Wikki Warm Springs
Alkaleri, Bauchi State
A clear warm spring inside Yankari, holding a near-constant temperature and open for swimming year-round.
User-provided photograph · Used with permission
Visiting information
- Address
- Alkaleri, Bauchi State
- Opening information
- Accessible to reserve visitors; hours follow Yankari's gate and camp schedule.
- Accessibility
- Reached by a stepped path down to the spring; the descent is uneven in places.
- Suggested time
- 2–3 hours
About this place
Wikki rises from the base of a sandstone cliff at the southern end of Yankari and runs clear enough to read the riverbed through several metres of water. The temperature holds close to 31°C through both seasons, so the pool is as inviting at dawn as it is after a long afternoon game drive. The camp beside it is the reserve's main accommodation base, and most visitors time an early swim before the first drive of the day.
District profile
Alkaleri
Alkaleri covers the broad savannah woodland south-east of Bauchi, the country that holds Yankari.
Why stay here: Yankari is Nigeria's best-known wildlife reserve, with elephants, baboons and the Wikki Warm Springs.
Atmosphere: Open savannah, hot by day and wide to the horizon.
About two hours from Bauchi on the Dindima road; arrange park entry and accommodation in advance.
Airport journey
- Arrival airportBauchi State Airport (BCU)
- Travel time30 minutes to Bauchi; about 2 hours to Yankari
- Recommended routeBauchi → Dindima → Yankari main gate
- Traffic informationLight.
- Ride hailing optionsNot reliably available.
- Hotel airport pickupArrange a park transfer with your accommodation.
Nearby attractions
More to explore around Alkaleri and the wider Bauchi State.
- Yankari Game Reserve AlkaleriSavannah reserve in Bauchi State holding Nigeria's largest surviving elephant population. 2–3 hours
Marshall Caves BogoroRock shelters cut into sandstone cliffs in southern Bauchi, long used for refuge and settlement. 1–2 hours
Tunga Dutse Rock Paintings ToroRock paintings on granite surfaces near Toro, among the older records of human life in Northern Nigeria. Half a day
Sumu Wildlife Park GanjuwaA state conservation park in Ganjuwa laid out for game viewing, birdwatching and quiet savannah drives. 2–3 hours
Emir's Palace Bauchi Bauchi CitySeat of the Bauchi Emirate, founded in 1809 and still the centre of the state's traditional authority. 1–2 hours
Bauchi National Museum Bauchi CityState museum holding archaeological finds, emirate regalia and everyday material from across Bauchi. 1.5–2 hours
Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Tomb Bauchi CityBurial place of Nigeria's first Prime Minister, and one of the country's principal national monuments. 1–2 hours
Kadag Rock Formation DassA field of granite domes and balanced boulders rising from farmland south of Bauchi, popular with walkers. Half a day
Recommended district
Alkaleri
Yankari is Nigeria's best-known wildlife reserve, with elephants, baboons and the Wikki Warm Springs.
Plan the rest of your visit
Build an itinerary around this district, or check what Nigeria requires for entry before you travel.
Sources and verification
Status: Reviewed. Last reviewed 2026-08-06.
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