Nigeria

Flag of Nigeria

Situated in West Africa, Nigeria has many natural landmarks and wildlife reserves. National parks such as Cross River and Yankari have waterfalls, dense rainforest and savanna. One of the landmarks is Zuma Rock, a 725meter-tall monolith outside the capital of Abuja.

Useful info:

Currency: Nigerian Naira but US dollars are accepted widely.

Language: Though many other languages are spoken, but English is the official language.

Visa: Almost every nationality need a visa to Nigeria, for a tourist visa you need to arrange a letter of invitation. I got it from Consulate General of Nigeria in Dubai; the fee was 150 US $.

Climate: Nigeria has varied landscape resulting in diverse climate but with two distinct climates dry and wet. The dry season is November to March and the rainy season April to August.

Trivia: Nigeria is Africa’s biggest economy.

Food:

Inspired by dishes and food items from several of ethnic groups that comprise the country, Nigerian cuisine is varied, and meals are colourful and lavish. Nigerians love to use spices and herbs with palm or groundnut oil to make extraordinarily flavoured and spicy sauces and soups. Do try Jollof Rice and Akara which is deep fried bean cakes. I also suggest to try Sky Restaurant in Eko Hotel, it’s the highest restaurant in Lagos and offers a fantastic view of both the city and the Atlantic Ocean.

Transportation:

Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos is the primary airport serving the entire state. Though public transport is available, it is not recommended, better to hire a taxi. Traffic jams are quite usual during peaks hours, make sure you keep a buffer for it especially if you are heading to catch a flight.

Accommodations:

If you are planning to stay in Lagos, there are a range of hotels matching your needs. You can find a hotel room starting from 50$/night and a guesthouse starting form 20$. I stayed at Eko Hotel and Suites, a 5-star hotel and cost me 250 $/night as it was in high demand due to some local event. There are many listing available on Airbnb as well (use this link to get 25$ off).

You can also check other travel resources which will help you plan your trip better.

Nightlife:

Eko o ni baje o. Lagos is Lagos. It’s the most developed state, and most friendly to tourists since a lot of foreigners live here. The nightlife is unmatched, and the vibe is indescribable.

Safety concerns:

Sadly, there are security concerns from snatching to the kidnapping of the foreigners, and it is a high-risk country. I advise visiting Nigeria only if you know someone there who can show you around.

Better to avoid.