Things to do in Nigeria

25 things to do in Nigeria

Listed in full below. The running order is set by votes and loads with the page.

• Watch wildlife at Yankari National Park

  Spot elephants, baboons and antelope at this sprawling savanna reserve, then cool off in the natural Wikki Warm Spring.

  Bauchi State

• Climb Olumo Rock in Abeokuta

  Scale this massive granite outcrop, a historic fortress of the Egba people, and enjoy panoramic views of the city.

  Abeokuta, Ogun State

• Seek blessings at the Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove

  Wander through the last sacred forest of the Yoruba, dotted with shrines and sculptures honouring the river goddess Osun.

  Osogbo, Osun State

• Gaze at Aso Rock from Millennium Park

  Admire Abuja’s iconic 400-metre monolith while strolling through the manicured lawns and terraces of the city’s largest public garden.

  Abuja

• Taste charcoal-grilled suya at Glover Court

  Join the late-night queue for spicy, skewered beef coated in yaji spice at this legendary Lagos street-food corner.

  Ikoyi, Lagos

• Party at the Calabar Carnival

  Watch Africa’s biggest street parade burst with colourful masquerades, music and dance bands on the streets of Calabar every December.

  Calabar, Cross River State

• Walk the canopy bridge at Lekki Conservation Centre

  Tiptoe along Africa’s longest canopy walkway, suspended high above a lush mangrove swamp alive with monkeys and tropical birds.

  Lekki, Lagos

• Trace the ancient Benin Moat

  Walk alongside the overgrown earthworks that once guarded the great Benin Kingdom, a colossal feat of pre-colonial engineering.

  Benin City, Edo State

• Boat to the quiet shores of Tarkwa Bay

  Escape the city buzz on a short motorised canoe ride to this sheltered beach, ideal for beginner surfing and seaside relaxation.

  Lagos Harbour

• Witness the Kano Durbar at the Emir’s Palace

  See thousands of colourfully robed horsemen charge in salute to the Emir during the spectacular Eid-el-Kabir procession.

  Kano

• Chase the seven tiers of Erin Ijesha Waterfall

  Hike up the cool, misty steps past seven cascading levels of the Olumirin Waterfalls, hidden in a rocky rainforest near Ilesa.

  Erin Ijesha, Osun State

• Stand at the Point of No Return in Badagry

  Confront the haunting history of the transatlantic slave trade on the sand where millions boarded ships bound for the Americas.

  Badagry, Lagos State

• Groove to Afrobeat at the New Afrika Shrine

  Experience a live music pilgrimage at Femi Kuti’s temple of Afrobeat, where the spirit of Fela Kuti still ignites the dance floor.

  Ikeja, Lagos

• Clamber up the Idanre Hills

  Conquer 682 steps to the ancient hilltop settlement, where iron-age relics, panoramic vistas and cool breezes reward your climb.

  Idanre, Ondo State

• Admire the majestic Zuma Rock

  See the natural granite monolith often called the 'Gateway to Abuja', its huge face sculpted by erosion and myth into a human-like visage.

  Madalla, Niger State (near Abuja)

• Soak in the confluence of Ikogosi Warm Springs

  Dip your feet where a warm spring and a cold spring flow side by side without mixing, in a serene valley surrounded by hills.

  Ikogosi, Ekiti State

• Peruse contemporary art at Nike Art Gallery

  Explore five storeys of vibrant Nigerian paintings, textiles and sculptures in this family-run gallery, a creative hub in Lagos.

  Lekki, Lagos

• Haggle for indigo-dyed fabric at Kurmi Market

  Lose yourself in this ancient Kano market’s narrow lanes, where artisans sell richly coloured hand-dyed cloth and leatherwork since the 15th century.

  Kano

• Admire Nok terracottas at Jos Museum

  Study exquisite 2,500-year-old terracotta figures and other archaeological treasures that reveal Nigeria’s earliest complex civilisation.

  Jos, Plateau State

• Ride the cable car to Obudu Mountain Resort

  Soar above the rolling green highlands of Cross River before landing at a cool-climate ranch with sweeping views of the Sankwala Mountains.

  Obudu, Cross River State

• Watch traditional dyeing at Kofar Mata pits

  Peer into centuries-old indigo dyeing vats where artisans still dip and beat fabric using methods unchanged since the days of trans-Saharan trade.

  Kofar Mata, Kano

• Cruise the creeks to Whispering Palms

  Drift through Badagry’s mangrove-lined waterways to this chilled waterfront resort with coconut groves and a small museum of slavery relics.

  Badagry, Lagos State

• Trek the windswept Mambilla Plateau

  Wander Nigeria’s highest plateau, where temperate grasslands meet deep gorges, and herds of cattle graze beneath endless skies.

  Mambilla Plateau, Taraba State

• Dance under the stars at Bogobiri House

  Slip into this bohemian Ikoyi guesthouse for a night of eclectic live jazz, spoken word and homemade cocktails in a lush secret garden.

  Ikoyi, Lagos

• Explore the Sukur Cultural Landscape

  Hike up to this remote hilltop kingdom in the Mandara Mountains, a UNESCO site where terraced fields and a chief’s palace preserve an ancient way of life.

  Sukur, Adamawa State