Top 10 Major Tourist Attractions in Nigeria To Visit (2024)
All around the world, there are popular tourist sites that people visit on a daily basis and Nigeria is just one of them.
Starting from the Yankari game reserve in Bauchi state, to the incredible Olumo rock in Abeokuta, Ogun state, there are a lot of tourist attractions within the country that tell a lot about our history and diverse cultures. These popular sites are located in various states of the federation and serve as a source of internal generated revenue and boost of the tourism sector of the country.
If you are a tourist and you are looking for the attractive destinations in Nigeria to go to, you will have it in abundance in this post. The top tourist destinations in Nigeria are some of the very best tourists site in the country and below we have listed the top 10 for your perusal.
Some of these Nigerian tourist sites are destinations where nature is at its finest and a trip to visit them would only evoke lasting memories in the future when they’re being remembered.
Top Tourist Attraction Sites in Nigeria To Visit
We have narrowed a list of major tourist attractions in the country you can visit as a tourist traveler or even on an excursion.
Yankari National park
Yankari game reserve or National park is located in Bauchi state, Northern Nigeria. It was created originally as a game reserve but later changed to the country’s National park in 1991. It has a large collection of different animals and plants in their natural habitat.
Being the most popular tourist attraction site for tourist, the reserve has over 59 caves, a warm spring with sparkling clear for swimming and iron smelting works with furnace which are centuries old.
This game reserve is almost part of Nigerian history. It is old and majority of us grew up knowing and learning about the popular Yankari Game Reserve.
At Yankari, there is a large collection of animals and plants in all reared in their natural habitat. There are over 59 caves, and 130 wells with interconnecting shafts used by slaves during the trans-atlantic slave trade era, there is also a warm spring with crystal clear water at 31 for swimming.
Tinapa resort
Tinapa resort is located in Calabar as was initiated by the Cross River State Government of Nigeria to boost economic and tourism value in the state. