Gashaka Gumti National Park is Nigeria’s largest national park and was established in 1991. It is located along the Cameroon border. The history of the 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. There is a wide variety of diversity because of the many different terrains, such as Savannah grasslands, montane forests, and steep, mountainous regions.

This region contains many different species ranging from chimpanzees to leopards to giant forest hogs, creating the most diverse variety of species in this particular biome. The park is officially labeled as one of Africa’s “Important Bird Areas” with more than 500 species found here. In regards to species adaptations, plants have long tap roots that descend far into the ground reaching the deep water tables of the savannah biome. In the woodlands area of Gashaka National Park trees have thick bark which aids in wildfire protection.

Size of Gashaka -Gumti National Park

Gashaka–Gumti National Park, the largest park in Nigeria, covers 6,731 sq km of wilderness. The park is actually an intricate mosaic of montane grasslands, savannah woodlands, swamps, lakes, mighty rivers, dark lowland rainforests, and luxuriant, montane rainforests strewn with ferns and orchids.

Location of Gashaka -Gumti National Park

Gashaka-Gumti National Park is a national park in Nigeria; it was gazetted from two game reserves in 1991 and is Nigeria’s largest national park. It is located in the eastern provinces of Taraba and Adamawa to the border with Cameroon.

How to get to Gashaka -Gumti National Park

Gashaka-Gumti National Park – From Abuja, it should be at least a 2-day drive on some pretty awful roads, but this park is a gem, at least if you don’t mind getting out of your car and walking. The park is remote, gorgeous, and has plenty of wildlife, particularly primates. There are also some very interesting villages to visit inside the park.

Things to do in Gashaka -Gumti National Park

Tourist highlights: Mountain hiking – Game viewing – Camping at beauty spots – Sports-fishing – Tracking monkeys or a group of elusive chimpanzees.

When to visit Gashaka -Gumti National Park

The length of each season varies around the country depending on elevation and latitude but generally, the dry season is November–March and the rainy season April to August, with shorter rains in September and October. However, on the coast, the rainy season kicks in during February or March when a moist Atlantic air mass, known as the southwest monsoon, routinely batters the coast.

Where to stay in Gashaka -Gumti National Park

The park has outstanding potential as a destination for tourists. This will raise revenue and at the same time create attention for the need to protect this unique wilderness. The management recently upgraded a tourist camp in Serti, and the park boasts an excellent guidebook.

Serti has a tourist camp, with a range of rooms at reasonable prices, and staff who could organize your visit to the park. Both Gashaka and the research camp had fairly basic accommodation and could arrange food.