Overview
Yankari National Park lies in the south of Bauchi State in the North East zone. It is Nigeria's best-known wildlife park, set in savannah woodland along the Gaji River, and includes warm springs that flow year round.
History
The area was set aside as a game reserve in the 1950s, opened to visitors in the 1960s and later designated a national park; management has moved between federal and state control over time. Archaeological remains within the park, including the Dukkey wells and rock shelters, indicate settlement well before the reserve existed, though the dating of some of this material is not firmly established. Its elephant population has long made it central to conservation in the country, and it has been the focus of anti-poaching work.
What to expect
The park is dry savannah and riverine woodland, and wildlife includes elephant, baboon, waterbuck, roan antelope, hippopotamus and many bird species; sightings are most likely in the dry season when animals gather near water. Wikki Warm Spring, a clear spring pool, is the best-known feature within the park. Movement inside the park is by vehicle with park staff, and current visitor information should be checked in advance as access arrangements and facilities have changed over the years.
Connected history or culture
The park sits in a state whose history is bound to the emirates covered under traditional institutions, and the wider North East context is set out on its zone page.