Things to do in Nigeria

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.