Nigeria is a land of diverse ecosystems, including deserts, plains, swamps, mountains, and jungles. The third-largest river delta in the world is within its boundaries. Therefore, you can find many different types of animals in Nigeria. There are over 22,000 vertebrate and invertebrate species in Nigeria. Several native species remain in Nigeria, such as the elusive pangolin, hyraxes, cuckoos, puff adders, and hoopoes. Unfortunately, many of these animals are facing threats of endangerment or extinction. At least 21 bird species may become extinct as a result of deforestation for agricultural benefits.

There are many types of animals in Nigeria. Therefore, you may want to spend some time exploring the different ecosystems to see the many unique animals and birds that exist in very few other places in the world. Some sightseeing areas include:

• Cross River gorillas– Head to Afi Mountain Wildlife Sanctuary, the Mbe Mountains, or the Okwangwo Division of Cross River National Park to see Cross River gorillas in their natural habitat.

• Forest elephants – These elephants live at five different sites in Southern Nigeria, including the Omo Forests in Ogun State, the Okomu National Park, the Cross River National Park, Idanre Forests and Osse River Park, and on Andoni Island.

• Savannah Elephants – See savannah elephants at Yankari National Park and the Yankari Game Reserve, but there are less than 500 remaining in the wild, so you might want to hurry.

• Nigeria-Cameroon chimpanzees – These are the most threatened and least distributed of all chimpanzees, and you can see these unique animals at Gashaka-Gumti National Park and Ngel Nyaki Forest Reserve.

• African lions – Hear the roar of African lions at Yankari and Kainji-lake national parks before they go extinct.

• Niger Delta red colobus monkeys – Only about 200 of these monkeys are left in the world. A conservatory opened in October 2020 at Apoi Creek Forest to protect the largest troop of Niger Delta red colobus monkeys from going extinct.

• Preuss’s red colobus monkeys – See these monkeys in Cross River National Park.

• Leopards – It can be challenging to see a leopard in Nigeria because they are rare and under threat, but cameras have spotted them in Kainji Lake National Park, Gashaka-Gumti National Park, and Yankari Game Reserve.