With over 140 million inhabitants Nigeria is Africa’s most populous country and the eight most populous country in the world, with an incredible wealth coming from the oil industry and a booming economy. With widespread corruption, decades of civil wars and a lot of people living in poverty, Nigeria’s reputation is not that great. Yet the country receives more than 2 million visitors a year. These are mainly business travelers, but in recent years more and more people are choosing to holiday in this complex country with its 500 different ethnic groups. It is precisely these different population groups that make Nigeria so varied. In the north, traditionally dressed Muslim men unroll their prayer mats, while in the affluent south, churchgoers play a game of chess before attending mass. The country also has a captivating artistic climate, cities with a vibrant nightlife, golden sandy beaches and national parks with endangered species. Nollywood is the renowned Nigerian film industry coughing up over 200 films every week.

Nigeria has the world’s largest variety of butterflies and over 2.000 mountains where you can cool off. This former British colony and economic superpower is not only synonymous with chaos and oil. It’s also a country where you can sip champagne with supermodels, haggle for a work of art in the hipster district of Lagos, and swim below the paradisiacal 30-meter Gurara waterfalls. During a holiday it is better to avoid the north, although a few places can be visited if well prepared and guided.

Tourism is still in its infancy, but thanks to the upcoming economy, the increasing wealth and the climbing number of businessmen visiting the country, tourism has undergone a gradual, but progressive evolution over the past few years.

Nigeria has a warm climate and a coastline over 800 kilometers long with a wide variety of beaches and the evergreen vegetation of the mangrove in the south, the Niger Delta and the tropical rainforest. Up north we find tropical grasslands with baobabs dotting all over the landscape and up north we find open savanna plains and even semi deserts. In the national parks of Yankari, Gashaka Gumti, Kainji we can still find big cats such as leopards and lions preying on gazelles, giraffes and  others. For birding the northern savanna and the tropical forests are of special interest for our birders.

Though rich in nature, with mountains to climb, forests to explore and ocean waves to be tamed, the biggest attraction of Nigeria are its people. With over 250 ethnic groups, the country has a diverse socio-cultural heritage that gives Nigeria its uniqueness and makes it one of the most culturally rich destinations in Africa. A visit to Nigeria is not for everyone as the pulsating rhythms of the Nigerian megacities can be really overwhelming for some people.

One can feel completely lost in the middle of the chaos of Lagos’ city center surrounded by thousands of taxis, motorbikes, yelling sales ladies and students rushing to their university. But once you accept your new reality, relax and breathe it all in you see that a city full of adventures and opportunities awaits you. Lagos is on its way to become one of the most important cities in the world and being here in this very moment is a great chance to see it unfolding in front of your eyes. Explore the posh restaurants, experience the best nightlife in all of Africa and maybe even in the world on the rhythm of the Nigerian afrobeats dominating the whole continent. Explore the forever innovating arts scene and join one of the many concerts. Explore the floating fishing villages outside of the city if you dare and taste the spicy local cuisine. This is adventure on another level, this is Nigeria!