The
Gongola River is in northeastern
Nigeria, the principal tributary of the
Benue River. The upper course of the river as well as most of its tributaries are seasonal streams, but fill rapidly in August and September. The Gongola rises on the eastern slopes of the
Jos Plateau and falls to the Gongola Basin, running northeasterly until
Nafada. At one time, the Gongola continued from here in the northeast direction to
Lake Chad. Today it turns south and then southeast until it joins the Hawal River, its main tributary. The Gongola then runs south to the Benue river, joining it opposite the town of
Numan.