The Nothern parts of Nigeria are famous for one thing; insecurity. It is not so often that you find them in the news for anything else, and so the discovery of some pretty exotic and UNESCO-listed Heritage sites came as a surprise to me. I haven’t personally visited any of these places, but it sure will be quite an adventure if you’re willing to take the risk.

From culture, festivals, and beautiful sites, the North is a lovely place to visit. Add these places to your bucket list and thank me later.

The Gurara Waterfalls, Niger State

The Gurara Waterfall is one of the many Falls Nigeria is blessed with, located between Suleja and Minna. It has its source from the “Kaduna River” in Kaduna State, and it deposits into River Niger. It was discovered by a Gwari hunter called Buba in 1745; the majority of the settlers are fishermen and practicing Muslims.

The waterfall stands at a height of 30 meters with a gushing width of 200 meters. 

In ancient times, natives of Gurara waterfall used to worship the waterfall and make sacrifices to it. Until now, there is a shrine at the bottom of the waterfall, complete with effigies and all that.

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Yankari Games Reserve, Bauchi State

What better place to go to enjoy the gifts of nature than the Yankari Game Reserve? It is located in the South Central Park of Bauchi State.

At the reserve, the possibilities are endless. Its location in the West African savanna’s heartland makes it a unique destination for tourists and holidaymakers to watch wildlife in its natural habitat. Prepare yourself for an unforgettable adventure!

Here are some things to do at Yankari National Park;

• Enjoy a Great Time with Nature

The game reserve/ national park currently boasts of having the largest herd of elephants in Nigeria and even one of the largest in West Africa. The hottest periods are usually March to April, so if you’re a lover of street food and sunny days, this is your time for discovery.

If you can’t stand high temperatures, you’ll find the rainy season between May to September more enjoyable, with temperatures averaging a cool 24 degrees. The only problem is that the fun might be limited to seeing fewer animals and enjoying the wiki warm spring.

• Soak in the Wiki Warm Springs:

Oh, the Wiki warm springs! You wouldn’t want to miss this! The best part is you can actually take a warm bath in the springs, so be sure to have your swimsuit, towels, and hair covers ready.

The warm springs are said to have come about due to underground geothermal activity and are rumored to be the primary reason why lots of people love to visit the Yankari Game Reserve. Who doesn’t love a warm bath anyway?

• Enjoy Some one-of-a-kind Caving:

Apart from the animals, the warm springs, and the restaurants, some caves are said to have been used by the ‘early men.’ Camping with your family will also be a fun activity. There’s a mini-museum that houses skins and bones that are gathered majorly from the wildlife park.

Kajuru Castle, Kaduna State

Kajuru Castle is an exclusive and luxurious getaway built in an early medieval style at Kajuru village in Kaduna city, a commercial hub in Nigeria.

This architectural masterpiece with breathtaking ambiance is set upon elevated peaks with staggering views and is the ultimate holiday getaway in the North.

Mambilla Plateau, Taraba

With the highest point in Nigeria standing at about 1,600 meters (5,249 ft) above sea level, Mambilla plateau should be on the top of your list. The Plateau has a combination of waterfalls, hills, and mountains.

The highest mountain Chappal Wadi which stands at 7,936 ft above sea level, is the highest mountain in Nigeria and can be found at the northeastern flank of the Plateau. 

The Plateau is Nigeria’s northern continuation of the Bamenda Highlands of Cameroon.

Matsirga Falls Kafanchan, Kaduna:

Matsirga Falls, located in Madakiya, Kafanchan Kaduna, is another beautiful waterfall in the North. Standing at a height of about 30 meters, it gets its source from the Kagoro hills’ springs.

The water at the Matsirga Falls drops into a gorge that has been supported by beautiful rocks. Something magical happens at the point of impact with the river; the fall’s avalanche creates a rainbow-like mist that appears and disappears mysteriously.

Have you visited any of these places? How was your experience? I’ll love to hear from you.

DISCLAIMER: All photos sourced from Google.