Old Oyo National Park: 2,512km² of history you never knew existed

I swear, many Nigerians don't know say we get one national park that carries both history and wildlife for one place. Old Oyo National Park is not just any park , na the only national park for this country with dual prospects of archaeological, cultural and historical park. The park dey cover 2,512 square kilometers of land, stretching across northern Oyo State and even entering Kwara State.

What makes Old Oyo National Park special

The park take its name from Oyo-Ile, the ancient political capital of the Oyo Empire between the 16th and 18th centuries. You fit still see the ruins of the old city including earthworks, defensive walls, and relics of the Alaafin's palace. The terrain mix savanna woodlands, open grasslands, rocky outcrops, and forests along rivers like Ogun and Tessi. They get over 300 bird species and animals like buffalo, antelope, baboons, patas monkeys, leopards, and hyenas. Sadly, the West African wild dog don disappear from the park due to hunting.

The park originally started as two forest reserves , Upper Ogun in 1936 and Oyo-Ile in 1941 , then converted to game reserves in 1952, finally upgraded to national park status in 1991. You fit do game drives, hiking, nature walks, fishing, and even mountaineering on the rock outcrops. The Ikere Gorge Dam and River Ogun also dey provide water recreation opportunities.

Old Oyo National Park is the most unique of all the national parks in Nigeria because it is the only one with the dual prospects of archaeological, cultural and historical park.

But e get serious side too. Governor Seyi Makinde recently reveal say the pupils and teachers wey dem abduct from schools in Yawota and Ahoro-Esinle communities for Oriire Local Government Area still dey inside the Old Oyo National Park corridor 27 days after the incident. The governor talk say the area stretch across parts of 10 local government areas in Oyo State. This show say the park, despite e beauty, also get security challenges wey the government dey try to address.

If you never visit Old Oyo National Park before, make you add am to your bucket list. The entrance fees dey affordable and the experience dey worth every kobo. Tag the person wey you go carry visit this historical site.