The Dufuna canoe, made from black Khaya wood, is 8.4 metres long, but only 0.5 metres wide and 5 centimetres thick. It is therefore more than sixteen times as long as it is wide. Historic sites, festivals and nature watching offer other, distinct travel interests in Yobe. First consider whether cultural history, a festival or the landscape should shape your stay.
Festivals with Different Themes
The Barakau Annual Festival is held every year between June and September. Traditional fishing is the focus of the Gogaram Bade Fishing Festival; this celebration is also held annually. If a festival is the reason for your trip, check the current date before booking.
The Gorgaram Fishing and Cultural Festival in the Jakusko Local Government Area began in 1940. This date marks its historical beginning. Activities described as part of the Machina Annual Cultural Festival (MACUF) include equestrian displays known as Durbar, local wrestling and other traditional games. These details help distinguish the festivals’ different themes: traditional fishing, a historic beginning, and displays with games.
History and Cultural Heritage
Birni Gazargamo was the seat of the Kanem-Borno Empire, founded by Mai Ali Gaji in the late 14th century. Old Daniski Settlement was the administrative seat of the Bolewa in the 16th century. The Daniski Hills contain the ruins of an emir’s palace, graves, old granaries and an ancient well. The two dates represent different historical periods and contexts of rule.
The Fika Emirate Museum was established in the palace in Potiskum to introduce visitors to the history, culture and way of life of the people of the emirate. It thus focuses on the emirate and its culture; the historic sites and the museum offer different points of interest for travellers interested in Yobe’s history.
Landscapes, Resting Places and National Park
Kadi (Goya) Valley is in the Dozi District of the Fika Local Government Area. The gorge is home to various wild animals. Hot and cold streams rise in the Gulani Local Government Area. They emerge from the ground and converge about 56 metres from their sources. Dofarga Spring Water is a natural attraction that offers visitors a scenic view.
Dagona Birds Sanctuary is in the Bade Local Government Area, about 50 kilometres south of Gashua. It serves seasonally as a resting place for migratory birds arriving from Europe, America and Asia before winter. This seasonal aspect sets the sanctuary apart from landscape features described as present year-round: for nature enthusiasts, the timing of birdwatching is a particular consideration here.
Chad Basin National Park extends across the states of Borno and Yobe. Activities for visitors in the park include birdwatching, sport fishing, boat trips, sand dune surfing, horse or camel riding, and picnicking. These activities apply to the national park as a whole. They are separate from the individual natural sites and should not be attributed to a specific subregion of Yobe.
In the wider Borno-Yobe context, the Bulataru oases cover 92 square kilometres. Fertile, marshy depressions lie between shifting sand dunes; the dunes are considered a scenic ecotourism attraction. This landscape offers a different focus from the history of the emirates or seasonal birdwatching.
Discover more travel destinations: Kwara, Enugu, Delta, Rivers, Ogun, Niger, Edo, Ebonyi
Return to the main travel overview: Nigeria.
