Nigeria Safari Tours & Holidays
Located along the Gulf of Guinea in West Africa, Nigeria is rich with unique natural structures and wildlife reserves. The country is often a Safari destination for many visitors and people scramble to visit the many waterfalls, Savannah landscapes and rain forests the country has to offer. With the official language of English and the largest population of any country in Africa, Nigeria is full to the brim with beautiful natural wonders and cultural sights rich in history.
Abuja is a planned city and is relatively affluent. It was built from scratch in the 1980s and became the nation’s capital in 1991. It’s the centre of government and home to foreign embassies, diplomats and businesses.
Overflowing with art and music, as well as nature reserves that are swollen with grand wildlife, Nigeria has the special power of feeling alive even if you find yourself in a quiet location. There are life and energy everywhere you go.
Though Nigeria offers lush and spectacular scenery for tourists, due to the political unrest and cultural instability in some areas there are often travel warnings put in place by the US Department of State. For safety reasons, be sure to spend time researching and understanding what is going on in the country before venturing there.
How to get to Nigeria
Murtala Muhammed International Airport
Murtala Muhammed International Airport is an international airport located in Ikeja, Lagos State, Nigeria, and is the major airport serving the entire state of many airlines like British airlines, United Airlines.
Other international airports include
Margaret Ekpo International Airport
The Airport was built by the Imo State Government and handed over to the Federal Government of Nigeria under the management of FAAN.
The Akanu Ibiam International Airport
The Akanu Ibiam International Airport is located in Enugu, reputed as the ‘coal city’ alluding to the days of old when it was the centre of a flourishing coal mining industry.
The Port Harcourt International Airport
The Port Harcourt International Airport, PHIA, allows direct air connections between the country and major destinations around the world, especially to and from Western countries.
Mallam Aminu Kano International airport
The remodelled Mallam Aminu Kano International airport was remodelled and commissioned on March 15, 2015, by HRH, Emir of Kano, and Sanusi Lamido Sanusi on March 15, 2013.
Passport, Visa and Entry requirements for Nigeria
A passport valid for six months, a visa, and proof of Polio and Yellow Fever vaccinations are required to enter Nigeria. You must obtain your Nigerian visa from a Nigerian embassy or consulate in advance of your travel.
Foreign nationals who are not citizens of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) need to apply for a visa to enter Nigeria. This can be obtained at Nigerian embassies, high commissions and consulates worldwide.
The health sector of Nigeria
The Nigerian health care system is poorly developed and has suffered several backdrops, especially at the Local Government Levels. No adequate and functional surveillance systems are developed and hence no tracking system to monitor the outbreak of communicable diseases, bioterrorism, chemical poisoning, etc.
While travelling to Nigeria extra health caution is required and you must purchase travel and medical insurance.
Malaria and Yellow fever vaccination for Nigeria
Travellers to Nigeria are also required to vaccinate themselves against yellow fever, preferably 10 days before arrival in Nigeria. As malaria is prevalent, malaria pills and mosquito nets are also recommended. Polio vaccination in Nigeria is intermittent and there is currently a high rate of infection in the north of the country.
Currency of Nigeria
Naira is the official currency of Nigeria. The naira is divided into 100 kobos. The naira was introduced in 1973 when the country decimalized its monetary system and substituted the naira for the Nigerian pound (the country used the British pound sterling when it was a British colony), which was divided into shillings.
Official Language of Nigeria
One of the official languages in Nigeria is English. However, while this may sound reassuring, only upper and middle-class people in the cities actually speak it outside of a formal environment, though most citizens have a good understanding of English. The national lingua franca is Nigerian pidgin, an English-based creole language spoken by 75 million people as a second language and by 3-5 million people as a native language, mostly in the Niger Delta.
Best time to travel to Nigeria
The best time to go to Nigeria is during the Nov-Jan dry season. This is a huge country, however, and the climate varies hugely by latitude as well as altitude; the arid Sahel in the north sees little rainfall, beginning in Apr, whereas in the humid south the rains can start as early as Mar or even Feb.
