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Tourism In Nigeria

Table of Contents
● Basic Facts For Tourists
● Tourist Attractions

Basic Facts a Tourist Should Know About Nigeria

Visa Requirements:
Visas are required for all visitors going to Nigeria excluding ECOWAS citizens. Obtaining a Nigerian visa requires an applicant to present a valid passport. Applicants also need to show current international certificates of vaccination against yellow fever and cholera.

Health:
● Immunization : Nigerian law requires every tourist to have vaccinations against yellow fever and cholera in order to enter the country. This is extremely important since the consequence of not having documented yellow fever and cholera vaccinations could lead to a tourist being denied entry at the airport.
● Malaria : Nigeria is a tropical country and therefore, it is necessary to protect against malaria. The most commonly recommended drug for use in Nigeria is Chloroquine Phosphate.

Time:
Nigeria is one hour of GMT, meaning that during daylight savings, it would be 12:00noon in London, 1:00pm in Nigeria and 8:00am in New York.

Currency:
The Nigerian unit of currency is the Naira, with notes issued in 5, 10, 20 and 50, 100, 200 and 500 Naira denominations. Visitors may bring unlimited amounts of foreign currency, provided a declaration of such currency is made to the customs agency at the port of entry. Foreign currency may be changed only at banks and authorized money-changers.

Customs:
Visitors to Nigeria are allowed up to four litres of alcoholic beverages and 200 cigarettes duty free. Personal effects are also allowed duty free. Visitors may export souvenirs, although some articles (e.g. animal skins and antiques ) require an export permit. Illegal drugs of al descriptions are not allowed into Nigeria.

Photographs:
Tourists are allowed to take photographs, but for security reasons, some installations such as military bases, airports, power stations, broadcasting stations and the President's Residence may not be photographed.

Electricity:
The main voltage in Nigeria is 220 volts, however most hotels have outlets for 110 volts electric shavers. Visitors who travel with other electrical equipment designed for 110 volts should also have a converter.

TOURIST ATTRACTIONS
Nigeria abounds with diverse and compelling tourist attractions. Its many ecological zones provide a wide range of unique cultural heritage-based tourist sights that visitors will find interesting and captivating. Attractions include beaches, game parks, waterfalls, museums, historical relics, cultural festivals, traditional music and dances. Other attractions include traditional ways of life preserved in local customs, rich and varied handicrafts and colorful products depicting indigenous arts and lifestyle. Nigerians are renowned for their warmth and hospitality. Their legendary kindness and accommodating nature ensures that visitors always feel at home in Nigeria. The following are just some of the popular tourist attractions:

● Yankari National Park
● Mambilla Plateau
● Gashaka-Gumti National Park
● Obudu Ranch
● Cross River National Park
● Chad Basin National Park
● Old Oyo National Park
● Ikogosi Warm Springs
● Owu Falls
● Gurara Water Fall
● Olumo Rock
● Aso Rock and Cave
● Strabag Hill
● National Museum, Onikan
● National Museum, Umuahia
● Kano Dye Pits
● Leather Work

● FESTIVALS

Yankari National Park:
The Yankari National Park is the premier games reserve in Nigeria. The Yankari Park and associated Wikki Warm Springs are located around the Gagi River in Bauchi State. The park is rich in ethno-historical and archeological attractions, while its magnificent beauty and size makes it one of the most popular reserves in Nigeria. Its 2,058 sq. km. of savannah woodland hosts a variety of wild animals, reptiles and exotic tropical birds. Yankari Park is ideal for bird watchers. The Wikki Warm Springs , a natural warm spring , is a haven for nature lovers. Facilities the Park offers include lawn tennis courts, squash courts, a museum, convenience stores and accommodation set in traditional Nigerian architecture with catering facilities which provide the very best of Nigerian and European cuisine.
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Mambilla Plateau:
The Mambilla Plateau is in the south-east of Taraba State, bordering Cameroon. Its luxuriant grassland plateau approximating 1800 meters, boasts of a cool Park in striking and attractive settings along with soothing, congenial weather conditions. Cattle ranches, tea plantations and rolling grassy hills dot the landscape. It is distinctly different from the rest of Nigeria with regard to its unique flora and fauna and it is home to some rare species of birds and animals.
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Gashaka-Gumti National Park:
Gashaka-Gumti National Park is a vast land of spectacular wilderness in the south-east of Taraba State, adjoining the Mambilla Plateau. Dominated by mountain, valley and streams, it hosts Nigeria's highest mountain, Chapal Waddi, which is 2,409 meters high. It is the most ecologically diverse area in the country with swaths of guinea savannah, gallery forest, moist forest, mountain forest and grassland. Many rivers flow through the park. It is excellent for fishing and bird watching and is home to some endangered species of wildlife. The Park has rest houses which provide self-catering accommodation. To fully enjoy the park's exceptional beauty, it is best explored by foot. It is possible to hire guides and porters for a modest fee.
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Obudu Ranch:
Obudu Ranch is a popular holiday destination for adventurous tourists wishing to explore the richness of Nigeria's hinterland. Situated in the northeast of Cross River State, the 5,200 feet Obudu Plateau spreads over an area of 40 sq. miles. It is blessed with cool, congenial climatic conditions, picturesque landscape, lush grassland, deep-wooded valleys and spectacular waterfalls. The ranch is perfect for hiking. The gorilla camp, magnificent waterfall and captivating scenery make Obudu Ranch an unforgettable holiday destination. Recreational activities at the ranch include horse riding, golf, lawn tennis, badminton and squash. The Ranch offers accommodations with modern amenities, a restaurant that provides excellent cuisine and friendly staff. ^Back Up

