Why you should visit Nigeria’s Chad Basin National Park

Chad Basin National Park is situated within the ancient Kanem-Borno Empire (present day Borno and Yobe States). The Empire was established prior to 10th Century A.D. It was one of the famous and politically well organized Empires comparable to its contemporaries of Songhai and Mali Empires in Africa. The then Borno Empire developed mainly within the Conventional Basin of the Lake Chad which Chad Basin National Park is now located. 

The Empire played a prominent role in the growth and expansion of the Trans-Saharan Trade, Arabic and Islamic Learnings, Scholarship and diplomatic ties with Countries such as Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Turkey,Libya, Morocco and Spain. As a result of the Continental Trade, Islam was first introduced to what is today Nigeria around the 11th century A.D through Borno Empire.

One of the noticeable relics of the material culture of the ancient Borno Empire which is still outstanding is the Rabeh’s Fort at Dikwa. The Fort thereafter served as a Military Operational Base for the French, German and British Colonial Troops during the colonization of West Africa at various times in the early 1900s.

The Fort was eventually declared a National Monument on 23rd April, 1959, even before Nigeria’s Independence. The culture of the local communities surrounding the Park is fundamentally Arabic-Islamic in nature due to the long interactions between the Arabs, the Kanuri’s and the Shuwa-Arabs during the Trans-Saharan Trade, amongst others.
The infiltration of the European colonizers into the then Empire has to a certain extent influenced the local peoples’ way of life at various socio-economic, political and religious levels. Borno Empire was (and Borno-Yobe States are still) very famous for their renown Durbar; a grandiose royal festival of horses, camels, Procession of Princes and Princesses in regal attire, assorted war weapons, leadership and military hierarchy and martial music, with likely origin from North Africa, or even as far as India.

Location and Size

Chad Basin National Park falls between the two States of Borno and Yobe, covering a total land area of 2,258km². It is geographically situated between latitudes 11.^o00’-N13.^o00’N and longitudes 13.^o00’ – 15.^o30’E.The Park is composed of basically three Sectors which are spatially remote from one another i.e. one Sector: Chingurmi-Duguma in: Borno; and two Sectors; Wetlands and Bulatura Oases in Yobe.

A. Attractions in Borno State;

Shehu’s Palace,Maiduguri

Shores of Lake Chad,Baga

(The largest natural lake in West Africa that was once the epicentre of all the great ancient West Africa Empires)

Lake Tilla and a Holiday Resort,Kwaya Kusar,Hawul L.G.A

Jaffi Waterfalls,Hawul L.G.A,

Biu Plateau(semi-temperate climate)

Sanda Kyarimi Zoological Park, Maiduguri.

Marama Mountains (houses traditional shrine of the Bura People, and some colonial boundary beacons).

Lake Alau Dam,near Maiduguri.

Sambisa Game Reserve

 Borno State Museum ,Maiduguri

 Pulka Rock Formation

Durbar Festival at the Shehu’s Palace and other Emirs/Leaders/District Heads organized on special occasions/celebrations e.g. Sallah Festivals and Grand Performances

Tombs of the first- four Shehus ,Kukawa

Menwara Festival in Shani Local Government Area.

Mandara-Gwoza Hills

Chad Basin National Park Head Office Premises

B. Attractions in Adamawa State

Sukur World Heritage Site, Madagali L.G.A.

C. Attractions in Yobe State

Dufuna Canoe Site and Dufuna Canoe Museum(the oldest Canoe in Africa)

Gogaram Ancient Settlement; Original home place of the Bade people. Still harbours the ancient capital city of the Badawas,relics of the Emir’s Palace/ruins of city walls and Royal Burial site.

Birnin Ngazargamu :The then old capital of Kanem Borno Empire after the Kanuris deserted their earlier capital city Njimi having spent about 100 years there.

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