15 best places to visit in Nigeria

15 best places to visit in Nigeria - Nigeria is huge. And as naysayers say size doesn't matter, you realize that in West Africa, where just a couple of miles adds another fascinating tribal group

15 best places to visit in Nigeria

There is no doubt: Nigeria is huge. And as naysayers say size doesn't matter, you realize that in West Africa, where just a couple of miles adds another fascinating tribal group, or that the journey over the Obudu Plateau makes the difference between grass. of the Guinean savanna and verdant tropical rainforest, it really, really does! The point is that Nigeria is a country of many colors and religions.

His character transforms and moves elegantly almost like a white-throated monkey swinging through the branches of the jungle. City wise, it has the colossal expansion of Abuja, one of the fastest growing urban areas in the world. And then there's Lagos - 17.5 million people, but still find time to relax on the Atlantic beaches.

Moving away from the cities and the country, the many faces of Nigeria continue. This time they peer like human beings in the form of chimpanzees from the throats covered by the forest of Gashaka Gumti. Or they are pink-plumed like the black cranes of the wetlands of Bade-Nguru. It is all very wonderful.

Lets explore the best places to visit in Nigeria :

1. Calabar

The gateway to the Cross River reserves (the state of which Calabar is the capital), and the further rainforests of the Afi Mountains (home to gorillas, chimpanzees, rare rock birds and steep stone peaks), the city of Calabar is a well-knit tourist stop during Cameroon or the southern coast of Nigeria.

Before heading to the stunning primate sanctuaries outside the city, be sure to dwell a little on the city's darker past at the Calabar Museum - Calabar was once one of the major slave trading ports in West Africa.

Duke Town Chapel, considered one of the oldest Christian houses of worship in Nigeria, is also worth a visit.

Lets explore the best places to visit in Nigeria :

1. Calabar

Calabar

Duke Town Chapel, considered one of the oldest Christian houses of worship in Nigeria, is also worth a visit.

2. Lagos

Lagos

Busy and busy, Lagos is not only the largest city in Nigeria, but also the single largest in the entire African continent.

Yes, nearly 18 million people call this home, and the boy shows it! Throbbing streets of beer bars and clubs dot the neighborhoods of Ikeja and Victoria Island, where ex-pat, sailors, and locals chat over foamy beers.

There are also salty coastal walks and the beautiful beaches of Lagos Bar - an expanse of golden sand that cuts through the waves of the Atlantic Ocean in style.

Meanwhile, jet skis purr across Tarkwa Bay, and sobering stories about the slave trade keep moving to the point of no return.

3. Abeokuta

Nestled inland, directly north of sprawling Lagos, the regional capital of Ogun state sits surrounded by vast expanses of cornfields and corn farms, rolling wooded savannahs and palm oil plantations.

A historical position on the important trade routes between the coast and the heart of West Africa led to previous inhabitants erecting adobe fortifications around the old city, many of which are still visible today.

However, it's the bulbous elevations of Olumo Rock towering atop the city that really grab attention.

This ancient natural fort houses a large cultural museum, a craft shop that sells local artwork, and caves that showcase the human history of the Ogun region as a whole.

4. Yankari National Park

Yankari National Park

Whether you make the arduous journey east of Abuja and south from Gombe to Yankari in search of the roaming herds of African elephants (said to be the most numerous on the continent) or to search for the fascinating relics of the previous peoples in the caves, you can rest assured that this well-served national park won't disappoint.

More than 20,000 people come here to take part in ecotourism every year which means there are plenty of lodges and tour operators on the ground.

Don't leave without climbing the lookouts on Kalban Hill, or wondering about the chiseled rocks of the stunning Tonlong Gorge.

5. Abuja

Ok, so Abuja is not a Lagos. Purpose-built, shrouded in the soft topography of inland hills and made up of clearly delineated neighborhoods hosting business-friendly men and politicians, there's no grit or grime here (or at least not relatively). This means that the capital is a beautiful place to relax and unwind following the energy and action of the megalopolis on the coast.

And there are other interesting sights as well, such as the Abuja Millennium Park and the quad of spear minarets that heralds the beautiful Abuja National Mosque.

Meanwhile, Wuse Market is great for shopaholics, and the National Assembly Complex offers a glimpse into the country's modern political system.

6. Ibadan

State capital and ancient stronghold of the old Oyo empire, Ibadan hides a lot of history and heritage in its streets.

The only problem is that those roads seem to go on forever (some estimates say Ibadan is the largest metropolis by geographic coverage in Africa), making the interesting parts pretty hard to find! A good place to start is in the exhibition halls of the Ibadan National Museum, where traditional Egungun garments meet tribal war drums and more.

Then, try to discover the Bower Memorial Tower, before hitting the colonial facades of Mapo Hall.

7. Kainji Lake National Park

One of the natural jewels of northwestern Nigeria is actually not that natural at all.

