Yankari Game Reserve – The Bauchi state Yankari National Park is a large wildlife park located in Bauchi State, in northeastern Nigeria. It covers an area of about 2,244 square kilometers and is home to several natural warm water springs and a wide variety of flora and fauna.
If you are looking for a better place to enjoy the gifts of nature, you have to consider making Yankari Game Reserves your plug.
This reserve is located in the South Central part of Bauchi State, the West African savanna’s heartland. That’s one thing that makes it a unique way for tourists and holidaymakers to watch wildlife in its natural domain.
Wildlife in Yankari National Park
Yankari National Park is a great habitat for more than 60 species of mammals. Animals commonly found in the park include elephants, baboons, monkeys, buffalo, waterbuck, hippopotamus, lion and bushbuck. The population of lion in the park has depleted exceedingly. There are less than five lions in the park today.
As many as 400 species of birds can be discovered in the reserve. A lot of them are residents while many others are migrants that move within and outside Nigeria. Commonly found birds include stork, hornbill, cattle egrets and guinea fowl. The vultures in the park may have probably been hunted down to extinction.
Yankari reserve has the biggest population of elephants in the West Africa region. There are as many as 400 in 2021. They have for long been a source of problems to nearby villages as they destroy baobab trees and village farms.
Read:Â Top Tourist Attractions in Nigeria With Pics (2021)
Warm Water Spring
Yankari National Park has a lot of geothermal activities, making it home to four warm springs. The most popular is the Wikki spring, which is also the biggest and deepest. It is named after ‘where are you?’ in the local Duguri language. The spring has a temperature of 31.1 °C every day of the year and is a major tourist sight. Other springs include Tungan Maliki, Gwana, Mawulgo and Dimmil.
Tourist facilities in Yankari National Park
The Wikki camp is the most popular facility for tourists visiting the camp. It is close to the main gate and has residential facilities with a swimming pool. There are also more than a hundred chalets in the camp with varying suites and designs. The camp also has an eatery, drinking room and a hall.
There is also a museum with a lot of skins, tusks, bones and stuffed games from the park. The museum educates and enlightens visitors while serving as a conservational centre.
At the Yankari Game Reserve, you’ll have a whole lot of adventurous moments, and believe me, possibilities are endless there.
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However, it’s quite good to plan ahead of time if you want to visit the place. That’s to have a clearer insight into where you are going. During your preparatory period, you will have to consider and check the following;
- Is there room at the reserve where I can lodge? If yes, How much will it cost?
- What time will this place be open?
- What are the things I can do at Yankari Game Reserve?
If you’ve just considered the above as important, then you see the answers below.
1. Is there a room at the reserve where I can lodge? If yes, how much will it cost?
Yes, there is a lodge at the Yankari Game Reserve specially designed for its unique visitors/tourists to book, and the room are of different types for different classes of people. When I say the different classes of people, I mean how financially capacitated you are.
However, checkout out the available room types and prices per night at the Game reserve below;
- Student Hostel  (Per Bed Space)-₦2,500
- Studio Suite- ₦9,500
- Luxury Double- ₦14,200
- VIP Room- ₦23,600
- Corporate Villa (Single Room)- ₦29,000
- Marshal Suite- ₦41,300
- Corporate Villa (Master Bed Room)- ₦60,000
- Corporate Villa (Complete)- ₦236,000
NOTE: All rooms at the game reserve have free WIFI, and rooms are located very close to the Wiki Springs.
2. What time will this place be open?
The Yankari Game Reserve is always open (24 hours)
3. What are the things I can do at Yankari Game Reserve?
1. Take a walk around the place to see the wonders of nature: Taking a walk around the yankari game reserve, you will see different species of wild animals like the African bush elephant, olive baboon, patas monkey, Tantalus monkey, roan antelope, western hartebeest, West African lion, warthogs, African buffalo, waterbuck, bushbuck, and hippopotamus, amongst additional 40+ species of animals, present there.
NOTE: Please be careful when playing with any wild animals there.
2. Another thing you can do at the game reserve to derive pleasure is to bathe in the Wiki Warm Springs. The Wiki warm spring water is warm and quite enjoyable by all its swimmers.
3. Eat delicious cuisine at the Park’s Restaurant.  There are local, continental, and intercontinental dishes at the reserve’s restaurant, open daily from 7:00 am – 11:00 pm.
4. Visit the Cave/museum in the park.
Tips for Staying Safe at Yankari Games Reserve
Take a tour with (and pay attention to) a guide.
A skilled game guide is a perfect way to enjoy a safari. They are conversant with the landscape as well as animal behaviour and movement.
This increases your chances of having a safe and memorable safari experience. Just make sure you follow their guidelines!
Follow the rules.
Take the time to become acquainted with the game reserve decorum and standards.
There are rules in place in every wildlife park and reserve. These guidelines are in place for the protection of both visitors and employees, as well as the animals.
Always keep your eyes and ears open.
Even if you’re traveling with a guide or ranger, who are usually armed, you should still be aware of potential threats.
Another advantage of staying alert is that you will be able to recognize the presence of the Big 5. The sounds of birds and animals are typically a good indicator of their presence.
Dress appropriately.
One of the most important game reserve safety rules! All game reserve activities, particularly jungle walking, should be done in appropriate clothing. A game reserve clothing can help you stay safe and comfortable when out in the open air.
As a bonus, you won’t end up attracting the wrong kind of animals.
Walk, don’t run, and don’t walk alone.
Running is a prey behaviour that might attract predators in natural forests and game reserves. If they see you running, wild animals will immediately want to pursue you.
Avoid walking alone (especially at night) if you don’t want to become a target.
Turn your back on the animals at all times.
It’s easy to get distracted by the sight of game animals on a safari walk, but it’s important to keep your eyes on the animals at all times.
Even if you’re accompanied by a safari guide and others. This behaviour can be misinterpreted yet again. This may result in an attack or injury.
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