Remlords Tours - Student/Youths Tours

CALABAR IN PICTURES

Carnival Calabar

Carnival calabar known as AFRICAS BIGGEST STREET PARTY, started in 2000 street parade as one of the Cross River Festival. The first parade show case major landmarks of the state such as, the famous export commodity – Cocoa pod, the low land Gorilla of the last rain forest in West Africa, the leopard of Ekpe culture group, the old Residency the seat which once served as the seat of Government of the entire colonial Nigeria, the Mary slessor Caravan, Monoliths and more.

In 2004, costumes were introduced to elaborate the street parade, and the five official Carnival Bands were created namely: Bayside, Freedom, Master Blasters, Passion Four and Seagull Band.

His Excellency Governor Liyel Imoke introduce the cultural parade and children’s carnival in 2007, thus making the carnival calabar a two day event, the carnival calabar is fashioned out of the oldest Caribbean Carnival the TRINIDAD and TOBAGO Carnival but with an Africa flavour. The beauty of the Carnival Calabar is it acceptance by all strata of the Society; it also have revealers from all age groups.

The street party has also become for the state and it people an ideal tool for tourism and socio-economic development. The carnival will ultimately become one of the major drivers of Economic activity in cross rivers state. The carnival route which is 12km stretch offers huge vendoring and branding opportunities.

During the Run-up to the carnival, there benefit for large section of the business, especially the textile, haberdashery and tailoring sector. Although some of the Carnival Bands are bringing pre-fabricated costumes and importing trimming such as feather and beads, local stores generate increased from purchase associated with costume making.

The hospital has grown tremendously in the Capital city as the Carnival has become popular. Hotels and Guest house have become their highest occupancies level during the day Carnival.

KWA FALLS

Kwa Rapids, Akampka Local Government Area – Site for Miss World 2002 photo shoot. This river system flows in a westerly direction to join the Great Kwa River east of Calabar which later empties into the Cross River estuary. Located at the fringes of the Cross River National Park and IBAD Oil Palm estate, Kwa Falls covers the closest access to tropical rainforest experience and opportunity for kayaking and hiking. A quiet work by the river bank offers visitors opportunity to sight monkeys in their natural habitat.

Cross River National Park, Okwangwo Division

Cross River National Park, Okwangwo Division:With an area of approximately 1000 Km2, the northern sector of the park, the Okwangwo Division, harbours a diverse collection of flora and fauna, several of them endemic, very rare and endangered. So far, 112 plant species have been documented as important in the day to day lives of the communities living in and around the park. The utilized plant products include 15 seeds, 3 oil seeds, 44 fruits, 5 vegetables, 13 spices and 69 medicinal plants. 25 types of mushrooms are also collected from the forest for food. The forest of Okwangwo is also home to the Cross River gorillas, a third of Africa's total number of primate species including two of the rarest - the Drill and Preuss's guenon. The diversity of avian species is no less impressive. More than 300 species have been recorded within the Park. The Park is habitat for the breeding populations of grey-necked bare-headed rock fowl, Picathartes oreas. The diversity of butterflies in the Park may well be richer than any other part of Africa. Two species new to science have recently been described for this area. Some rare species in the Park include the glorious and magnificent Papillio monachus to the eccentric petite blue Lolaus iasis and the newly discovered Tetrahanis okwangwo, attest to the splendid characteristic of the community of insects.

This sector of the park covers an area of approximately 3000 Km2. It is contiguous with the Korup National Park in the Republic of Cameroun. This is one of the most ornithologically diverse sites in Nigeria. Over 350 bird species have been recorded for this vastly under explored habitat. It is one of only 2 sites in Nigeria where Xavier’s Greenbul has been recorded. The flora of the Oban Division is extremely rich, most of which have restricted distribution. Over 1,303 flowering plants, 141 lichens and 56 moss species have been recorded for this area. The forest of Oban habours a rich diversity of mammal species including the forest elephant, red colobus monkey and a Nigerian endemic Sclater’s guenon.

Cercopan, Iko Esai and Calabar: This forest monkey rehabilitation centre located at 4 Ishie Lane, Calabar, with the forest enclosure site at Iko Esai, receives up to 12,000 tourists a year. Visitors can expect a full guided tour of the Centre by the Education Officer or Primate Keepers. There are 6 different types of monkeys including the famous Sclater’s guenon (only found in Nigeria) and the only Preuss’ guenons in captivity in Nigeria. The facility is managed by Cercopan, an environmental NGO.

Agbokim Waterfalls, Etung Local Government Area – Magnificent waterfall with 7 separate rivulets. Most spectacular during the rainy season when on a lucky day you have a chance to see the rainbow across the face of the waterfall. Its proximity to neighbouring Cameroon offers a unique opportunity for cross-border experience.

This wetland area of the lower reaches of the Cross River is an important “flood bay” for the Cross River. The vegetation of the wetland consists of riverine floodplain swamp forest. A recent survey of this area confirmed the existence of a medium-sized European Barn Swallow roost holding at least 16,000 swallows. At least 77 other bird species were recorded at this site during the same survey. Five species of primates have been recorded for this area as well.

