Nigeria
Lagos is overwhelming, exhausting and the cultural capital of Africa
Population
237m people
Currency
Nigerian Naira
Main Language
English
best time to visit
November – March
Climate
Tropical south, arid Sahel north, rainy season April-October
Visa
Visa required in advance for most visitors; check advisories as several regions carry warnings
Country overview
Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa by a wide margin and produces a cultural output to match: Nollywood is among the largest film industries in the world by volume, Afrobeats has gone global, and Nigerian writers dominate contemporary African literature. It is also a country where travel advice varies sharply by region, with several northern and delta states carrying advisories against all travel.
Lagos is the centre of gravity. It is enormous, loud, entrepreneurial and exhausting, with traffic that is genuinely legendary and a nightlife and art scene that justifies the effort. Nike Art Gallery, the Lekki conservation centre canopy walk and the beaches on the islands off the lagoon are the standard introductions.
Elsewhere, Calabar hosts the biggest street party in Africa, Yankari has Nigeria best wildlife and warm springs, and the Osun-Osogbo sacred grove is a UNESCO site of shrines and sculptures along a river. Nigeria is not set up for casual tourism and requires more planning than most, but the reward is a country nothing prepares you for.
Annual events and festivals
- Calabar Carnival (Dec) — billed as Africa biggest street party, running through most of December.
- Eyo Festival, Lagos (varies) — white-robed masquerades process through Lagos Island. Held only for significant occasions.
- Osun-Osogbo (Aug) — a two-week festival for the river goddess at the UNESCO-listed sacred grove.
- Durbar (Eid, varies) — horsemen in full regalia parade before emirs in Kano, Katsina and Zaria.
- Argungu Fishing Festival (Feb-Mar) — thousands enter a river at once with hand nets. Suspended for years, now revived.
- New Yam Festival (Aug-Oct) — Igbo communities mark the harvest with masquerades and feasting.
- Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha (varies) — public holidays with a large Muslim population in the north.
- Independence Day (1 Oct) — marks 1960 independence from Britain.
- Lagos International Jazz Festival (Apr) — a growing event in a city with deep musical roots.
- Ojude Oba, Ijebu-Ode (Eid week) — families and age groups parade before the king in extraordinary dress.
Nigeria Travel Guides
Nigeria guides are coming soon.