YANKARI NATIONAL PARK, BAUCHI STATE

Nuruddeen · November 03, 2007, 06:44:35 PM

YANKARI NATIONAL PARK BAUCHI STATE

I was actually moved to Yankari on assignment. I was there to monitor the project that had to do with building of holiday resort and safari centres embarked on by Bauchi State government. I was therefore to stay there up to the time the project would be put to completion. As a professional, I was asked to supervise and monitor all contractors that were working on the project site. Again, my duty as assigned by MOBAT Quantity Surveying Consultants and Project Managers was to write and report on a daily basis what was going on the site as a resident.
However, as the works were now gradually undertaken- the first phase of the project would, hopefully, be put to completion in two-three months time, after which the second phase of the project is expected to commence. I therefore decided to explore my "new home"- the internationally acclaimed animal and plant kingdom and natural habitat- Yankari game reserve!
The game reserve's holiday resort and safari project was a gigantic one, to the extent that one could hardly create time to enjoy the endless leisure of Yankari. But all the same, I thought it is necessary for one to, at least as a matter of interest squeeze and spare some time by putting pen on paper just to let the whole world know what this naturally endowed "animal farm" has as nature's gifts. In fact, my curiosity developed as I entered into the Park's museum together with some visitors from far away Niger State. I carelessly joined the visitors who were taken round the museum by a museum guide staff. Any way, let me not bore you with my own proletarian experience by going straight to the point.
The Yankari National Park was discovered in 1955 by a man called Alhaji Muhammadu Ngeleruma of Borno State. Ngeleruma was then a minister of forest and natural resources in Nigeria. He discovered Yankari as a savannah tourist. In 1961, Robert Culthant, a white man, started the Game's preservation but died eventually. From there, Alhaji Jibrin Jiya took over from Robert the game's expedition activities. He recruited some rangers for the animal's protection. They then established that the Yankari Natural Reserve has a land area of 2, 244.10 square kilometers. These people discovered a lot of things in Yankari, which makes it to be known today as the great Yankari National Park (YNP) in Bauchi State of Northern Nigeria. Among the most miraculous, amazing and surprising things in Yankari are the spring waters i.e. natural outlets where underground water flows to the surface. There are also great things like wild animals, plants and vegetation, fishes and reptiles, different species of birds, Dukkey Wells, Marshal Cave, which was an ancient abandoned settlement that is assumed to be man-made. There is also Delimiri and Ampara iron-smelting furnaces where tools such as hoe and gongs were fashioned out as ancient technology work materials.

Presently, there are five (5) springs' waters in Yankari. Wikki Spring is the most famous of them all. Simply standing by, or swimming in the Wikki Warm Spring, it appears ordinary except for the warmth inherent in it (constantly of 31.1 degree centigrade). At first glance, the Wikki Spring easily passes for an artificially established swimming pool where the water is frequently replaced as it is being polluted. In reality, though, this spring is the work of nature devoid of human plan. For deeper underground, beneath Nigerians famous game reserve, flows an invisible and inexhaustible source of pleasure and good health. The therapeutic nature of this famous Spring is now world-wide acclaimed. The Wikki Warm Spring flows from beneath deep layers of the earth's crust from as far away as the plateau region of Nigeria. Cleanliness of Wikki water is unsurpassed by any other spring water in Nigeria. This claim is supported by chemical analysis of the water sample. The water therefore in it is natural endowment. A distance of at least 9 meters is accessible within Wikki cave. The cave is embedded with very clean and clear sandstone. Wikki cave is devoid of any living beings such as reptiles, crabs, fish etc.

(Pic. of Wikki Spring)
The Wikki Spring Cave 9 meters within where natural water flows to the surface. Beneath are stones that reveal out the water cleanliness. Pix by: Jibo Nura, 31st October, 2007.

