Destination…Cross River National Park

Established by Federal Ministry Government Decree in 1991, with the Cross River gorilla chosen as the theme animal, the Cross River National Park is an integral part of the Cross River State rainforest conservation area. Located in Boki LGA and spans from Kanyan to the foot of the Obudu plateau, it has a total land area of 720sqkm mostly of rugged mountain scenery and rolling hills.

Divided into two sections, the smaller area to the northeast, Okwangwo Division, is separated by about 50 km of disturbed forest from the larger Oban Division. Oban Division is contiguous with Korup National Park in Cameroon.

The Cross River and its tributaries drain northern parts of Oban Division; while southern the Calabar, Kwa and Korup rivers drain parts.The terrain is rough and elevation rises from the river valleys to over 1,000m in mountainous areas. Soils are ferralitic and sandy, and steadily become shallower with increasing elevation. The park is one of the richest areas of tropical rainforest in West Africa. Currently, the WWF, the Nigerian Conservation Foundation and the Federal Parks Service are carrying out an integrated conservation and development project in the northern part of the park.

The Park is home to many localised species of plants and animals, which, include gorilla, drill, chimpanzee, a gwantibo or golden potto forest elephant, saleginella specie. Baboons, Leopards, Red Foxes, Drill Monkeys, Buffaloes and Elephants are also found there. It also harbours a rich collection of flora and fauna.