If you are a lover of nature, tranquility and adventure, the Kamuku National Park is a deal worth exploring.
Set in Birnin Gwari, Kaduna State, the park is one of nature’s great gifts to Nigeria, which has largely remained unexplored.
This is no thanks to the insecurity in the northern part of the country and lack of publicity for the park, which has negatively affected its patronage and revenue profile.
Covering a total land area of approximately 1,121 sq km, Kamuku is the second smallest park in the country, yet very rich in terms of biodiversity.
The park maintains a reservoir of potentially-valuable species and genotypes for improvement of crops, vegetation for agriculture, medicines, and also provides a site for ecological education and research in conservation and other related fields. It provides a site for ecotourism and encourages public visit, among others.
It also has some unique cultural significance with two major tribes of Gwari and the Kamukus, who are predominantly farmers and pastoralists, while others engage in vocational works and small-scale trading. The park is also endowed with old and ancient sites. It has over 19 species of fauna, some of which are endangered species, with Kamuku being the only protected threshold in North-west of Nigeria.
Among the faunal resources found in the park are: roan-antelope, bushbuck, Grimm’s duiker, oribi, warthog, patas monkey, green monkey, baboon and elephant. Others are: crocodiles, monitor lizards and many aquatic species.
Kamuku National Park is also rich in avian species. Most of them are resident while very few are migratory. Some of the birds are also in the endangered list. Insects, reptiles and rodents are some of the faunal species that can be sighted in the park.
The park shares the same ecosystem and boundary with Kwiambana Game Reserve in Zamfara State, separated only by a natural feature, River Mariga.
Kamuku represents one of the best remaining blocks of the Sudan Guinea Savanna vegetation in the country’s protected areas. Though its flora is not fully documented, preliminary studies have recorded over 200 species of trees, shrubs, herbs and climbers, among them are many species of great medicinal values.
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The park also has a rich close canopy vegetation of savannah woodland-type dominant species of isoberlinia, afzelia, daniellia, detarium, raphia, among others, and a few lily plant species.
Its rich eco-tourism heritage has remained a reference point.
According to the National Park Service, tourism is a private sector-driven industry and based on this, there is partial commercialisation. As part of an effort to achieve this plan, the park service has been calling for the private sector to invest in its park ecotourism. However, the clarion call seems to yield a very slow result.
Depite the challenges, the Kamuku National Park management is gradually developing its ecotourism products, exploring all avenues to provide the needed facilities for ecotourism. This is besides the management’s effort to keep a cordial working relationship with support zone communities so as to gain support for conservation and ecotourism. The park has partnered with the Birnin Gwari Historical and Tourism Committee to produce a well-researched historical document that can be of great importance for promotion of culture and tourism. Already, the research committee has concluded its assignment and over 100 historical relics and sites have been identified. A documented report is awaiting the editing and vetting of a recognised university authority. The management has completed arrangements with some renowned universities for research collaboration. Additionally, the management in collaboration with an NGO had built a standard research centre.
For visitors going to the park, there is the leased Kada Motel from the Kaduna State government through the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. The motel consists of 18 chalets of African architecture, a cosy restaurant, an exotic bar and a conference hall that can provide a convenient banquet.
After the concession leasing, the park management has completed the renovation and the upgrade of the Kada Motel accommodation and facilities. Due to the influx of visitors and the patronage from the surrounding communities, the National Park Services had built additional three chalets as an annex in the park’s head office. The management also plans to build three more chalets so as to provide independent visitors with facilities. It has recently constructed a structure that serves as open bar and recreation huts adding to the beauty of the bar/restaurant block.
The motel has a restaurant, bar and banqueting facilities. Continental, African and local cuisines are daily served at the restaurant under a serene thatched structure.
Medium-sized banquet and conferences can be hosted at the conference hall. Open canopies are also available for outdoor parties and discothèque.
Visitors need vehicles for park safari and their trip to and from their destination. There are also opportunities to invest in car hire and transportation services. Movement can be shuttled from Birnin Gwari to Minna, Kaduna, Abuja, Kano, Gusau, and Katsina, as well as the western route to Lagos.
Certainly, there is a good fortune for the private sector to invest in tourist movements.
However, the park is bedevilled by myriads of challenges like the absence of grazing reserves and inadequate cattle routes. As well, human activities are posing a threat to the existence of the park as far as Niger Republic. The herdsmen believe Kamuku National Park forest has a kind of livestock feed that multiplies their cattle population, which has made the grazers do everything possible to graze in the park.
Bush meat is still a savoured delicacy, and the hunt for it constitutes a threat to biodiversity as this has encouraged poaching. Also, the indiscriminate issuance of timber licences by the LG officials in the community forest area around the park is posing a threat to the existence of the park. Similarly, the insecurity around the park is also discouraging visitors, and protection rangers from carrying out their duties.
In spite of the above, visit to Kamuku National Park is worth the experience, especially for people who cherish nature and want to observe animals in their natural environment.
