The Rough Guide to Nigeria
Nigeria, often referred to as “the Giant of Africa” due to its status as an economic powerhouse, is a true rough diamond. Outside of Lagos, you may well feel like you’re the only traveller out there, exploring a heretofore unseen part of the world. It has everything – known for being a font of culture as far back as 500 B.C., Nigeria has eons of history just ready for you to discover.
It’s also home to one of the most bustling cities on the planet. This isn’t so surprising when you realise that almost 1 in every 5 Africans is Nigerian, but Lagos is a megacity in every sense of the word, with an awe-inspiring arts and music scene that is quickly dominating the rest of the continent.
What are you after? Whether it’s a hectic city experience or an adventure in the wilderness, the nightlife or the cultural side of things, Nigeria has you covered.
Soak up the Vibe
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Lagos is packed with people and cars, but that’s all part of its insane charm. The hubbub, the hive of activity, the heat – it all adds up to a unique experience, something you can’t really replicate anywhere else. First stop is the Kalakuta Republic Museum, which was once the home of the legendary musical maverick, Fela Kuti. Nowadays, it’s more like a shrine; the revolutionary’s HQ has kept everything pristine, right the way down to his underwear.
For a whistle-stop tour of Nigeria’s history, head to the National Museum instead. Sadly, you can’t bring your cameras, but the sights are well worth seeing with your eyes. You can see the roughly 2500 year old Nok Terracottas, the incredible Benin Bronzes, and even the bullet-riddled Mercedes in which General Muhammed was assassinated.
If you’re after a bit of shopping with a twist, pop down to the seething market at Jankara, where you can stock up on everything from jewellery to juju potions!
Get Lost in the Wilderness
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Gashaka-Gumti is the largest national park in the country, spanning an incredible 1.7 million acres. Of all the places to see and things to do in Nigeria, this is arguably the most stunning. From mountainous forests to wide, open savannah, Gashaka-Gumti is full of truly spectacular sights.
It’s great for wildlife too – you don’t have to go all-in on the isolation! Here, you can see buffalo, elephants, lions and hippos, and it’s also a really important conservation area for primates. Go on a chimp tour to really make the most of it!
Teach a Man to Fish…
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Fancy something truly unique, something that you’ll remember for the rest of your life? Then head to Argungu in the middle of February, and take in the frantic frenzy of the Fishing Festival.
Seriously, this isn’t your average lazy-day swimming. There’s no sitting in a boat, drinking a beer and waiting for a bite. The three-day fest reaches a climax in its hour-long competition, with around 30,000 or so fishermen diving into the Malan Fada with no equipment save hand nets. The pair who manage to catch the largest fish in their hands will win a minibus and around £5000, meaning there’s some fierce competition.
And don’t think it’s small fry – 2004’s first prize went to nothing less than an 80kg catfish!
