National park · Nigeria
Chad Basin National Park
Treat Chad Basin as a maybe, not a plan: the three sectors sit in Borno and Yobe, where government advisories warn against travel; if you go, it is a Maiduguri-based, guided, dry-season trip only, and you must confirm the park is open before booking anything.
Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
2,258 km²872 sq mi
approximate
Established
1991
Best months
Nov–Feb
UNESCO
None
Rules in force · 7Nine African countries on this site have no trip line bec…Carry an original yellow fever vaccination certificate on…
- Africa ↗When a route touches a yellow-fever country — even a transit of 12 hours or more — keep the original yellow card (ICVP) in your hand luggage; health desks and airlines can refuse boarding or entry without it.
- Africa ↗Nine African countries on this site have no trip line because governments advise against travel; several others have no-go regions. Read your government's advice for every country on the route before paying deposits.
- West Africa ↗Carry an original yellow fever vaccination certificate on any West African trip: several countries on the coast road demand it of every arrival, and the rest demand it after you have passed through a neighbour.
- West Africa ↗Cross land borders and drive between cities in daylight only; plan each crossing as a full travel day with cash for fees and passport copies for checkpoints.
- Nigeria ↗Check visa and entry rules for your passport with the Nigeria Immigration Service or a Nigerian mission; most visitors need a visa arranged before travel.
- Nigeria ↗Governments advise against all or all but essential travel to a number of Nigerian states; check your own government's advice for each state on your route.
- Nigeria ↗Check the yellow-fever vaccination certificate rules for Nigeria before you fly; carry the certificate with your passport.
At a glance
- Country
- Nigeria
- Area
- 2,258 km²872 sq mi
- Three separate sectors: Chingurmi-Duguma in Borno, plus the Wetlands and Bulatura Oases sectors in Yobe (check current boundaries).
- Established
- 1991
- Best months
- Nov–Feb
- Permits
- For some areas
Chad Basin National Park is a vast, fragmented protected area in northeastern Nigeria, established in 1991 to conserve the Sahel ecosystem and the remnants of the Lake Chad basin. It comprises three distinct sectors: Chingurmi-Duguma in Borno State, and the Wetlands and Bulatura Oases in Yobe State. The park protects rare desert wildlife, including the endangered red-fronted gazelle, ostrich, and giraffe, alongside significant wetland birdlife. Due to its remote location and security considerations in the region, visits are strictly guided, vehicle-based, and require careful planning around seasonal access and current travel advisories.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- No UNESCO listing; national park since 1991.
Size and age
2,258 km²872 sq mi · national park since 1991
Three separate sectors: Chingurmi-Duguma in Borno, plus the Wetlands and Bulatura Oases sectors in Yobe (check current boundaries).
Why go
- One of the few places in Nigeria where Sahel wildlife — red-fronted gazelle, ostrich and giraffe — is the draw rather than the scenery.
- The Bulatura sector has sand dunes and oasis pools, a landscape found nowhere else in the country.
- Wetland birdlife around the Lake Chad shore, including waterbirds that gather in the dry season.
When to go
- JanBest
- FebBest
- MarGo
- AprCaution
- MayCaution
- JunAvoid
- JulAvoid
- AugAvoid
- SepAvoid
- OctCaution
- NovBest
- DecBest
- JanDry, cool nights, dust haze
- FebDry and clear; dust easing
- MarHot by midday; wildlife at water
- AprVery hot; 40°C+ commonVery hot; 104°F+ common
- MayHeat peak; first rains
- JunWet; tracks turn to mud
- JulWettest stretch; access unreliable
- AugFlooded tracks; heaviest rain
- SepStill wet; roads cut
- OctRains end; ground still soft
- NovDry season starts; comfortable
- DecDry and cool; dust haze
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Red-fronted gazelleNov–Mar · Easiest to see in the dry season when vegetation is low. | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes |
| OstrichNov–Mar | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes |
| GiraffeNov–Mar · Rare and localised; sightings are not guaranteed. | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes |
| Waterbirds and migrants on the wetlandsNov–Mar | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes |
| Hippopotamus and crocodileNov–Apr | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
How to get there
From Lagos
Fly to Maiduguri, then a guided vehicle to the sector you have permission for; do not attempt the road.
