Elsie UdohWhen did you last pay a visit back home since you travelled out? It might have been about a year ago, longer than that, or probably never. But, you see, wherever you are outside Nigeria, it is important that you visit home at intervals. These visits might be either to see your loved ones that you miss so dearly or to explore the beauty of your dear country, Nigeria. One of the best ways to do this is to plan cultural tours to Nigeria. What does this entail, you might ask?
Well, taking cultural tours to Nigeria is an excellent way for you in the diaspora to reconnect with your roots. It can be a week-long visit or more to travel to places that have deep cultural significance and are also excellent sightseeing locations to learn about history and immerse yourself in the beauty of your homeland. Nigeria has a lot of places you can put on your bucket list to visit for your cultural tour.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelIf you’re a family in the diaspora, a cultural tour is also a great way to help your children experience their culture firsthand, as well as, learn about their heritage beyond just through stories. With the holiday season approaching, now is even the best time to get your cultural tour plan in motion so that you can have your tour and also enjoy Christmas as well as the New Year with your family back home. This article will equip you with all you need to know to do just that.
Best Times to Take Cultural Tours to Nigeria
Before you get started planning your trip, we would like to give you some pointers about the best time to plan to visit Nigeria for a cultural tour. We already mentioned the upcoming Christmas and New Year holidays as excellent times to pay a visit and take a tour since many people will be in a festive mode, so you will have enough company as well as holiday deals that can make you spend less while on your tour. But there are also a few other key periods to consider as well:
March
This is the month when the dry season is at its peak. If your schedule permits you, then you can make plans to visit for your cultural tour around March. The dry season makes it easy for you to navigate your way without being too disturbed by the bad roads in some areas, which are sometimes inaccessible during the rainy season due to floods. Schools also go on Easter break during this period, so the roads might be a little less congested, and you can even get to spend Easter with your family.
Remember to pack light clothes due to the heat, as the weather during this period is usually around 32.7°C.
May
This is one of the busiest months for tourism in Nigeria, followed by November and December. If you will be paying a visit during this time, then it’s best to book hotels and flights early since their prices usually skyrocket during this period. May is the beginning of the rainy season, so you might want to pack warmer clothes for your tour.
December to January
These are the holiday months and are dry seasons. The months of December and January are also best for outdoor activities since the weather during this time is cooler and more pleasant. There’s also the Calabar Carnival that you make plans to attend as well if you want to include music, dancing, and colourful parades in your cultural tour.
Endeavour to come prepared for the hike in price, as things usually get super expensive during these times. However, some places offer holiday discounts, which you can take advantage of if you make plans early.
Key Places to Visit for Cultural Tours in Nigeria
Now you know when to come for cultural tours to Nigeria, but where do you go? When it comes to where to go, Nigeria has countless cultural treasures. Here are a few must-visit places for your tour:
National Museum
Nigeria is home to 52 National Museums in key states like Lagos, Abuja, and Port Harcourt, among others. Depending on the state you will be visiting, you can find the national museum there and pay a visit.
In Lagos, the museum is located in Ikoyi, and there’s usually a tour guide to walk you through the artefacts found in the museum, such as the Jemaa Head, and tell you their history. This is the best place to start your tour, as you are immediately exposed to a great deal of our rich history and culture. Plan to pay a gate fee of about ₦500–₦1,000 and leave a tip for the tour guide; at least, it’d serve as an appreciation for the timeless history he shared.
Nike Art Gallery
If you start your tour at the Lagos National Museum, then you can continue by heading to the Nike Art Gallery in Lekki, where you’ll find a collection of over 8,000 artworks from Nigerian artists. These sights will give you a feel for Nigeria’s diverse artistic heritage.
You will also find the Nike Art Gallery in Abuja, Osogbo, and Ogidi in Anambra, depending on where your tour takes you. The entrance fee is free here, so all you need to do is walk in and enjoy the artistic displays.
Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove
If you want to tour the Nigerian rich culture outside of Lagos, then the Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove will be a great spot for you. This is a UNESCO World Heritage site located in Osun State. It is the last of the sacred forest that once adjourned the edges of most Yoruba cities before civilisation. The sacred forest holds great cultural significance to the Yorubas as it is the spiritual home of the goddess Osun.
Apart from being a site with great traditional value, there’s much to see at the Grove with many rare species of animals and Mother Nature in her fullest glory. The sight here is simply breathtaking.
If you visit in August, then you will also get to partake in the Osun-Osogbo festival, which is held for two weeks at the Grove.
The Royal Palace of the Oba of Benin
This is a cultural landmark in Benin City. The royal palace is home to the Benin Bronzes, which are intricate pieces of artwork that date back centuries. The Benin Kingdom has a rich history and culture, which you’ll be exposed to by paying a visit to the Oba’s Palace. The palace structure also makes a great sight with large decorative brass plaques that give you a visual representation of the history of the Benin Kingdom.
Olumo Rock, Abeokuta
You must have heard much about the popular rock that saved thousands of lives in Abeokuta, and now it’s time for you to pay a visit. Even though you might have been here before, the Olumo Rock experience is always an exciting and refreshing one.
There are many things to explore at the Olumo Rock tourist centre, from caves and tunnels at the base of the rock to a museum, theatre, and other recreational sights like the garden. The entrance fee here is ₦2,000 for adults and ₦1,000 for children.
Nigeria is filled with many places that preserve its rich cultural heritage and have historical significance. Whether in Lagos, Osun, Benin, Ogun, or other states in the country, there is an array of places that you can visit to begin your cultural tour. To make your tour easy for you, there are some online websites where you can book ahead from abroad and even have a tour guide explore your areas of interest with you.
Where You Can Book Cultural Tours To Nigeria
These are some platforms where you can book your cultural tour to Nigeria from abroad:
- Wakanow
- Trip Advisor
- Viator
- Tour Nigeria
- TravelStart Nigeria
These platforms can guide your tour from flight booking to accommodation options and provide tour packages that can help you plan and carry out your tour with ease. Visit their websites to find out more information about them and select the best and most affordable one to provide you with personalised services for your tour.
Ways to Prepare for Your Cultural Tour
By now you should have fully decided to have that cultural tour to Nigeria, and if that’s the case, here’s how you can get ready:
- Plan ahead by booking your flights and accommodations early, especially if you plan to travel during peak seasons like Christmas or festival periods.
- If you plan to tour a state that you’re not familiar with, then you might want to brush up a little on their customs and traditions so they don’t seem all new to you. Learning a few phrases of the language spoken in the state of your choice will go a long way.
- Pack according to the dominant weather during the period you’ll be visiting. If you’re coming during the Harmattan season (December–February), bring warm clothes but pack light clothing for the hot months like March.
- Open your mind to exploring new customs and traditions. The idea of a cultural tour is to learn about new cultures and traditions, so visit somewhere new and be ready for an exciting experience.
What Next?
Now that you’re armed with this information, the next step is to start planning. Follow the planning steps laid out here and get ready to have an exciting cultural tour to Nigeria. If you can, reach out to family members back home to get recommendations and make local arrangements. And make plans to enjoy the holidays with your loved ones at home after the tour for an all-around experience and to create memorable memories that you can hold on to until you plan your next visit to Nigeria.
Elsie Udoh is an SEO content writer who specialises in writing engaging stories that resonates with diverse audiences. She studied mass communication at the Lagos State University.
