L
lags2020
Guest
Much more than people are willing to admit, the north of Nigeria is not just some arid expanse of land and hot deserts, it is a region rich in agricultural activities and fascinating people with enchanting cultural heritages. However, let us check out 10 places you should visit when next you go up north.
i. Birnin Kudu Rock Painting
Located at the south of Jigawa State, Birnin Kudu is a cultural rocky site that is rich in ancient rock carvings and paintings that are reminiscent of those found in central Sahara and other prehistoric sites in the world – dated to thousands of years ago.
At Birnin Kudu, you find Neolithic cave paintings of cattle and other ancient artifacts that tell the history of the early dwellers in these parts, and the fascinating paintings are among the oldest cave paintings in Nigeria. You can also explore the caves and climb the inner recesses of the rocks to learn more about its formation and history as it reflects in the lives of the locals within the area.
ii. Gamji Gates
The Gamji Gates is one of the most fascinating places to visit in Kaduna State. There is an amusement park and a zoo where exotic animals can be seen, but you shall also have a treat watching crocodiles as they lazy about the place. There is a swimming pool and colour-painted trees in the park, and the Gamji Gates is a place to visit for personal recreation or family vacations in Kaduna.
iii. Kainji National Park
Established in 1976 and situated on a 5,340 square of vast lands, the Kainji National Park is a home to fascinating animals that keep you entrapped at the park. You can hope to see the roan antelope, water dog, patas monkey, bush buck, green monkey, ground horn bills, stone patridge, mongoose, grimms duiker, bee-eaters, and hadadaibis among others.
Located between Kwara and Niger State, the Kainji National Park is divided into the Borgu Games Reserve, the Zugurma Games Reserve, and the Kainji Lake where electric catfish and several other exotic fish can be seen. Fishing here is restricted to an annual festival. The lake brings you into hilly valleys and streams of water that give natural value to the vista of scenic surroundings. You might as well note that the KainjiNational Park is well-guarded by park rangers.
iv. Mambilla Plateau
If you’ve not been to the Mambilla Plateau in Taraba State, then you must have missed out on what the 5,000 feet of grassland plateau has to offer. The Mambilla Plateau hosts the ChappalWaddi and home to the Tikar plains where quality tea leaves are cultivated in mountain-range plantations.
The cold temperature of the undulating mountains on the plateau makes it conducive to Nigerians and Cameroonians living on the plateau, and it sustains a wide species of birds and animals. The Gashaka-Gumti National Park is on the plateau, and here you can see a waterfall and the grassy hill as well as cattle ranches where the locals eke out a living in the most natural of settings.
v. Yankari National Park
The Yankari National Park is also known as the Yankari Games Reserve and located on a 2,244 km2 of land in Bauchi State. It was established in 1991 and more or less the most popular games reserve in Nigeria. The park covers Duguri, Gwanda, and Pali areas of the Alkaleri local government area of Bauchi State.
Over 20,000 tourists from about 100 countries visited the Yankari Games Reserve in 2000, and it continues to witness large numbers of visitors year in, year out. There are unique rock formations, springs of warm water that you can find at Wikki springs within the park. There are hundreds of wild animals and birds at the park, and you get to see them in their natural habitats.
vi. Millennium Park
The Millennium Park is located in Abuja and officially opened by Queen Elizabeth II on December 4, 2003. The park is in the Maitama District of the FCT, and it features water fountains, mountain vegetations, swimming pools, amusement park, and various recreational amenities for children and adults alike. You only need to visit to know what it is like at the Millennium Park, Abuja.
vii. Gurara Waterfalls
Located in Niger State between Suleja and Minna, the Gurara waterfalls spans 200 meters across and 30 meters fall deep. During the rainy season, the waterfall is usually heavy because it gets supplied by River Niger, but the waterfall reduces in intensity during the dry season.
It is a waterfall to visit during any holiday season with friends and family, and you’d be fascinated by the sheer beauty of the waterfall as it drops to 20 meters below to form a tranquil running pool.
viii. Sukur
Sukur was made a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999. It is located in the Mandara Mountains of Adamawa State, where traditional village structures and architectures have remained unchanged for centuries. The iron-smelting furnaces, the ceramics making center, the ruins of the Hidi’s Palace, the traditional cemeteries in the hills, and the unusual placement of the settlement are a beauty to behold.
Whatever would make the UNESCO to designate Sukur a World Heritage Site would make you love the place for sure. You will love to visit the immemorial Stone Palace of the Xidi, and perhaps mix with the Margi and Sukur people as they use the MefirSuku road to get to their village market every Tuesday.
ix. Nok Village
Having been in existence for over 2,500 years, the Nok village in Kaduna State is a primitive and cultural place to visit any time of the day or year. Here you see ancient excavations made by paleontologists that tell the history of ancient Nok dwellers centuries past, and you see artefacts that get you enchanted with the Nok civilization. Nok village has rich culture, and this can be seen in their terra cotta, weapons of war, art exhibitions, and simple rustic way of life.
x. Jos Wildlife Park
This writer is glad to include the Jos Wildlife Park because he’d been there. It is a very vast area of natural habitats for wildlife, and here you see elephants, gorillas, pythons, lions, hippos, buffalos, crocodiles, baboons, rare eagles and owls, as well as other exotic savannah animals. There is a museum here, and a large picnic center for the whole family to use. There is a restaurant and children’s playground. The Jos Wildlife Park is a place to visit anytime of the year.
i. Birnin Kudu Rock Painting
Located at the south of Jigawa State, Birnin Kudu is a cultural rocky site that is rich in ancient rock carvings and paintings that are reminiscent of those found in central Sahara and other prehistoric sites in the world – dated to thousands of years ago.
