The
Chad Basin National Park is a national park in northeastern
Nigeria, with a total area of about 2,258 km². The park is fragmented, with three sectors. The Chingurmi-Duguma sector is in
Borno State, in a Sudanian Savanna ecological zone. The Bade-Nguru Wetlands and Bulatura sectors are in Yobe State in the Sahel ecological zone.
The park combines the former Chingurmi-Dugoma Game Reserve, Gorgoram and Zurgun Baneri Forest Reserves, and Bulature Oasis. As of 1999 it had not been surveyed, so the boundaries are not well-established. The park is used by many farmers, grazers and fishermen. Despite significant investment in lodgings for tourists, the park sectors only attract a few hundred visitors each year due to the lack of spectacular wildlife. By 2008, staff at the park office in
Maiduguri knew little about the park, the lodgings had been abandoned, and tourists visiting the park sectors had to take off-road vehicles and be prepared to camp out.
The Chingurmi-Duguma sector is in the Bama Local Government Area of Borno State, adjoining the Waza National Park in the Republic of
Cameroon. It has an area of 1,228 km2, with a stratified topology. The northern part is within the Sahel zone while southern sector has a typical
Sudan–
Guinea Savanna ecology, and includes Acacia-Balanites woodlands separated by dense stands of Elephant grass and Sorghum.
Waters from the Dorma river flood much of the sector in the rainy season, creating flood-plain wetlands that attract waterbirds and other wildlife. The resident Black Crowned Crane (Balearica pavonina) is abundant, but is considered vulnerable. The Helmeted Guineafowl (Numida meleagris) is also abundant. Demoiselle Cranes (Grus virgo) visit in the winter, as well as large numbers of White Storks (Ciconia ciconia).
