Nigeria, an African country on the Gulf of Guinea, is filled with natural landmarks and wildlife reserves that will keep a tourist occupied for weeks. We pick some must see places:
Yankari National Park
Yankari National Park
Picture: Naijagist.com
Yankari National Park, recognised as having one of the largest populations of elephants in West Africa, is a wildlife park located in the south-central part of Bauchi State, in northeastern Nigeria. Covering around 2,244 square kilometres, the park is home to the buffalo, lion, waterbuck and hippopotatomus. The park, originally a game reserve, is known for their warm natural water springs. Eco tourists can be rest assured that it plays a crucial role in the development and promotion of tourism and ecotourism in Nigeria.
Lake Chad
Lake Chad. Picture: Ventures Africa
A visit to Nigeria is not complete without going to Lake Chad. The lake is a large, shallow lake in Africa. According to the Global Resource Information Database of the United Nations Environment Programme, it shrank by as much as 95% from 1963 to 1998, but "the 2007 (satellite) image shows significant improvement over previous years.” The lake also provides water to four countries, including Chad, Cameroon, Niger and Nigeria. The scenery is great for great pictures.
Zuma Rock
Zuma Rock. Picture: flickr/ Jeff Attaway
Zuma Rock is a large monolith located in Niger State, Nigeria. Tourists who visit often see a face when close. The eyes, mouth and nose shown through engravings. It is just north of Nigeria's capital Abuja, along the main road from Abuja to Kaduna. Zuma Rock represents a beautiful and unique natural work of rock formation. It is a great spot for picnicking and family time. One would recognise Zuma’s Rock on the 100 naira bill. There are talks of building a hotel near the rock.
Balogun Market
Balogun Market. Picture: Hotels.ng
The market is located on Lagos Island offering an array of fashion, from fabrics and shoes. The market go across many streets on the island so one can get their fashion fix at nearly every corner.
Although more of an accommodation venue, Kajuru Castle has historical significance. The exclusive villa has a guest tower of 4 bedrooms (`dungeons`), a central building with authentic knights` hall and a master suite (landlord`s residence`) as well as a dragon tower well guarded by our `dragons`. It’s quirky and a must see.