15 Places to visit in Nigeria

15 PLACES TO VISIT IN NIGERIA

Best Places to Visit in Nigeria

Nigeria is one of the most beautiful countries in Africa. The land is very rich in natural resources like trees and lush vegetation. As for the people, they are very welcoming of visitors coming from all over the globe. Their culture is also one of their proudest possessions – everywhere you look, you will see natives wearing their tribal clothing and they will flash you that big smile. To know more about what to see in Nigeria, here is a Nigeria travel guide. Enjoy!

1. Lagos Island

This island lies in the Lagos Lagoon and it is one of the places to visit in Nigeria. You can reach Lagos Island by using three large bridges that connect to the mainland. The three bridges lead to different districts. The first one leads to Ebute Metta, another to Victoria Island and lastly, one leads to Ikoyi. It also caters to different kinds of faith as it has Catholic and Anglican Churches and even Muslim Mosques. One thing you should note is that most banks in Nigeria have their HQ’s here in Lagos Island.

2. Oguta Lake

Visit the South eastern part of Nigeria and you’ll see this beautiful Oguta Lake. This is the largest lake in the Imo state that has alluvium, a component needed for better fertile lands. Situated in Oguta, this lake is five miles long. However, the lake is not only famous as a tourist spot. Locals of Oguta also use it for fishing, the water for various reasons, for their sewerage needs and for travelers like you who wants to take lake pictures. People here believe that a certain Goddess called Uhamiri guards the lake.

3. Nigerian National Museum

Museums are great sources of history and knowledge. This is why the magnificent Nigerian National Museum is situated in Lagos. Built in 1957, it can teach people of any nationality the history and culture of Nigeria. You will be able to witness the Terra-Cotta head more known as the Jemaa head. You will also see statues, carvings, and exhibits on the ethnographic abilities of the Nigerians. Many archaeological displays also are in the museum. See all the exhibits at Onikan, Lagos Island, where the museum is located.

4. Old Oyo National Park

You can visit this gorgeous national park which is 51 miles north of the city of Ibadan. You’ll be able to enjoy the vast 970 square miles of the part which is a combination of forest reserve, game reserve, and with a unique ecosystem that contributed to the declaration of this place being a national park. This destination is among of the places to visit in Nigeria since you will see creatures like the rock python and land tortoise here at Old Oyo National Park. You’ll never run out of tourist sights to see here. Even cultural monuments like the great Agbaku Cave, the Akesan Market, and the Alaafin’s Palace are also located within this national park.

5. Kainji National Park

This is another national park in Nigeria. The Kainji National Park is part of the Kainji Lake. However, fishing is not allowed here. You can reach this place by going travelling northeast. Do wear light clothing when you get here as it can be really hot when the sun is high. This national park has bucks going around the place and if you’re lucky, the elephants come back to this are which happens only every 24 months. Hippopotamuses also roam the rivers which makes the place more enchanting for visitors.

6. Lake Chad

Lake Chad has a number of countries that surround it namely, Chad, Cameroon, Niger, and Nigeria. When you visit this place, you’ll see that this is the largest lake in the Chad Basin. The lake used to be a very big lake but has since degenerated into a smaller body of water. This is the lake that spawns many wild Spirulina which is a rumored to be wonder algae. The lake has many floating islands too where land animals such as hyenas and elephants also live.

7. Kamuku National Park

The Kamuku National Park has great lush vegetation that allows a variety of animals to live in it. If you ever try to visit this place, you’ll lose yourself looking for green monkeys, baboons, hartebeests, elephants, roan antelopes and so much more. Birds like the secretary bird and ground hornbills may also be spotted in this national park. Visiting this place entitles you to explore its 1,120 square kilometer area that is mostly savannah. It is one of the places to visit in Nigeria.

8. Victoria Island

If you want to see a more developed part of the country, you can visit Victoria Island. It is the business and financial center of Lagos, Nigeria. You can go here and expect the city to be as busy as New York. As such, it is one of the most expensive places to live in Nigeria. Many international companies already have taken office in the island. You’ll see the offices of HP or Hewlett-Packard, IBM, and even Halliburton. Tourists are also welcome to visit the British International School of Lagos.

9. Gashaka-Gumti National Park

Imagine being in a park that is more than 6,000 square kilometers. This is the Gashaka-Gumti National Park and it is the largest park in all of Nigeria. The park has swamps, woodlands, savannahs, grasslands and a vast variety of ecosystems. As this place has a rich variety of wildlife, you can see the animals like the giant forest hog, the golden cats, and leopards. Look further and you’ll see the world’s largest antelope which is named the Giant Eland. Gangirwal, the highest mountain in Nigeria, is also within this park. It measures 2,400 meters above sea level.

10. Abuja National Mosque

The Abuja National Mosque represents how diversified the faith is in Nigeria. Built in the 1980’s, it has a great hall that can sit 500 people at once. The mosque also has a golden dome and it is sure to catch the eyes of travellers and locals, alike. You can also learn in the religious school that is incorporated in the mosque – it is called a Madrasah. It also has a library dedicated to Islam, perfect for learning the religion’s rich history and growth. You can visit this place at the National Christian Center complex. Pretty ironic, don’t you think?

11. Chad Basin National Park

Northeast of the country is the Chad Basin National Park – it is one of the places to visit in Nigeria. The 2,258 square kilometer area of the park is divided into three sectors. The first sector is the Borno State. There is also one in the Yobe State, and finally, one in Nigeria. Each sector caters to different attractions. However, this place can be visited only with the help of off-road vehicles. You can watch the black crowned crane and there are some white storks here. Migrating elephants can also be spotted at time. Local and international authorities are definitely against poaching here.

12. Cross River National Park

One can spot this national park at Cross River Estate. The Cross River National Park is divided into two sections: the Okwangwo and the Oban. This enormous park is home to many species and is hailed as a hotspot for biodiversity. If you visit the oldest rainforest in the country, you’ll be able to see cross river gorilla and chimpanzees. What’s more is that this is hailed as the Pride of Nigeria. Be in awe of sights like the Kwa Falls, the Agbpkim falls, and a deep plunge pool previously hidden from sight.

13. Zuma Rock

Forget about colored marbles and check out this great monolith in Nigeria. Amazingly, this monolith named Zuma Rock is 725 feet and one remarkable thing about it is that Zuma Rock has been used for defense in ancient wars. Many myths have come and gone because of this monolith’s face-like formation – it’s up to you to believe it or not. You just have to go up north in Abuja and you’ll be able to see this magnificent wall rock.

14. Olumo Rock

The Olumo Rock is a very popular tourist attraction in Nigeria. You just have to travel by car and spend a few hours on the road before you can reach this place. This rock is situated 137 meters above sea level and the locals are very friendly. They will tell and share stories with you. Some will even show you different dyeing techniques. Locals call this dyeing technique as “Adire.” You will also see beads, bracelets, and other accessories made by locals. The trip usually consists of you climbing up to the peak which is mostly man-carved rocks

15. Yankari National Park

The Yankari National Park spans over 2, 244 square kilometers of land. You can see savannahs, swamps, grasslands and mostly thick bushes. Because of the rich environments and varied ecosystems, you’ll witness different animals roaming around, as well. This includes the African bush elephant, waterbuck, bushbuck, tantalus monkeys and a whole lot more. In addition, you can also see different evidences of early human settlements in the Dukkey Wells, Marshall Caves, which is a rock called Tunge Dutse that has engravings, and some Iron Smeltings in the Shau Shau smelting works. It is definitely one of the places to visit in Nigeria