Nigeria is the most populous and one of the most popular African Country. One can explore its historical landmarks, its diverse culture which live in harmony with nature. It also has a diverse wildlife and natural beauty waiting to be explored. This blog will be a perfect guide for your Nigeria Travel from the best food in Nigeria to ancient Benin city you will get to know all. We will also help you in getting Nigeria Travel Visa. So, let’s get started:
How to Enter Nigeria?
To explore this beautiful country, you need to file a Nigerian visa application unless you are from one of 17 African Nation “Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)” for whom Tourist Visa is exempted. Your visa application must be supported with a letter of invitation and a return ticket for the journey. Visa processing takes about two days. You could file your application online. Online visas called e-visas are also available. By getting Nigeria tourism visa also known as short visit visa you can easily explore upto 3 months in this country.
There are some Nigeria travel visa requirements that you should know:
- Invitation letter from host in Nigeria,
- Passport with atleast 6 months validity and 2 blank pages,
- Proof of Polio vaccination,
- Proof of Yellow fever vaccination,
- Round trip air ticket,
- Your photos and some other basic documents depending on country you are from.
Please check Nigeria Travel Advice before planning and going there. Done with the visa now let’s move further.
The favourite landing airport for tourists into Nigeria is the Lagos, Murtala Muhammed International Airport. Lagos Nigeria is also one of the major tourist attractions in Nigeria.
When and for How many days?
As a tourist you can maximum visit for 3 months at a time which is sufficient for exploring this beautiful country. However, if you want to visit of short time, visit for atleast 2-4 weeks. Best time to visit there is from late October to March. It’s dry season, beautiful weather and you can experience the refreshing nature and vibrant festivals of Nigeria country.
The first thing you need to get when you reach here is Nigeria currency. Present exchange rate is
1 USD = 1645 Nigerian Naira.
Accommodation
You need not to worry about stay during your Nigeria visit, all the major cities of Nigeria have different categories of stays you can book one as per your preference and budget. The first place you’ll be seeing in Nigeria is Lagos. So, for stay in Lagos, you need to search for best hostels in Lagos or hotels. You can book your stays or famous Nigeria resort from different online apps and website Hostelworld, booking.com, Jiji Nigeria etc. You can use these online platforms for booking your stay in Nigeria.
Now, let’s see all the Nigeria tourist spots that you should not miss:
Nigeria Places to Visit
Nigeria has over 400 hundred tribes which grouped her into 6
different geopolitical regions. As a tourist you will get a good experience of
Nigeria if you visit at least three of her geopolitical regions. Also,
Nigeria’s official language is English so, if you know English, language won’t
be a problem unless you visit some areas with less educated people.
Here are some of the top Nigeria
tourist sites that you should definitely visit:
1. Lagos
This is first place from where your journey in Nigeria will begin. So, after landing here go to your hostels in Lagos. Take some rest, get fresh from jet lag and get ready to explore.
Lagos is famous for its rich culture, bustling markets and lively nightclub scenes. There are many places to explore including the National Arts Theatre, National Museum, Victoria Island, Nike Art Gallery, Badagry Heritage Museum, Lagos Lagoon and its many beautiful beaches, like Tarkwa Bay Beach, Bar Beach, Badagry Beach and Landmark Beach. Explore these places at your own pace, it will give a good experience.
2. Akure
Akure is another city in southwest Nigeria anchored by its natural beauty. A tourist attraction in Akure is Idanre Hill and it is a gateway to some of Nigeria’s best landscapes and natural landmarks. Akure is home to top natural Nigeria attractions.
3. Abuja
Abuja capital city of Nigeria is one of the most popular Nigeria tourist destinations. For those who want to explore North Central region or start their trip from Abuja Nigeria can directly come to Abuja Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport. Sitting on the border on Zuma Rock, a magnificent natural igneous monolith that stands 980 feet tall, Abuja city attracts lots of travellers. The hills, public gardens, parks, Jabi Lake, Aso Rock and landscaped grounds of Abuja it is a must go place. In fact, Zuma Rock is itself a very important landmark to visit in Nigeria. While visiting Abuja you can extend your visit to the neighbouring states like Niger, Nasarawa and Kaduna states by road or rail.
4. Mambilla Plateau
Located in the Jos area of North Central region of Nigeria, journey to Mambilla Plateau will take you to breathtaking views of vast savannah lands, beautiful roads, hilly terrains, dairy farms and rivers. It is best suitable for people who loves hiking and you can come at any time of the year for hiking. If you have less time and want to explore some beautiful natural places in Nigeria at any time of the year then this is the place for you.
5. Port Harcourt
Port Harcourt City Nigeria or Pitakwa, famously known as “Garden City” is a beautiful city located on the bend in the Bonny River. It is known for vibrant nightlife, various night activities and entertainment scenes. Portharcourt city is also famous among tourists for its waterfront views, parks and beaches. For visiting here and South-South region, you can land at the Portharcourt International Airport (PHIA). Portharcourt Nigeria also has some of the most famous foodstuffs in Nigeria that you should try. Some famous Nigeria dish includes Bole, Native soup, Onunu etc. these are also traditional food in Nigeria.
6. Benin City
Benin City in Nigeria is another one of the famous Nigeria tourist places, that sits on the branch of the Benin River with a collection of enormous earthworks, some are made of bronze and dates back to 13th century.
7. Calabar
Calabar Nigeria is another beautiful South-South state. Tourists come to connect with nature at Kawa falls, Cross River National Park, Marina Beach etc. Tourists should also visit the slave History Museum, National Park, Obudu Mountain Resort, Afi Mountain Drill Sanctuary and the Bakor monoliths. Calabar is very famous for most popular food in Nigeria. These Nigeria delicacies is must try in Calabar – Afang Soup, Edikang-Ikong, Editan soup etc.
8. Enugu
City of South-East Region, Enugu in Nigeria has one of the most popular hiking areas in Milliken Hills, in Nigeria. It is filled with other natural wonders as well including Ngwo Pine forest, Ogbagada (75-foot waterfall), Ezeagu cave and many more. Yam and Agbugbu (FioFio) is must try type of food in Nigeria, particularly in Enugu.
Famous Food in Nigeria
Nigerias’ diverse ethnic groups mean diverse cuisines consisting of lots of dishes and food items. We have already discussed some of the must try Nigeria popular food like native soup, Edikang-Ikong etc. However, the most famous of all is a popular Nigeria traditional food – “Jollof Rice” you should definitely not miss this Nigeria meal.
Almost whole population of Nigeria is non-vegetarian. So, if you are a vegetarian or vegan, it will be difficult for you to find a veg or vegan restaurant. Still, you can find some veg or vegan restaurants in famous tourist places like all the places we just saw.
Try these diverse variety of food in Nigeria and explore all the wonderful places of this African Country to enjoy the most in your trip.
Until next time Keep travelling and take care of Nature.