At Birnin Kudu, you find Neolithic cave paintings of cattle and other ancient artifacts that tell the history of the early dwellers in these parts, and the fascinating paintings are among the oldest cave paintings in Nigeria. You can also explore the caves and climb the inner recesses of the rocks to learn more about its formation and history as it reflects in the lives of the locals within the area.
ii. Gamji Gates
The Gamji Gates is one of the most fascinating places to visit in Kaduna State. There is an amusement park and a zoo where exotic animals can be seen, but you shall also have a treat watching crocodiles as they lazy about the place. There is a swimming pool and colour-painted trees in the park, and the Gamji Gates is a place to visit for personal recreation or family vacations in Kaduna.
iii. Kainji National Park
Established in 1976 and situated on a 5,340 square of vast lands, the Kainji National Park is a home to fascinating animals that keep you entrapped at the park. You can hope to see the roan antelope, water dog, patas monkey, bush buck, green monkey, ground horn bills, stone patridge, mongoose, grimms duiker, bee-eaters, and hadadaibis among others.
Located between Kwara and Niger State, the Kainji National Park is divided into the Borgu Games Reserve, the Zugurma Games Reserve, and the Kainji Lake where electric catfish and several other exotic fish can be seen. Fishing here is restricted to an annual festival. The lake brings you into hilly valleys and streams of water that give natural value to the vista of scenic surroundings. You might as well note that the KainjiNational Park is well-guarded by park rangers.
iv. Mambilla Plateau
If you’ve not been to the Mambilla Plateau in Taraba State, then you must have missed out on what the 5,000 feet of grassland plateau has to offer. The Mambilla Plateau hosts the ChappalWaddi and home to the Tikar plains where quality tea leaves are cultivated in mountain-range plantations.
The cold temperature of the undulating mountains on the plateau makes it conducive to Nigerians and Cameroonians living on the plateau, and it sustains a wide species of birds and animals. The Gashaka-Gumti National Park is on the plateau, and here you can see a waterfall and the grassy hill as well as cattle ranches where the locals eke out a living in the most natural of settings.
v. Yankari National Park
The Yankari National Park is also known as the Yankari Games Reserve and located on a 2,244 km2 of land in Bauchi State. It was established in 1991 and more or less the most popular games reserve in Nigeria. The park covers Duguri, Gwanda, and Pali areas of the Alkaleri local government area of Bauchi State.
Over 20,000 tourists from about 100 countries visited the Yankari Games Reserve in 2000, and it continues to witness large numbers of visitors year in, year out. There are unique rock formations, springs of warm water that you can find at Wikki springs within the park. There are hundreds of wild animals and birds at the park, and you get to see them in their natural habitats.
vi. Millennium Park
The Millennium Park is located in Abuja and officially opened by Queen Elizabeth II on December 4, 2003. The park is in the Maitama District of the FCT, and it features water fountains, mountain vegetations, swimming pools, amusement park, and various recreational amenities for children and adults alike. You only need to visit to know what it is like at the Millennium Park, Abuja.
vii. Gurara Waterfalls
Located in Niger State between Suleja and Minna, the Gurara waterfalls spans 200 meters across and 30 meters fall deep. During the rainy season, the waterfall is usually heavy because it gets supplied by River Niger, but the waterfall reduces in intensity during the dry season.
It is a waterfall to visit during any holiday season with friends and family, and you’d be fascinated by the sheer beauty of the waterfall as it drops to 20 meters below to form a tranquil running pool.
viii. Sukur
Sukur was made a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999. It is located in the Mandara Mountains of Adamawa State, where traditional village structures and architectures have remained unchanged for centuries. The iron-smelting furnaces, the ceramics making center, the ruins of the Hidi’s Palace, the traditional cemeteries in the hills, and the unusual placement of the settlement are a beauty to behold.
Whatever would make the UNESCO to designate Sukur a World Heritage Site would make you love the place for sure. You will love to visit the immemorial Stone Palace of the Xidi, and perhaps mix with the Margi and Sukur people as they use the MefirSuku road to get to their village market every Tuesday.
ix. Nok Village
Having been in existence for over 2,500 years, the Nok village in Kaduna State is a primitive and cultural place to visit any time of the day or year. Here you see ancient excavations made by paleontologists that tell the history of ancient Nok dwellers centuries past, and you see artefacts that get you enchanted with the Nok civilization. Nok village has rich culture, and this can be seen in their terra cotta, weapons of war, art exhibitions, and simple rustic way of life.
x. Jos Wildlife Park
This writer is glad to include the Jos Wildlife Park because he’d been there. It is a very vast area of natural habitats for wildlife, and here you see elephants, gorillas, pythons, lions, hippos, buffalos, crocodiles, baboons, rare eagles and owls, as well as other exotic savannah animals. There is a museum here, and a large picnic center for the whole family to use. There is a restaurant and children’s playground. The Jos Wildlife Park is a place to visit anytime of the year.