Gashaka - Gumti Game Reserve




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Gashaka-Gumti National Park is located in a mountainous region of North-east Nigeria adjacent to the international border with Cameroon, and immediately to the North of the Mambilla plateau. No roads cross this remote region and only a few lonely footpaths wind through the forested mountains towards Cameroon. Visitors to the park are able to enjoy lush forests, wide sweeping grasslands, cool highland plateaus, rugged moody mountains, abundant wildlife, and fascinating ethnic cultures, all combined within a single protected area.There are few other places in the world that contain such spectacular scenery and such diverse wildlife. The hidden corner of west Africa that is Gashaka-Gumti National Park is surely one of the continent's best kept secrets.



Gashaka-Gumti National Park, the largest park in Nigeria, covers 6,731 sq km of wilderness. The park's name is derived from two of the region's oldest and most historic settlements: Gashaka village in Taraba State, and Gumti village in Adamawa State. Gashaka-Gumti National Park was created by Federal Decree in 1991 by the merging of Gashaka Game Reserve with Gumti Game Reserve. In this guidebook we will use the term Gashaka sector to indicate the Southern half of the park, and the term Gumti sector to indicate the Northern half.


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The Northern, Gumti sector of the park is relatively flat and covered with woodlands and grasslands, whilst the Southern, Gashaka sector is more mountainous and contains vast expanses of rainforest as well as areas of woodlands and montane grassland. This rugged terrain is characterised by steep, thickly forested slopes, deep plunging valleys, precipitous escarpments and swiftly flowing rivers. Altitude ranges from 450 metres above sea level in the wild savannah plains of the Northern sector, to the peaks and pinnacles of Gangirwal in the Southern park sector, which at a staggering 2,400 metres above sea level, represents Nigeria's highest mountain.

It boasts of the best mountain ranges in Nigeria. The Gumti sector of the park is relatively flat and covered with woodlands and grasslands, whilst the southern Gashaka sector is more mountainous and contains vast expanses of rainforest as well as areas of woodlands and mountain grassland.This rugged terrain is characterised by steep, thickly forested slopes, deep plunging valleys, precipitous escarpments and swiftly flowing rivers. It stands at 450 metres above sea level in the wild savannah plains of the Northern sector, while the peaks of Chappal Waddi (meaning the mountain of death) in the Southern park sector rise to a staggering 2,400 metres or 7,936 feet above sea level. You are likely to find Nigeria’s highest mountain here.

It is the sheer variety of different habitats that makes the park so uniquely rich in wildlife. In fact, the park is actually an intricate mosaic of mountain grasslands, savannah woodlands, swamps, lakes, mighty rivers, dark lowland rainforests, and luxuriant, mountain rainforests strewn with ferns and orchids. Each habitat supports its own distinctive community of plants and animals.

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Rainforests provide a haven for animals such as the giant forest hog, leopard, yellow-backed duiker, golden cat, and many different primate species including chimpanzees. Woodland savannahs are home to buffalos, lions, elephants, wild dogs, as well as various antelopes such as waterbucks, including roan antelopes, cob, hartebeest and the world’s largest antelope, the Giant eland.

The mountains of the park harbour populations of the rare Adamawa mountain reedbuck, in addition to black-and-white monkey specie, baboon, warthog and klipspringer, while its largest un-spoilt rivers contain hippos, crocodiles, others and a wide variety of fishes. The park is officially labelled one of Africa’s "important bird areas" - and with more than 500 species found here, this is certainly no exaggeration as visiting bird watchers constantly add new species to their existing lists.

Gashaka-Gumti National Park is located in a mountainous region of North-East Nigeria adjacent to the international border with Cameroun, and immediately to the North of the Mambilla plateau. No roads cross this remote region and only a few lonely footpaths wind through the forested mountains towards Cameroun.

Visitors to the park are able to enjoy lush forests, wide sweeping grasslands, cool highland plateaus, rugged moody mountains, abundant wildlife, and fascinating ethnic cultures, all combined within a single protected area, which is larger than two states in Nigeria.There are few places in the world that contain such a spectacular scenery and such diverse wildlife. The hidden corner of West Africa that is Gashaka-Gumti National Park is surely one of the continent’s best kept secrets.



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Brief History of Taraba
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FESTIVALS and CARNIVALS

Gbala Festival
Nba Jabi Festival Taraba
Nba Namine Tosen Festival in Taraba
Nba Kati Festival Taraba
Nwonyo Fishing Festival

TOURIST ATTRACTIONS

Gashaka Gumti Game Reserve
Mambilla Plateau Taraba
Marmara Crocodile Pond Wukari
Ngel Nyaki Forest Reserve