Cross River National Park:
The Cross River National Park in the forest belt of southeastern Nigeria. Its famous and unique rain forest vegetation contains the last vestiges of the rain forest ecosystem in the country, which is preserved with the help of the Nigerian Conservation Foundation. The park is also an excellent place to watch birds and butterflies and boasts of over one thousand animal species. These include forest elephants, the white-faced monkey which is indigenous to Nigeria only, buffalos, leopards and lowland gorillas. ^Back Up

Chad Basin National Park:
The Chad Basin National Park, in the North East of Nigeria, hosts the wetlands of Bade and Nguru, which are internationally acclaimed as congregation sites for migrant birds coming from Europe. It is also home to some rare desert wildlife. The Park played host to Prince Bernard of Netherlands in 1987 and Prince Philip of Great Britain in 1989.
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Old Oyo National Park:
Old Oyo National Park in the northern part of Oyo State is in the middle of a vibrant community, rich in traditional and cultural heritage. Its attractions include a wide variety of flora and fauna, fishing and boat cruises.
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Ikogosi Warm Springs:
Ikogosi Warm Springs is in Ekiti State. The warm and cold springs both flowing from adjoining hills, merge into one continuous stream. There is an interesting zoological garden close by and its breathtaking undulating landscape and impressive scenery makes it a splendid relaxation venue.
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Owu Falls:
Owu Falls, located by the Ilorin-Lokoja road in Kwara State, is an enthralling and fascinating waterfall, with a thundering precipice of 400 meters downhill.
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Gurara Water Fall:
Gurara Water Fall on the Suleja-Minna road, 100km from Abuja, is one of the nation's picturesque picnic destinations.
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Olumo Rock:
Olumo Rock in Abeokuta, the capital of Ogun State, is rich in historical lore as rocks used by the local people, the Egbas, as sanctuary from enemies during the inter-ethnic wars of the late and early 18th and 19th centuries. The rock is worshipped by many Egbas. Climbing the rocks and the complex caves that surround it is a fascinating experience. Guided tours are conducted for a token fee.
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Aso Rock and Cave:
Aso Rock is the largest rock outcrop within the Abuja metropolis with a height of 936 meters above sea level which dominates the landscape of the Capital City, strategically overlooking the nerve center of the Nigerian Government, notably the National Assembly, the Supreme Court and the Presidential Villa. Aso means victory in the local Gbagyi dialect. It is therefore not surprising that the rock, which has become synonymous with the nation's seat of power, is a symbol of strength, power and success. The rock has some caves within its structure which can be explored by tourists with the permission of the local priest. In the days of the inter-ethnic wars, the Aso people found refuge in the caves.
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Strabag Hill:
Strabag Hill is in the geographical centre of Nigeria. The hill has become a popular tourist spot offering a stunning panoramic view of Abuja, especially at dawn and dusk.
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National Museum, Onikan:
The imposing and majestic interior of the National Museum at Onikan in Lagos State provides one of the largest collection of art and artifacts in Nigeria. The museum is a trove of knowledge for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of African art and the rich cultural heritage of Nigeria, with artifacts dating from 500BC to 200 AD. The Museum retraces the development of various cultures through centuries of Nigerian history. The edifice, which is operated by the National Commission for Museums and Monuments, like others in Benin, Jos, Ife, Kano and Kaduna, consistently draws thousands of tourists and historians each year to view its rich collections.
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National Museum, Umuahia:
The National Museum in Umuahia, Abia State was established after the Nigerian Civil War to serve as a repository of historical relics of the sad era in Nigeria's history. Today, the museum hosts relics of the civil war such as Biafra radio station, Ojukwu Bunker, Ogbunigwe (a locally manufactured bomb) as well as relics from other historical civil disturbances such as Aba Women Riot, Enugu Coal Mine Riots, the Niger Delta Riot and Maitasine religious disturbances.
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Kano Dye Pits:
The Kano indigo-vegetable dye pits in Kano State are one of the most fascinating aspects of this ancient city. The intricate designs and techniques employed to achieve the shiny, iridescent appearance are unmatched around the world. Although the methods used are ancient, these impressive work of art on fabric always remains extremely popular and continue to be in high demand.
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Leather Work:
Unique hand-made crafts can be found in every state in Nigeria. This makes the country a veritable treasure trove of beautiful hand-made crafts. Drawing from ancient traditions, Nigerian artisans create magnificent wood carvings, metal castings, exotic jewelry, traditional clothing, intricately decorated calabashes and finely-crafted leatherwork. Visitors are amazed at the quality and value of these exceptional creations, each made with a perfectionist's skill and attention to detail.
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