Yankari Game Reserve in Bauchi State is Nigeria’s best-known wildlife park and one of the few places in West Africa where you can still see wild elephants. It is also home to Wikki Warm Spring, a clear, naturally heated pool where visitors swim all year round.
This guide covers the Yankari Game Reserve entrance fee, what a safari and a night at Wikki Camp are likely to cost, how to get there, the best time to visit and the attractions worth planning your trip around.
A quick note on prices: Fees at Yankari are set by the reserve management and change from time to time, often without public announcement. The figures below are what visitors and travel sites reported in 2024–2025. Check the official Yankari website or call ahead before you travel, and carry enough cash.
Yankari Game Reserve at a glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Location | South-central Bauchi State, north-east Nigeria |
| Size | About 2,244 km² |
| Main entrance | Mainamaji gate, off the Bauchi–Gombe road |
| Where visitors stay | Wikki Camp, inside the reserve |
| Distance from Bauchi town | Roughly 110 km to Wikki Camp (about two hours by road) |
| Best season | November to April (dry season) |
| Highlights | Elephants and other wildlife, Wikki Warm Spring, Marshall Caves, Dukke Wells |
Yankari Game Reserve entrance fee
The gate fee only gets you into the reserve. Game drives, accommodation, food and transport are all paid for separately, so budget for each one.
| Charge | Reported cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Gate fee (adult) | ₦2,000 – ₦3,000 | Paid on arrival at the gate |
| Gate fee (child or student) | Around ₦800 | Ask about rates for school and church groups |
| Game drive (safari) | About ₦6,000 – ₦14,000 | Depends on whether you join a shared truck or hire a vehicle |
| Accommodation at Wikki Camp | From about ₦10,000 per night | Executive chalets and villas cost far more |
Card and transfer payments are not always reliable inside the reserve because network coverage is patchy. Carry enough cash for the gate, the safari, meals and tips.
How much does a trip to Yankari cost?
Here is a rough per-person budget for a short trip, based on costs shared by recent visitors. Treat it as a planning estimate, not a quote.
| Item | Day trip | One night at Wikki Camp |
|---|---|---|
| Return transport from a nearby city | ₦30,000 – ₦45,000 | ₦30,000 – ₦45,000 |
| Gate fee | ₦2,000 – ₦3,000 | ₦2,000 – ₦3,000 |
| Game drive | ₦6,000 – ₦14,000 | ₦6,000 – ₦14,000 |
| Food and drinks | About ₦10,000 | About ₦20,000 |
| Accommodation | — | From about ₦10,000 |
| Estimated total | ₦48,000 – ₦72,000 | ₦68,000 – ₦92,000+ |
Travelling as a group and sharing a chartered car is the easiest way to cut the transport cost, which is usually the biggest single expense.
Accommodation at Wikki Camp
Wikki Camp is the visitor base inside the reserve, right beside the warm spring. It has more than 100 chalets, ranging from simple budget rooms to executive chalets and a villa, and travel sites have reported rates from roughly ₦9,500 up to over ₦200,000 a night.
Rooms fill up quickly during Christmas, Easter and Sallah holidays, so book early if you plan to travel then. When you book, ask what the price includes — air conditioning, hot water, breakfast and electricity hours can differ between chalet types.
If Wikki Camp is full, you can stay in a hotel in Bauchi town and do a long day trip. Leave very early so you reach the gate in time for a morning game drive.
Things to do in Yankari
Go on a game drive
Game drives run in open trucks with a ranger who knows where the animals have been seen recently. Early morning and late afternoon drives give you the best chance of spotting wildlife, because animals are most active when it is cooler.
Yankari is best known for its elephants — estimates put the population at around 100 to 150, the largest herd left in Nigeria. You may also see buffalo, waterbuck, roan antelope, warthogs, baboons, hippos and crocodiles, plus many of the reserve’s 350-plus bird species. Lions still live in the reserve but are very rarely seen.
