Best 9 things to do in Nigeria

Last updated July 21st, 2023.

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Nigeria and tourism are not two words that are normally brought together. However, as the most populous nation in Africa, this country has no shortage of attractions for the curious. Be aware of the latest safety advice, and you too can take in the best 9 things to do in Nigeria.

1. Delve into throbbing Lagos

It may no longer be the national capital, but Lagos is still at the heart of everything it means to be Nigerian.

Spread across several natural and man-made islands, the traffic is notorious and air quality not much better. But look beyond the obvious faults, and you’ll find a city that has more than its fair share of charm.

Whether it’s the boutique stores and nightclubs of high-end Victoria Island, or the winding streets of central Lagos, there’s plenty to experience.

One of my favourite finds was Freedom Park, created behind the high walls of a colonial-era prison.  It’s a very welcome area of grass in this megalopolis, while other treasures include the Oba’s Palace and Cathedral Church.

Kayaking among Lagos’ islands must be one of the most unique ways of exploring.

2. Discover the Benin bronzes

Don’t be tricked into thinking the Benin bronzes come from Nigeria’s western neighbour. They belong firmly in the history, heritage, and culture of Nigeria.

There is an obvious reason why so many of the Benin bronzes are displayed in pride of place in the world’s most important museums.

And that’s because these decorative plaques and sculptures are some of the finest bronze work ever created.

In fact, the British were so astounded when they discovered them in 1897, that they reasoned they must have been created by long-forgotten European traders rather than local craftsman.

There are still enough bronzes in the country to make booking a hotel in Benin City worthwhile. They’re housed in the Benin City National Museum, if you can make it beyond the five lanes of traffic which ring it.

It’s also possible to witness the lost wax method of their production. Just head to Brass Casters Street, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The resulting bronzes, big and small, make perfect souvenirs from Nigeria too.

3. Go on a primate trek

When it comes to gorilla spotting, it’s east Africa that takes much of the glory (and tourist cash). However, these majestic creatures live in Nigeria’s Cross River National Park too. And they’re unique enough to belong to their own subspecies – the Cross River gorilla.

Consisting of two sections, Cross River National Park covers 4,000 square kilometres of central African rainforest and mangrove swamp.

It protects what is thought to be one of the oldest jungles in Africa still in existence. The par offers the chance for visitors to see the Cross River gorilla in its natural habitat. But you’ll also have the chance to see chimpanzee, drill, and forest elephant.

4. Learn about the transatlantic slave trade

Nigeria was not immune to the destruction of more than 200 years resulting from the European trade in human beings.

The history of this time can be uncovered in detail on the ground in Badagry. A port in western Nigeria, it was the departure point for tens of thousands of souls destined for the New World.

Make it beyond the fiercesome road blocks that pop up after the border with Benin (the country not the city), and you’ll find a whole series of links to the trade.

They include Badagry Heritage Museum and Slave Museum, which together have a huge range of fascinating objects from the period. It’s also possible to explore the slave port itself. Situated on the Atlantic on the opposite side of a lagoon stretching all the way to Lake Nokoue in Benin, it features a poignant Point of No Return.

5. Meet with royalty

Since it was formed from individual city-states such as Badagry and Lagos, Nigeria has no shortage of royal families.

An exiled prince from Ikoneto near Calabar lived a few doors down from me as a kid in south London, while a boy in my chemistry A level class also proudly declared his royal heritage.

These families continue to play an important role in Nigerian society. The most significant figure is probably the emir of Kano, in the Islamic north of the country.

Governing over four million people, his realm is one of seven Hausa kingdoms. It lies on an important trans-Saharan trade route. This helped enhance the culture and education of this part of the country.

The Old City of Kano lies mainly intact, and contains sights including the Emir’s Palace, indigo dye pits, and Great Mosque. Being in the presence of the Emir is a great honour, and one not to turn down, even if it means heading to the market for some smarter clothes…

6. Find Biafra on a map

The green, white and green horizontal stripes of the national flag in Calabar are so large you couldn’t mistake the city for anything but a metropolis under Nigerian jurisdiction.

Yet for a few years in the late 1960s, Calabar was a principal city in the breakaway Republic of Biafra. Its declaration of independence came from disaffection of the Igbo people with the central government, dominated by the Yoruba. It led to the Nigeria Civil War, killing an estimated two million civilians.

The city’s informative Governor’s Residence Museum is part of the National Museum, like that in Benin City. There’s another worthy addition in Lagos. Calabar’s museum does an excellent job at explaining how the war came about without supporting one side or the other.

Nearby, you’ll also find the Botanic Gardens, which together with a handful of other public spaces, makes Calabar one of Nigeria’s greenest cities.

7. Wander the capital’s clean streets

Specifically located at the geographic centre of the country, Abuja was made national capital in December 1991.

One of Africa’s few planned capitals, Abuja is a dramatic contrast to Lagos, the former capital. Spaciously and neatly laid out, it feels very much part of the surrounding environment.

Landmarks including the Supreme Court building, National Mosque and National Christian Centre can be admired from afar from Aso and Zuma Rocks, for example.

These are two Uluru-like rock monoliths that rise up from the tree cover, making hiking trips popular with visitors. However, to get a true feeling for the city, you’ll want to spend time among the lawyers and diplomats who have their offices here as well.

8. Head out on safari

If Nigeria and tourism are odd bed fellows, then the idea of safaris in Nigeria must be out of this world.

There is at least one place in the country where it’s possible to come close to a traditional safari experience. That’s in Gashaka-Gumti National Park, the country’s largest.

Its northern portions are largely covered by savannah grassland. Its grasses play host to elephant, buffalo, and a long list of antelope species from giant eland to hartebeest.

To the south, the terrain becomes more mountainous, with woodland thought to be home to up to one million individual birds. The rarest is the red-faced lovebird, which lives only here and in Bamingui-Bangoran National Park in the Central African Republic.

9. Admire the architecture of Ibadan

An important powerbase for Nigeria’s Yoruba population, on independence from the United Kingdom in 1960 Ibadan was the second-largest city in all of Africa.

As a result, the city has an interesting range of architectural styles, starting with the remaining ancient city walls and stretching to Cocoa House, the first skyscraper in west Africa.

Many of the structures of the University of Ibadan demonstrate an asymmetrical mid-century style, while other structures of note include the lighthouse-like Bower Memorial Tower and British style Mapo Hall.

The city is also the location of the Trans Wonderland theme park, mentioned in the travelogue with a difference by Noo Saro-Wiwa.

Best 9 things to do in Nigeria

Nigeria is a captivating country of different cultures, landscapes and histories. Beyond its reputation as dangerous and corrupt, there are some of the region’s most important attractions. So if you’re tempted by the best 9 things to do in Nigeria, be sure you won’t be disappointed.