Old Oyo National Park,  Bayo, Nigeria

Old Oyo National Park, Bayo, Nigeria 

Old Oyo National Park, the park which was named after the Old Oyo – the political capital of the Oyo Empire between the 16th and 18th centuries, spans a remarkable 2,512 sq km, most of which fall in Oyo State, some extends to Kwara State.

The park, which is made up of two previous native administrative forest reserves – the Upper Ogun (1936) and Oyo-lle Forest Reserves, are unique ecosystem and historical relics converted to game reserves in 1952 and finally upgraded to the present status of a National Park.

Situated just about 51 km north of Ibadan city, and it harbours Nile crocodile, rock python and land tortoise. The top attractions of the park which are of historical and archaeological value, are situated at the northern end of the park and these include the relics of the old city walls of Oyo Ile, the great Agbaku cave which has evidence of stone age, the “Kosomonu” hill, the old Akesan Market, Alaafin’s Palaces with crucibles of pottery used some centuries ago.

Epic Nigeria Culture & Adventure Route © Monika Newbound