However, Gwana Warm Spring is also one out of five (5) Springs in Yankari game reserve. Others include: Mawulgo, Dimil Springs (with 35, 35 degree centigrade) and Tungan Maliki cold Spring. Gwana has temperature of 34 degree centigrade and gushes out of red sandstone. All the five (5) Springs flow into a perennial river known as River Gaji, which serves as a source of water to the animals all year through, says Gloria Nyarim Joseph, Zoology I.T Student in Yankari.

Dukkey wells- were discovered by ancient men called the "Dukkeyed" people. About 132 wells are found dug in red sandstone area; 31 kilometer North West of Wikki Camp along Maimaji road. The wells were named after the famous dukkey slave transit camp established during the 19th century slave trade. The site was first used by the slaves and their masters when travelling from Dugum to Pali. The Wells were then believed to have been dug by the slaves and were used for water storage. This according to Gloria, explains how people of the 19th century developed their own technology of reserving water to cope with water problems in the savannah.

(Pic. of one of the Dukkey wells)
One of the Dukkey wells that served as a storage facility for drinking water by the slaves in the 19th century. Pix by: Jibo Nura, 31st October 2007. Note this picture was taken from the Yankari Museum.

(Pic. of a female Babboon)
A female Babboon removing louse for her beloved son. Pix by Jibo Nura, 30th October 2007.

(Pic. of a male forest pig)
A male forest pig eating grasses right inside the Camp. Pix by: Jibo Nura, 1st November 2007.

There are a lot of natural endowments ranging from animals, plants, reptiles and other numerous creatures that are yet to be discovered in Yankari National Park. As we move on, we shall try to unfold what mankind could see and explore in this naturally selected but rare region of our cosmopolitan planet.
Jibo, works with MOBAT Quants Consultants and Project Managers in Yankari National Park.

To be Continued.

Dave_McEwan_Hill · November 03, 2007, 09:20:05 PM

Very interesting

MySeLf · November 05, 2007, 05:32:52 PM

An gaisheka mallam nura!........... Really interesting

Nuruddeen · November 09, 2007, 10:13:48 AM

Quote from: Dave_McEwan_Hill on November 03, 2007, 09:20:05 PM
Very interesting

Thanks Dave Ewan Hill. There are many more things to say and write on Yankari. Sorry 4 d missing pics. If u wouldnt mind I can send them via ur email. Just PM it to me. Lol!

Nuruddeen · November 09, 2007, 10:44:44 AM

Quote from: Myself on November 05, 2007, 05:32:52 PM
An gaisheka mallam nura!........... Really interesting

Thanks my dear. It would have been more interesting to u with d pics. But just relax.Will send them later.Lafs!!!

EMTL · November 09, 2007, 11:26:33 AM

Assalamu alaikum,
There are lots of potential for Yankari- am sorry to say that it was almost a lost resources AlhamduliLah, the Governments are now interested.

What me and you should do is to patronise the place; take your family and enjoy a week end, etc.

gogannaka · November 09, 2007, 12:44:32 PM

Jibo how much would it cost to spend the weekend there (accomodation and feeding)?
I learnt cachez are really beautifying the place.
Welldone!

Bee · November 09, 2007, 02:50:24 PM

Salam.
Hmm.It sounds good.I have always been wondering if we do have good tourist attractions in our country.I mean something really good enought to not only attract us but also holiday makers from all over the world.I study travel and tourism and i remember one time we were given an assignment to creat our own travel agency individually and the type of holidays we offer including the travel agency leaflet.I thought of using my country but i could not think of a place that will actually attract people.I thought of imagining one but i would have lose marks because my supervisors will know that such place does not exist.I chose to creat a type of travel agency that organises holidays around the world instead.I did get very good marks but i really wished i used my country instead and this Yankari National Park would have been a good place to start.Well done!

gogannaka · November 09, 2007, 04:08:32 PM

Eyya,it was quite unfortunate that you couldn't get a tourist destination in Nigeria.
There are in fact more than many of such destinations.
The fact is that Nigerians are not the type of people that find tourism a fantasy.Most Nigerians hardly travel within the country to explore the abundant tourism wealth in the country.This might be due to un-enlightenment or security consciousness.

