Sambisa Forest, Forest reserve in Borno State, Nigeria.
Sambisa Forest is a forest reserve in Borno State, Nigeria, that spreads across more than 500 square kilometers of semi-arid terrain. The area shows thin vegetation with low trees and shrubs typical of the transition zone between savanna and Sahel.
The British colonial administration established this reserve in the late 1950s to protect regional wildlife. Nigeria took over management after independence and designated the area as a national game reserve about two decades later.
Local people knew this area as a source of firewood and grazing land before it became an official reserve. The name Sambisa comes from the local language and refers to the dry landscape that spans several administrative districts.
The area touches several local government districts such as Askira, Danboa and Gwoza and lies in a region with extreme temperature swings. Visitors should prepare for very hot conditions in late spring and milder temperatures in winter.
Ornithologists documented over 60 bird species here, including the last known wild Nigerian ostriches. Below the surface lie numerous natural and artificial cavities once used by animals and humans.
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