5–7 h door to door
Open the page →
From Maiduguri
Park vehicle or hired 4x4 with a guide; the Chingurmi-Duguma sector is the usual day target.
2–4 h each way
From Abuja
Flight to Maiduguri, then the same guided arrangement.
4–6 h door to door
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Chingurmi-Duguma (Borno) | Acacia and grassland on the Borno side, the sector most often visited from Maiduguri. | Guided only; confirm status locally (check). |
| Wetlands sector (Yobe) | Seasonal wetland on the Lake Chad shore, best for birds in the dry season. | Guided only; long approach (check). |
| Bulatura Oases (Yobe) | Sand dunes and oasis pools in the far northeast. | Guided only; the most remote sector (check). |
Sketch map
- 1Maiduguri · Town≈11.833, 13.150Approximate; the practical base and airport.Map ↗
- 2Chingurmi-Duguma sector · Gate≈11.500, 13.000Approximate; Borno sector, position for orientation only.Map ↗
- 3Wetlands sector · Trail≈12.400, 13.200Approximate; Yobe sector on the Lake Chad shore.Map ↗
- 4Bulatura Oases · Viewpoint≈13.000, 12.500Approximate; far northeast, dunes and pools.Map ↗
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park entry | NGN 1,000–3,000 | person | 2026 estimate; no published tariff — confirm at the gate or with the park office (check). |
| Guided safari vehicle and driver | NGN 40,000–90,000 | day | 2026 estimate; private cars are not allowed inside the park, so a park vehicle or guide is the only way in (check). |
| Guide fee | NGN 10,000–25,000 | day | 2026 estimate; negotiate in Maiduguri before you set out (check). |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Park entry and guide permit or guide
Sector access permit or guide
Travel to Borno and Yobe permit or guide
Park rules
- Private vehicles
- Not allowed inside the park; you must use a park vehicle or an approved guide's transport (check).
- Guides
- Do not walk or drive off the main tracks without a guide; the sectors are remote and signposting is minimal.
- Photography of people
- Ask before photographing anyone in the villages around the park.
- Litter and fires
- No fires; carry out everything you bring in.
Where to stay
Near the park
Maiduguri hotels
The practical base for the Borno sector; book a hotel with secure parking and arrange your guide from there.
Near the park
Damaturu
Possible base for the Yobe sectors, but the approach is long and access should be confirmed first (check).
Safety
Security in Borno and Yobe high
Heat and dehydration high
Getting stranded in the wet season high
Checkpoints and officials medium
Accessibility
- The park is not set up for limited mobility: vehicles are 4x4s on rough tracks and there are no paved paths.
- Anyone with mobility needs should treat a visit as a vehicle-based drive only, and confirm with the operator in advance.
Visiting lightly
- Hire local guides and drivers from Maiduguri so the park's value stays with the communities around it.
- Do not buy bushmeat or wildlife products; the gazelle and giraffe populations are already under pressure.
- Take all rubbish back to the city — there is no waste collection in the sectors.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Chad Basin National Park?
There is no published tariff. Expect roughly ₦1,000–3,000 per person (2026 estimate), plus a guided vehicle at about ₦40,000–90,000 a day, since private cars are not allowed inside. Confirm all of it with the park office or a Maiduguri operator before you travel (check).
What are the best hikes in Chad Basin National Park?
There are no marked hiking trails. Visits are vehicle-based game drives with short guided walks — the Chingurmi-Duguma sector for wildlife, the Wetlands sector for birds and the Bulatura sector for dunes and oasis pools. All of them need a guide.
When is the best time to visit Chad Basin National Park?
November to March, in the dry season: tracks are passable, the heat is manageable and wildlife concentrates at water. Avoid June to September, when rain floods the tracks and the remote sectors become unreachable.
Is it safe to visit Chad Basin National Park?
Check your government's current advisory for Borno and Yobe before anything else; several advise against all travel to parts of the region. If you go, fly to Maiduguri, use a local operator, and do not travel between cities by road.
How do I get to Chad Basin National Park?
Fly to Maiduguri, then continue by guided 4x4 to the sector you have permission for — two to four hours each way for Chingurmi-Duguma, much longer for the Yobe sectors. There is no public transport to the gates.
Can I see giraffe and ostrich?
They are present but rare and localised, and sightings are never guaranteed. The dry season, early morning and a guide who knows the water points give you the best chance.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go