Afi Canopy Walkway, Buanchor: Canopy walkways are a series of suspension bridges linked to platforms on trees or towers or a mixture of these components. Walkways allow tourists to experience a walk in the upper canopy of the forest. Free to move about unhindered, photographers, nature lovers, researchers, and tourists of all ages are amazed at the extraordinary diversity of canopy life and the breathtaking view from such heights. It’s a totally different world in the tree canopy. With a total span of close to 400 metres; the facility at Afi has 10 platforms and 9 bridges. The highest treetop platform is suspended 25 metres from the forest floor. This canopy walkway gives visitors a new and exciting view of the rain forest of Afi while allowing wildlife to be relatively free from human intrusion. The canopy walkway at Afi was fully constructed by November 2005 and is the second and holds the record for the longest forest canopy walkway in Africa.

Obudu Mountain Resort

The Obudu Plateau is a small highland area of less than 400 km2 with an average height of 1500m but with some summits above 1700m. The habitats which occur on these highlands consist of montane forests and grasslands, which possess a high level of endemism in both animal and plant species. In particular the montane forests contain high numbers of plants and animals of very limited distribution. The climate up the Obudu Plateau is essentially temperate all year round. The mean annual rainfall is about 4,300mm. The suggested daily temperature during the year range between 150C - 220C; during the peak of the rainy season (July to August), night temperatures often drop to about 50C within this peak period. Several primate species occur on the plateau. These include four monkey species: the very rare Preuss’s monkey, the lesser-known Green Velvet monkey and the better-known Putty-nosed monkey and Tantalus monkey. Olive Baboon’s are also sighted occasionally.

One hundred and fifty five (155) bird species representing 99 genera and 43 families have been recorded for this area. Current efforts are directed at providing better protection to wildlife habitats on the plateau, which hopefully will encourage an increase of these species as well as other former breeding species. Facilities at the Ranch Resort include fully furnished chalets, suites, double rooms and comfortable lounges with fire places to keep you warm and cozy. It also has a conference centre (seating 250 persons). Other facilities include a natural swimming pool, gymnasium, floodlit tennis court, horse riding, bird watching, Putt-Putt mini golf and a 9-hole golf course. Internet facility, Satellite TV and GSM mobile phone access are available on the Resort. The bottom-hill has the first stainless steel pool in Africa; vis-à-vis one of the longest cable car in the world.

European Barn Swallow roost site, Boki Local Government Area: Migrant European Barn Swallows (Hirundo rustica) estimated at over one million birds use grassy hills of the western side of the Afi Mountain Wildlife Sanctuary as a winter roost. This roost site is recognized as the second largest over-wintering European Barn Swallow roost site in Africa next only to the roosting site in South Africa. The hill slopes of this site are covered with tall pannisetum grasses which reach heights of over 3m. Forests grow in the valleys between the hills.

From the months of November to April, the swallows, each evening arrive high above the roost and within 15 minutes vast numbers cover the sky. It is at this time that numbers of Hobbies, Bat Hawks and Red–necked Buzzards arrive to make their captures. The near-threatened Bauman's Greenbul which in recent times has not been recorded in the country was caught and ringed at this site in early 1996. Other key species include birds described as uncommon by eminent ornithologists who have visited this site include Chestnut & Red-Cheeked Wattle-eyes, Blue-headed Wood Dove, Chocolate-backed Kingfisher, Red-rumped Tinkerbird, and Red-tailed Bristlebill. The Dybowski's Dusky Twinspot caught and ringed here, is probably Nigeria's most southerly record.

Besides a few African species, Palaearctic migrants which were netted include Yellow Wagtail, Blackcap, Reed Warbler, Great Reed Warbler, Garden Warbler, Willow Warbler, Melodious Warbler, Spotted Flycatcher and Pied Flycatcher. A Great Reed Warbler ringed in Germany and an Osprey ringed in Finland were recovered in this area.

Drill Breeding and Rehabilitation Centre (Pandrillus) Buanchor, (Boki Local Government Area) and Calabar: With the Calabar facility located at Nsefik Eyo Layout and a forest facility at Buanchor, the Drill Rehabilitation and Breeding Centre is Nigeria’s first primate rehabilitation project. Here the animals are rehabilitated into family groups living in natural rainforest enclosures secured by electric fences. The captive animals serve as a flagship for the regional wildlife conservation as well as stimulate ecotourism and research. Illegally held drills orphaned by hunting are donated or handed over after seizure by authorities; no animals are purchased or removed from the wild. Over 60 drills have been recovered, and rehabilitated to life with members of their own species, after thorough medical screening. In international zoos drills have reproduced poorly, but the Drill Rehabilitation and Breeding Centre has recorded over 120 births to rehabilitated wild born parents and their offspring, making the Drill Rehabilitation and Breeding Centre the world's most successful captive breeding program for an endangered primate. We therefore have at these facilities some animals that are semi-wild in the sense that they have never been touched by humans. 174 drills live in 6 family groups, each in their own natural habitat electrified enclosure of up to 9 ha. There are plans to release the first group back to the wild in 2005, and breeding loans to international zoos are a possibility. The Drill Rehabilitation and Breeding Centre is also home to 23 orphan chimpanzees. As man's closest relative, the chimps add considerably to educational opportunities by stimulating interest and sympathy for wildlife. The facility is managed by Pandrillus an environmental NGO.