Cross River National Park
Nigeria
At a glance
Image credit; Flickr Hjalmar Gislason
Africa's Cross River National Park is a spot of astounding natural beauty and a UN acclaimed biodiversity hotspot. The park covers an area in excess of 4000 square kilometres; in the northern and central areas the park is covered by tropical rainforest, whereas the south contains the grasslands of the Obudu Plateau. The rainforest is over 60 million years old; one of the oldest in Africa, and supports over 120 species of mammal.
The park has two main sections; Oban and Okwangwo. Oban is rich in biodiversity and covers about 3000 square kilometres; over 1500 plant species, 80 types of mammal, 350 birds species and 40 types of snake can be found here. The wildlife includes chimpanzees, elephants and buffalo.
Okwango is smaller at about 1000 square kilometres and also contains about 1500 species of plant, some of which have properties that can be used to cure serious diseases and illnesses. For this reason the forest is increasingly becoming an area of scientific interest and new plant species are frequently discovered. Okwango is also home to some spectacular wildlife including the ellusive and severely endangered gorilla. You can also find the bizarre Schlaters guenon here, a primate that can only be found in Nigeria. The park is also home to hippopotami, giant shrews and all manner of other creatures.
The park has a large focus on eco-tourism; visitors can take part in a wilderness experience, exploring the park on foot or by jeep. The park also offers a one week gorilla tracking excursion; the opportunity of a lifetime. The park is also the perfect place for hiking, boating, fishing and bird watching.
