Day 1 – Lagos
Arrive in Lagos and transfer to your hotel. Overnight Ibis Hotel or similar.
Day 2 – Lagos – Badagry
Spend the morning exploring Lagos, heading off the mainland onto Lagos Island. We explore the Afro-Brazilian quarter with its unique architecture and if open, the National Museum. From here we head west along the coast to the small town of Badagry, once an important slave port and with several historic sites to explore. Overnight Bedrock Hotel or similar. (B)
Day 3 – Badagry – Abeokuta
Visit the sites of Badagry, including the museum and Brazilian Barracoon. We also take a boat across the lagoon to follow the ‘path of no return’ which the slaves walked to meet the boats to take them across the Atlantic. After lunch we head to the Yoruba city of Abeokuta. Those who wish can head out this evening to a nearby bar to experience a bit of modern Nigerian culture. Overnight Continental Suites Hotel or similar. (B)
Day 4 – Abeokuta – Idanre
Spend the morning exploring Abeokuta. The city has some excellent examples of Afro-Brazilian architecture which are well worth seeing, as well as a rather interesting fetish market – not necessarily for the squeamish but a fascinating place nonetheless. We also climb Olumo Rock, a sacred site for the Yoruba people with a shrine near the top. From here we drive to Idanre, where we spend the next two nights. Overnight Rock Valley Hotel or similar. (B)
Day 5 – Idanre Hills
We spend a full day exploring the Idanre Hills, walking up to a plateau that holds a hidden – now abandoned – village, a chief’s palace and many sacred sites. This is a world away from the hustle and bustle of Nigeria’s cities, with lush vegetation and pristine landscapes, and a real joy to explore, yet it is virtually unknown to the outside world. Overnight Rock Valley Hotel or similar. (B)
Day 6 – Oshogbo
Continue to the city of Oshogbo, home to one of Nigeria’s few UNESCO listed sites. We explore the Sacred Grove of Osun where extraordinary sculptures of the Yoruba deities nestle amongst the trees, monkeys running throughout. Later we visit a traditional Orisha temple where Ife priestesses can explain the intricacies of their religion, this is a truly fascinating experience and not to be missed. Overnight Ideal Nest Hotel or similar. (B)
Day 7 – Ilorin
After a quick tour of the city we drive to Ilorin, the first Muslim city that we visit on this trip. We explore the traditional quarters where Ilorin’s renowned potters and weavers ply their trade and in the late afternoon can head to a local bar before returning to the hotel. Overnight Hotel Bovina or similar. (B)
Day 8 – Jebba – Kontagora
Drive to Jebba, stopping first at a settlement of the Fulani, one of West Africa’s widest spread groups following traditional lifestyles based around cattle. After meeting the elders we continue to Jebba on the banks of the Niger River, reputedly the place where Mungo Park met his end. From here we continue north to the remote town of Kontagora. Overnight Safara Hotel or similar. (B)
Days 9-10 – Explore the lands of the Kamberi people
From Kontagora we drive into the bush into the heartland of the Kamberi people, one of Nigeria’s most traditional ethnic groups. If he is there we meet the emir, before venturing into the villages where we can learn about their indigenous belief systems and see the brightly decorated women, with painted and tattooed faces and sporting pierced lips. The Kamberi rarely see visitors and you will be rather a novelty here. The main settlement is Genu, where we rub shoulders with people coming in from the nearby villages to trade. We spend one night sleeping under the stars in a local village, returning to Kontagora in the afternoon of Day 10. (BLD)
Day 11 - Gwari villages - Abuja
We drive to Minna, visiting the villages of the Gwari people along the way. Although not quite as traditional as the Kamberi the Gwari are still very interesting, living in rural villages with huge round granaries to store their crops, and the older women still sport tattoos on their bodies. Drive to Abuja, Nigeria’s modern capital and our last stop in Nigeria. Overnight Petrus Hotel or similar. (B)
Day 12 – Abuja
We explore the city before a final dinner and then transfer to the airport for your flight home. (B).
Included in price:
- Airport transfers
- Accommodation – as listed in the dossier. The nature of the destinations that we operate may sometimes mean that we need to change hotels, but we’ll always endeavour to keep the same standards. Please be aware that as we operate in many countries where tourism is in its infancy, hotel standards may not be the same as you’re used to elsewhere.
- Guides – In most cases you will be accompanied by one guide from start to finish. However there may be occasions when this is not practical, for example if your trip covers a number of different countries. In these cases it often makes more sense to include different guides for each place, to take advantage of their specific knowledge of the destination.
- Meals – As listed within the itinerary / dossier (B-Breakfast, L-Lunch, D-Dinner).
Entrance fees – Entrance fees are listed for those sites that we mention within the itinerary. If there are any other sites that you’d like to see, these would be at your own expense.
Not included:
- Visas
- Airport taxes
- International flights
- Travel Insurance
