8 of the best places to visit in Nigeria
-
Loading... - Lola Akingbade
- 28 Apr 2023
- 90 Views
- 0 Like
- 0 Comment
After a day or two, most visitors to Nigeria wish they had planned to stay longer in the country.
Once they start seeing the sights, and meeting the people, they realize that there is way more to do than they had believed possible. Don’t make the same mistake – give yourself a long leash. For administrative ease, the country’s 36 states are grouped into six geopolitical zones. If you intend to stay in more than one state, plan your travels along the same lines; pick an anchor city, and take things one state or zone at a time.
In the South-South, for example, the scenic and slow-paced city of Uyo can be your base to explore the Niger Delta states. In the North East, Bauchi is a perfect base to explore the rocky landscapes of Plateau, Adamawa, Borno and Taraba states.
Narrow down your list with these top places to visit in Nigeria.
1. Abuja
Best city for an intro to Nigeria
Whether you’re traveling solo or as a group, Abuja is your best introduction to Nigeria. By design, it is a city for holidaymaking: hills, public gardens and leisure parks dot the cityscape, right through its residential districts, so you’re guaranteed ample green spaces. Millenium Park’s landscaped grounds attract hundreds of picnickers; rent a mat inside the park and just chill. Aso Rock, where Nigeria’s presidential palace gets its name, looms nicely in the background.
Abuja’s wide walkways and boulevards make walking a pleasure any time of the day. If you’re traveling with kids, Central Park, Magicland Amusement Park, Jabi Lake Park and Arttech District are go-to family spots. Together, they offer dining, outdoor activities and games – from horseback riding and roller-skating to bicycle trails and go-karts.
Abuja is also a city for hiking, and there’s a trek up any of the city’s hills every weekend. Organized by hiking groups and clubs like Naija Adventurers, Tha Outdoor Tribe and Mantrek Hikers Club, there is little or no formality to join. Periodically, the hiking extends to landmarks in neighboring Niger, Nasarawa and Kaduna states.
Planning tip: Factor in a visit to Abuja's newly opened Nike Art Gallery as you travel to or from the airport.
2. Calabar
Best city for heritage and celebrations
Tourists come to Calabar to connect a number of nature and heritage sites: the Slave History Museum, Cross River National Park, Obudu Mountain Resort and the Afi Mountain Drill Sanctuary.
The Bakor (or Ikom) monoliths, a group of 300+ stones that are 1–1.5m-tall (3–5ft), are also one of the region’s main attractions. These centuries-old stones are believed by clans in the host communities to be their forebears. Some of the stones are within easy reach of Calabar, others are in more remote forested areas, with a permanent exhibition in an open-air museum at Alok, 156km (97 miles) north of Calabar.
Another reason to visit Calabar is for its thrilling events, culminating with the Christmas festival, a December-long fiesta of concerts and street parties. Another crowd-puller here is the carnival, a pan-Nigeria cultural parade with participation from at least half a dozen countries. Leboku New Yam Festival, one of the best known in Nigeria, held in August or September, also draws people in. On the eve, host communities perform ritual ceremonies to their "stone ancestors", re-painting them in colored chalk and in readiness for the festival proper. Read More…