But here are some of the very good tourism destinations in Nigeria:
Yankari game reserve (Bauchi state)
Falgore Games reserve (Kano state)
Gashaka Gumtu National game reserve (adamawa-taraba-benue):this is the largest game reserve in Nigeria and you wont believe as at 200 some parts of the reserve have not been reached.It is partly maintained by the worldwide fund for nature(WWF)
Obudu cattle ranch (Cross rivers state): It is said to have the longest cable car in the world,built by former Governor Donald Duke.
Aruku wildlife park (Jos)

These are just some few of the very very many tourist destinations.There are countless number of water falls and geographic sceneries to mention a few. Only the state of Plateau alone is enough a place to settle for your tourist holiday.

Bee · November 09, 2007, 05:29:08 PM

That is fantastic! Just like you have said.We are not really bothered about tourism.I am going to find out more on those tourism destinations.I need to know them anyway.Thanks so much.

Dave_McEwan_Hill · November 10, 2007, 02:02:16 AM

Nuradeen

My email address is markewan2001@yahoo.co.uk or markewan1942@tiscali.co.uk.I would lovew to saee pictures of Yankari. My brother and his family and my sister and her family all visited Yankari about 20 years ago and greatly enjoyed the visit.

There is huge tourism potential in Nigeria (as there is huge potential in many areas). Biggest problems are very poor infrastructure, very high air fares and huge inflation in the Nigerian economy. Most of these problems are the result of corrupt incompetence by successive Nigerian regimes.

Dave McEwan Hill

Nuruddeen · November 10, 2007, 07:56:43 PM

Quote from: EMTL on November 09, 2007, 11:26:33 AM
Assalamu alaikum,
There are lots of potential for Yankari- am sorry to say that it was almost a lost resources AlhamduliLah, the Governments are now interested.

What me and you should do is to patronise the place; take your family and enjoy a week end, etc.

Right EMTL. Some Ukrainian family enjoyed themselves in the place last week. A whole family "migrated" to Yankari and were busy ba(ptising?)thing themselves with Wikki water. Lafs!

Nuruddeen · November 10, 2007, 08:07:33 PM

Quote from: gogannaka on November 09, 2007, 12:44:32 PM
Jibo how much would it cost to spend the weekend there (accomodation and feeding)?
I learnt cachez are really beautifying the place.
Welldone!

It all depends on ur pocket lad! The cheapest accommodation is N2,750 per night. The most expensive such as the luxury suite and VIP villa, are N9,500 per night. the Food is N800 per plate. Cachez has almost finish its own part of the project i.e ist phase. But there alot of work 2 b done bros.

Nuruddeen · November 10, 2007, 08:11:55 PM

Quote from: Bee on November 09, 2007, 05:29:08 PM
That is fantastic! Just like you have said.We are not really bothered about tourism.I am going to find out more on those tourism destinations.I need to know them anyway.Thanks so much.

Bee, u need to come to Yankari and c things 4 urself. I am inviting u to come and c what nature offers in that place. Am waiting.

Nuruddeen · November 10, 2007, 08:19:53 PM

Quote from: Dave_McEwan_Hill on November 10, 2007, 02:02:16 AM
Nuradeen

My email address is markewan2001@yahoo.co.uk or markewan1942@tiscali.co.uk.I would lovew to saee pictures of Yankari. My brother and his family and my sister and her family all visited Yankari about 20 years ago and greatly enjoyed the visit.

There is huge tourism potential in Nigeria (as there is huge potential in many areas). Biggest problems are very poor infrastructure, very high air fares and huge inflation in the Nigerian economy. Most of these problems are the result of corrupt incompetence by successive Nigerian regimes.

Dave McEwan Hill

Right Dave, I think we don't value tourism in Nija. Its only now that places like Obudu and yankari are given attention. Its my pleasure if u can come and see how that water gushes out from inside the rock cave. Its estimated that about 2 million litres flow per hour.