Visit Nigeria
Start in Lagos and accept immediately that Nigeria is not a country you can reduce to one city, one culture or one kind of experience. Lagos brings markets, music, galleries, beaches and relentless urban energy; elsewhere you can find the Yoruba cultural heartland around Osogbo and Ile-Ife, the historic city of Kano, the landscapes of Obudu and Cross River, or festivals, food and traditions that change markedly from one region to another. Nigeria’s tourism authority promotes the country around precisely that mix of culture, nature, heritage and festivals. The country’s scale and diversity are the main reasons to visit. Nigeria has hundreds of ethnic and language communities, and its cultural influence reaches far beyond its borders through music, film, literature, fashion and food. UNESCO currently lists two Nigerian World Heritage Sites, including the Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove and Sukur Cultural Landscape, while numerous other historic and natural places remain on the country’s tentative list. This is a trip that needs more planning than many mainstream destinations. Current UK Foreign Office advice warns against all travel or all but essential travel to a number of Nigerian states and regions, so the route should be built around current security advice rather than an old itinerary or generic travel guide. For a first visit, concentrate on a manageable area, use trusted local contacts or reputable operators where appropriate, and allow at least a week. Add Nigeria to your list and experience a country whose scale, culture and pace are difficult to understand from outside it.