What to wear in Nigeria
In Nigeria, casual wear is fine – tempered with the advice that in Muslim areas (including the coast) shorts and t-shirts can be frowned upon. During the day it is hot so pack lightweight layers in natural fabrics, such as linen, cotton and bamboo that will keep you cool and are easier to wash and dry.
What to bring while travelling to Nigeria
- Basic medical kit
- Malaria pills and deterrent spray
- Sunhat sunscreen
- Good walking boots for hikes and muddy trails
- Umbrella for the tropical downpour
- Good torch for an electricity blackout
- Basic phone with sim card
- A water bottle to carry safe drinking water
- Photocopy of your passport
Car hire and driving in Nigeria
Self-driving for short-term visitors unfamiliar with the roads, especially in Lagos, is by no means advisable and could actually be quite foolish if not dangerous. With crime on the rise, you could easily wander into an area or a roadblock set by local gangs. If you choose to rent a car, it will come with a driver familiar with the area and style of driving, which is a much easier and safer option.
Accommodation in Nigeria
Nigeria has a wide variety of hotels that cater to different tastes. Hotel chains like the Best Western, Radisson, Hilton, Mariott and Sheraton have several branches around the country. Local Hotels which offer an indigenous touch are also present.
Local food of Nigeria
Nigeria has one of the best cuisines in the world, which comprises dishes or food items obtained from the numerous ethnic groups that make up the country. Nigerian cuisine like those of other West African countries such as Ghana and the Benin Republic contains spices and herbs alongside palm or groundnut oil to produce deeply-flavoured sauces and soups with an enticing aroma.
This is one of the most popular foods in Nigeria and is eaten in every part of the country. You may wonder what it is that can be so highly rated and it will shock you to know that it is simply rice prepared with tomato, onion, pepper, and some other spices.
It is sometimes served with vegetables, chicken or beef and fried fish. This dish is not only popular in Nigeria but also in some other West African countries such as Ghana.
Garri can then be used to prepare Eba simply by adding hot water into a bowl containing the desired quantity of garri granules. Eba can be eaten with any Nigerian soup such as Egusi soup, Okro soup, Banga soup, Afang soup, etc.
Tipping while Travelling in Nigeria
Tipping In restaurants, a 10% tip is adequate if a service charge hasn’t already been added. Negotiate taxi fares before embarking on a journey; remember that fares are usually increased for tourists so tipping isn’t necessary. Porters should be tipped accordingly.
Further information for Nigeria
Many foreign governments advise against travel to much of Northern Nigeria (most especially the Northeast) due to ethnic tension, lawlessness and the current activities of murderous Islamist groups such as Boko Haram. Church-goers should not form in groups that are too large due to suicide bombings and alcohol consumption should not be done in public. You may encounter jihadist groups in the regions of Borno, Kaduna, Bauchi, Yobe and Kano.
Safety of Nigeria
Avoid non-essential travel to Nigeria on your own please ensure booking services with a tour operator due to the unpredictable security situation throughout the country and the significant risk of terrorism, crime, inter-communal clashes, armed attacks and kidnappings.
NATIONAL PARKS
| Chad Basin National Park |
| Cross River National Park |
| Gashaka-Gumti National Park |
| Kainji National Park |
| Kamuku National Park |
| Okomu National Park |
| Old Oyo National Park |
| Yankari National Park |
FAUNA & FLORA
| Wildlife |
| Birds |
| Vegetation |
POPULAR SAFARIS
| 4 Days Kainji Lake National Park Safari |
| 5 Days Nigeria Cultural Tour from Abuja |
| 5 Days Nigeria Cultural Tour from Lagos |
| 6 Days Nigeria Cross river Gorilla Safari |
| 8 Days Budget Nigeria Gorilla Safari |
OTHER TOURISTS ATTRACTIONS
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