Yes, the Kainji Lake of the same name in Kainji Lake National Park is actually a reservoir, created in 1968 and now surrounded by protected game reserves.

On the western shores of the water is the Borgu area, which is home to sporadic pockets of Guinean woods and plains, the beaten terrain of some truly fascinating beasts: hippos; roan antelope and swinging baboons.

This ultimately gives way to the basin itself, where primeval jungles plunge into croc-stained waters.

8. Gashaka Gumti National Park

Gashaka Gumti National Park

Vast and breathtaking at every turn, Gashaka Gumti National Park covers over 6,000 square kilometers of land in the far southeast of the country.

Made in 1991 after the merger of two large Nigerian game reserves, it is famous for its winding rivers (some of which even occasionally transform into spectacular spectacles of roaring waterfalls) and riparian habitats, which are home to rare avian species such as the red bird red-faced.

On the ground, you can expect to be in the company of African elephants and golden cats.

Chimpanzees swing among the forest trees, while buffalo pepper the watering holes.

9. Enugu

Enugu

A verdant, verdant city almost equidistant between Cross River National Park (home to Nigeria's gorillas) and the Niger River Delta (where Bayelsa National Forest has baby chimpanzees), Enugu certainly doesn't want attractions natural.

Indeed, the prime location near some of the best natural projects in Southeast Nigeria is one of the main reasons tourists come here.

Others will enjoy the neat streets and low-rise buildings, down-to-earth premises (the lifeblood of the small bottling and film industries that sprouted here), and the gushing waterfalls and caves in the Ezeagu tourist complex - just above the edge of town.

10. Port Harcourt

Okay, so it's hardly a secret that the industry ranks first in Port Harcourt's turbulent oil boom.

A growing population, never-ending social housing developments, and the logo of major oil companies are just some of the things this throbbing oil city wears on its sleeve.

And while the frantic buzz of warehouses, trucks, and tankers here is certainly not for everyone, the understated character of the place, mixed with a particularly noisy nightlife scene, means some will love the earthy, raw and unassuming nature of it all.

11. Erin-Ijesha

Erin-Ijesha

The small town of Erin-Ijesha is known for only one thing and one thing only: it's the namesake waterfall that crashes into the jungles of southern Nigeria, spans two individual states and has up to seven levels in total! The beautiful water feature draws oodles of people to this little dot on the map, a bit far from the historic town of Ilesa.

The trip is still worth it.

You will come to climb through the verdant woods and immerse yourself in the cataract as they crash on the rocks.

You will discover the spirits of the forest and also discover the nearby hot springs of Ikogosi - a little further east, and a great place to soothe those tired muscles from hiking.

12. Uyo

Uyo

Another great gateway to Cross River National Park and a brilliant stop on the way to the city of Calabar, the city of Uyo is a clean and efficient urban center with a vibrant nightlife with bars and night clubs .

It is surrounded by green belts of mangrove forest, from which the famous golf course of the city (managed by the prestigious name of Le Méridien no less) emerges. In the city there are also the countless boutiques and fashion shops of Ibom Plaza, where Nigerian celebrities often strut.

And if the city gets too much, take a detour to the coast.

Ibeno Beach is your best bet, with its footprint-stained sands coming in as some of the longest in all of West Africa.

13. Okomu National Park

Okomu National Park

One of the few remaining enclaves of the virgin rainforest that once dominated the territories of southern Nigeria for its entirety, Okomu National Park can be found wedged between the endless mangroves crashing into the Atlantic Ocean and in the streets of Benin City.

Unspoiled and underdeveloped, the remoteness of the place has allowed it to become a refuge for some of the rarest creatures in the country, such as the pangolin, chimpanzees, leopards and even forest elephants.

There is still a smattering of rustic tribal villages still here, where visitors can stumble upon the ancient way of Nigerian country life.

14. Benin City

Located just a little east of the aforementioned Okomu National Park reserves, Benin City is not only a great place to launch your explorations through the wilds of southern Nigeria, but also an interesting industrial city and lived with a lot of history of her own.

In fact, the city was once the center of the Benin Empire, back when it was called Edo, and thrived with the creation of architectural feats such as the old palace of Oba - still visible in the center.

There are also charming outdoor bronze workshops along bustling Igun Street to see, along with a branch of the National Museum.

15. Edumanom National Forest

Edumanom National Forest

The large mass of greenery that covers the final part of the Niger River, this delta forest is home to one of Nigeria's most incredible biodiversity displays.

It is driven by the presence of some of the largest chimpanzee colonies left in the world, patrolling the freshwater swamps and verdant peaks, howling through the wilderness as they go.

It is also a home for the rare Niger Delta colobus and other primates that are worth seeing.

Thanks to its remote location, traveling here won't be easy, but the unexplored undergrowth and wilderness may be worth it!