Why Visit Taraba State?

Because Taraba State, located in northern Nigeria, has many natural reserves and outdoor attractions for the outdoorsy type. The entire state has tourist attractions; you’re in for a treat!

Because you can visit the Jolly Nyame Stadium, built in 2002, it is a multi-use stadium in Jalingo. Offering a standard football pitch, several football matches are played there. It is also home to Taraba FC. The stadium has a capacity of 30,000 and was built by former governor of Taraba State, Jolly Nyame, who it is named after.

Because if you enjoy wildlife, you can go on an adventure at the Kashimbila Game Reserve, accessible via the Takum-Jalingo highway. The dry season is best for this tour, as it makes wild animals more visible. If you must travel by road, the best times are in the morning or the afternoon, between 9 am and 3 pm.

Because you can enjoy a trip to the Barup waterfalls. A beautiful sight to behold, and a popular tourist attraction located in Gembu (Mambilla Plateau). It boasts of clear waters falling over sharp rocks. A good place to relax and take selfies. It’s close to Chappal Waddi and Kakara Tea Plantation in Mambilla Plateau.

In Taraba State, you can visit the highest mountain in Nigeria, Chappal Waddi, also known as Gangirwal or the ‘Mountain of Death’. Not for the faint-hearted, it is situated on the edge of the Gashaka Gumti Forest Reserve, at 2,419 metres, and stands on the border between Nigeria and Cameroon. It harbours some rare animals and plants and is said to be the highest peak in Nigeria and West Africa.

Because you can tour the Gashaka Gumti National Park, created from two game reserves in 1991. It is a natural grassland featuring mountainous areas and valleys, home to montane forests, and reportedly, Nigeria’s largest national park is situated close to its border with Cameroon.

Because the Mamara Crocodile pond in Wukari is a 400-year-old sacred site situated south of the Aku-Uka Palace, its ancient pond is acclaimed for its legendary crocodiles traditionally seen on Fridays and is said to have medicinal powers.

Because Gembu in the Mambilla Plateau is worth a visit, it’s recognised as one of the coldest places in Nigeria, with temperatures sometimes going below 10°C. It features high elevations of 1,300 to 1,800 metres, tea plantations, eucalyptus forests, and undulating green hills.

Because in Taraba State, you can try out the diverse array of native food from vegetable soups like Miyan Kumbi and Loni Bansi, eaten with pounded cocoyam, dambun dawa (guinea corn mix), Fisherman Soup, often eaten with pounded yam or cassava-based swallows, and Iku (Mushroom Soup), among other delicacies.

* Before embarking on any trip to Taraba State, please be aware of the security situation. Reports also state that most of the reserves are not formally managed. It is best to employ tour guides and security personnel, and to take all precautions to stay safe.