Kamuku National Park is in Kaduna State, North West Nigeria. It has an area of 1120 km² with typical Savannah Vegetation.

Understand

History

Kamuku National Park was at first by gazette of 1936, a Local Authority Forest Reserve under the old Northern Nigeria Government. Due to the success of a community-based project promoting sustainable resource usage, the park was updated from a state game reserve to a national park in May 1999.

Landscape

Kamuku National park has flat terrain which allows tourists to have easy viewing of wildlife and landscape. Along the eastern boundary to the Birnin Gwari Ridge, the landscape slopes upward.

One of the highlights of the park is the Tsaunin Rema, a hill formed out of larger boulders arranged on top of each other. Tsaunin Rema is the home of Rock Badgers in Kamuku National Park. In addition to the landscape are the Dogon Ruwa and Goron Duste inselberg Waterfalls.

Flora and fauna

Kamuku National Park is only separated by a river (River Mariga) from the Kwiambana Game Reserve in Zamfara State, it shares the same ecosystem and boundary as the Kwiambana Game Reserve in Zamfara State, the Kamuku National park distinctly represents the remaining blocks of the Sudan-Guinea Savannah vegetation in the country.

The park is also endowed with close canopy vegetation of Savannah woodland type having dominant species of Raphia, Afzelia, Daniellia, Isoberlina, Detarium, and a few lily plant species. The park's marshy areas are mostly covered with tall, tough grass especially during the rainy season. Pennisetum purpureum, Andropogon gayanus grass species are mostly the grasses found there.

Climate

Kaduna has a tropical climate. The summer season has much more rainfall compared to winter. The average annual temperature in Kaduna is 25.2 °C (77.4 °F). About 998 mm (39.3 in) of precipitation falls annually.

People

The community around the park is home to the Kamuku and Gwari people who are traditional farmers, hunters, pastoralists and craftsmen, noted for weaving, mat making and pottery.

Get in

There are three means of transportation to get to the Kamuku National Park; air, train and road. The fastest way to get to the Kamuku National Park is by travelling by air to Kaduna State via Kaduna International Airport. From the Kaduna International Airport, visitors can hire a taxi to the Kamuku National Park. There are also transport companies that offer travel services by road, while buses usually are quite comfortable, journey times are very long. Tourists can also take the train from Lagos to Kaduna.

By air

Kaduna International Airport is the landing airport for tourists planning to travel to Kaduna state. The airport is around 22 km (14 mi) northwest of the city.

By road

Several bus companies like Agofure God Is Good Motors, ABC Transport, Ifesinachi and The Young Shall Grow offer daily services from almost all major cities around the country as well as international destinations in West Africa.

By train

Nigerian Railway Corporation offers train trips from Lagos to Kaduna North, the travel time is 24 hr 36 min and the train is available once a week. For more information and ticket booking visit the Nigerian Railway Corporation official website.

By bus

Several bus companies like God Is Good Motors, ABC Transport, Ifesinachi and The Young Shall Grow offer daily services from almost all major cities around the country as well as international destinations in West Africa.

Fees and permits

As of 2021, the fees follow:

• Single = ₦1500
• Couple (two) = ₦2500
• Family of four = ₦5000

Get around

At Kamuku National Park, there are two main ways to get around: by foot and shuttle bus. Private vehicles are prohibited on the park road due to road congestion within the park. Guided tours are also available.

See

Having over 177 species of birds, it is a perfect place for bird lovers. There is also to see elephants, rare monkey species such as the Green and the Patas monkeys, baboon, warthog and antelopes . Tourists will also find the Tsaunin Rema hill the home of Rock Badgers in Kamuku National Park fascinating, the hill is formed out of large boulders arranged on top of each other. In addition, both the Goron Duste inselberg and the Dogon Ruwa Waterfalls are located in the park.

Do

Apart from visiting the park, tourists can explore the communities around the park. On the northeast of Kamuku National Park is the Kwiambana Game Reserve, another interesting destination to visit in the vicinity.

The following are some of the things to do while your stay last:

• Bird watching.
• Take pictures of the wildlife
• Observing and documentation some of the rare plant and animal species.

Eat

• 1 Seorera Restaurant, Ahmad Makarfi Rd, Tudun Wada, Kaduna (Ahmad Makarfi Rd, Tudun Wada, Kaduna). 9AM-10PM. Popular restaurant around ungwan MUAZU axis of Kaduna south local government area known for their exceptional taste of African local dish. (updated Jun 2021)
• 2 Byblos Restaurant, Abakwa, 2 Waziri Ibrahim Cres, City Centre, Kaduna (2 Waziri Ibrahim Cres, City Centre, Kaduna), ☏ +234 8033119480. Noon–3PM, 6:30–10:30PM. Lebanese restaurant with wide range of cuisines to choose from. (updated Jun 2021)
• 3 The Courtyard Restaurant, No 16 Galadima Road, Off Alkali Road, Kaduna (No 16 Galadima Road, Off Alkali Road, Kaduna), ☏ +234 8118886697. Restaurant with a beautiful setting, quiet and peaceful environment. Things are a bit pricey, you are expected to buy rice (plain) for ₦1200 and they expect you to purchase sauce separately and the price starts from ₦4000. In addition, your bill comes with added: "service charge" and another added and separate VAT charge. (updated Jun 2021)
• 4 Habil Cafe, Murtala Square Swimming Pool, ☏ +234 9080000921. 8AM-10:30PM. Restaurant with a very nice ambience and good food and customer service to. (updated Jun 2021)

Sleep

Lodging

There is no lodging within the park, but numerous hotels can be found in the town. Tourists can seek accommodation in the following hotels;

• 1 Twenty Hotel, No. 20 Sultan Close, off Sultan Road Ugwari Rimi GRA, 800273 Kaduna (No. 20 Sultan Close, off Sultan Road Ugwari Rimi GRA, 800273 Kaduna, Nigeria). Twenty Hotel offers accommodation with a restaurant, free private parking, a garden and a terrace. They offer the Deluxe King Suite (₦ 30,600) per night which comes with a free breakfast 1 double bed, 1 sofa bed and air conditioning. (updated Jun 2021)
• 2 Deluxe Suites Superior Accommodation, No 3 Ali Akilu Road, Kaduna. An inn that highlights an eatery, wellness focus, a bar and nursery. This inn offers an ATM and attendant service. The convenience gives a 24-hour front work area, air terminal exchanges, room administration and free Wi-Fi. The lodging offers a smorgasbord or Full English/Irish breakfast. The closest air terminal is Ilorin Airport, 4 km from Whitefield Hotels Limited. Free Wi-Fi. Standard Double Room with an electric kettle, flat-screen TV and air conditioning for US$40-45 (₦ 20,493) per night, Deluxe Studio with 1 large double bed, a satellite TV, air conditioning and tile/marble floor for US$60 (₦ 30,000), breakfast included. (updated Jun 2021)

Stay safe

Nigeria has become a safer place due to increased security, but as a tourist, you should always be alert and take note of your surroundings.