Yankari has become the most developed wildlife park in Nigeria with a lot of attractions for visitors with a wide variety of flora and fauna.
The Yankari Resort and Safari is situated about 115km south-East of Bauchi Town in Alkaleri Local Government.
Its attractions include a wide variety of animals including the African Bush Elephant, olive baboon, patas monkey, lions, the African buffalo, and Hippopotamus, among others. There is also the Wikki natural warm spring with excellent bathing facilities, Marshall Cave and fish ponds.
Yankari Game Reserve, although located in Bauchi, is one of Nigeria’s landmark tourist locations. The Park is reputed to be the first of its kind in West Africa and attracts visitors/tourists from different parts of the world.
Yankari has become the most developed wildlife park in Nigeria with a lot of attractions for visitors with a wide variety of flora fauna. The park is famous for its variety of animals available for viewing around the year, though the animals are better watched between November and May period of the dry season when the animals converge around the Gaji River in the park.
Sumu Wildlife Park is located in Ganjuwa Local Government, Bauchi State.
In order to regenerate and further boost animal population in the reserve, the state government received about 300 animals of 6 different species from Namibia which included Giraffe, Eland, Kudu, Impala and Zebra. These formed the foundation for the establishment of the 8 square kilometres Sumu Wildlife Park within Lame Burra Game reserve in order to allow the animals to acclimatize to their new environment under close watch.
The tomb of the late Prime Minister of Nigeria, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, is located along the Ran Road in Bauchi.
Balewa was famously assassinated in the 1966 coup that led to the Nigeria civil war. With a large tower-like structure in front of it, it is indeed a sight to behold. It is also a museum which houses the personal effects of the late Balewa, including his wristwatch, radio and cap, displayed in glass cases.
Cameras are allowed.
Vegetation
The vegetation types as described above are conditioned by the climatic factors, which in turn determines the amount of rainfall received in the area. The rainfall in Bauchi State ranges between 1300mm per annum in the south and only 700mm per annum in the extreme North. This pattern is due to the fact that in the West African sub-region, rains generally come from the south as they are carried by the Sought Westerlies. There is, therefore, a progressive dryness towards the north, culminating in the desert condition in the far north.
Rainfall
Consequently, rains start earlier in the southern part of the state, in April with the highest record of 1300mm per annum and last longer. In contrast, the northern tip of the state receives the rains late usually around June/July and records the highest amount of 700mm per annum.
Weather
The weather experienced in the south and the north varies considerably. In the south, it is humidly hot during the early part of the rainy season. In the north, the hot, dry and dusty weather lingers on for a while. Under these leaders, the state has witnessed steady development in economic, political and socio-cultural spheres.
Languages
Nonetheless, there are cultural similarities in the people’s language, occupational practices, festivals, dress and there is a high degree of ethnic interaction especially in marriage and economic existence.Bauchi state comprises of six emirates. They are Bauchi, Katagum, Misau, Jama’are, Ningi and Dass.
Rivers
The state is watered by a number of rivers. They include Gongola and Jama’are rives, Gubi and Tilden Fulani Dams. There are also lakes like the Maladumba lake in Misau Local Government. All these provide necessary conditions that support agriculture.
Politics
Bauchi state has gone through series of transformation. From the colonial era up to independence, it formed part of the Bauchi-Plateau of the then Northern Region until the 1967 state creation exercise, when together with Borno and Adamawa provinces, they constituted the former North Eastern State.