Swim at Wikki Warm Spring
Wikki Warm Spring is the reserve’s most popular attraction. The water stays at about 31°C all year, is crystal clear and is roughly 200 metres long, up to 13 metres wide and around 2 metres deep in places.
The spring is a short walk from the chalets and stays open into the night, so many visitors take a swim after their evening game drive. Keep your bags zipped and food out of sight — the baboons around Wikki Camp are bold and will grab unattended items.
Explore Marshall Caves
Marshall Caves are a group of old dwelling caves cut into a sandstone escarpment, some with carvings on the walls. They are named after P. J. Marshall, who documented them in 1980, and give a glimpse of how people lived in the area long before it became a reserve.
Visit Dukke Wells and the other springs
Dukke Wells is an old settlement site with more than a hundred hand-dug wells, a reminder that the land was farmed and settled for centuries. Wikki is also not the only warm spring — the reserve has others, including Gwan and Nawulgo, which are quieter but harder to reach. Ask at Wikki Camp whether they are accessible during your visit.
Best time to visit Yankari
The dry season, from November to April, is the best time to visit. The grass is shorter, animals gather near rivers and waterholes, and the roads inside the reserve are easier to drive.
December to February is the most comfortable stretch, though Harmattan nights can drop to around 12°C, so pack a light jacket. March and April are very hot, with afternoon temperatures that can pass 40°C.
During the rainy season (May to September) the bush is thick and green and animals spread out, so sightings are harder. Some tracks can also become difficult to use after heavy rain.
How to get to Yankari
By road from Bauchi: Take the Bauchi–Gombe road and follow signs for the reserve to the main gate at Mainamaji. From the gate, it is roughly 40 km along the reserve road to Wikki Camp. Allow about two hours from Bauchi town.
From Abuja, Jos or Kano: Travel to Bauchi first, by road or by air into Bauchi’s Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa International Airport when flights are operating. From Bauchi, charter a car or taxi to Wikki Camp.
By public transport: Interstate buses run to Bauchi from most major cities. Public transport does not go into the reserve, so you will need to charter a car from Bauchi for the last stretch.
Practical tips for your visit
- Carry enough cash, as POS and transfers may not work inside the reserve.
- Check the latest security advice for your route and travel in daylight.
- Stay in the vehicle during game drives and follow your ranger’s instructions, especially around elephants.
- Pack swimwear, a towel, sunscreen, insect repellent, a hat, a power bank and a light jacket for Harmattan mornings.
- Book Wikki Camp in advance for public holidays and long weekends.
- Bring binoculars if you have them — they make a big difference for birdwatching.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the Yankari Game Reserve entrance fee?
Recent visitors report a gate fee of about ₦2,000 to ₦3,000 per adult and around ₦800 for children and students. Game drives and accommodation are charged separately.
Can I visit Yankari as a day trip?
Yes, from Bauchi town, if you leave early. A day trip gives you time for one game drive and a swim at Wikki Warm Spring. Staying a night lets you do both a morning and an evening drive.
Can I swim at Wikki Warm Spring at night?
Yes. The spring is lit in the evening and many visitors swim after dark. The water stays warm all year, so it is comfortable even on cool Harmattan nights.
Will I definitely see elephants?
No. Wildlife sightings are never guaranteed. Your best chance is a morning or late-afternoon game drive in the dry season, when elephants come to drink at the Gaji River and other water points.
Is Yankari good for families and older travellers?
Yes. Game drives are done from vehicles, and the warm spring has gentle, shallow areas. Ask the camp for a chalet close to the spring if anyone in your group has limited mobility.
Plan your trip
Yankari rewards a little planning: book your chalet early, carry cash, travel in the dry season and give yourself at least one night at Wikki Camp. You will get a better chance of seeing elephants and more time to enjoy the spring.
Exploring more of Nigeria’s nature spots? See our guides to Ikogosi Warm Springs, Erin Ijesha Waterfall and the Osun Osogbo Sacred Grove.
Last checked: October 2026. Sources: Yankari Game Reserve official website, Wikipedia and recent visitor reports. Prices change often, so confirm with the reserve before you travel.
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