.
Cross River National Park and Afi Mountain Wildlife Sanctuary: Outside Calabar in Nigeria's southeast corner´s Cross River State, the star here is the critically endangered Cross River gorilla, found nowhere else on Earth, alongside drills and Nigeria-Cameroon chimpanzees, amid some 1,580 sq. mi. of West Africa's richest rainforest. Gorilla sightings are admittedly rare and require real effort (guided treks, patience, no guarantees), but the rainforest itself — including Kwa Falls, in a steep, narrow gorge — is worth it on its own. The park is reached via 90-minute flight from Lagos to Calabar, then another hourlong drive to the park itself.
Yankari National Park: In north-central Nigeria's Bauchi State (from Lagos, an hour and a half flight to Bauchi city plus another hour-and-a-half drive), this 866-square-mile swatch is West Africa's oldest wildlife reserve and the most visited. You´ll find more than 50 mammal species including African bush elephants, buffalo, and hippos, plus the genuinely lovely Wikki Warm Springs, a natural crystal-clear spring you can swim in after a day on the trails. It's the most accessible entry point, though facilities are basic and hiking is often unguided — real wildlife, rough edges.
Read more in my post Surprising Nigeria: Africa´s Most Populous Country Is an Underrated Travel Gem.
Rosemary Lodge
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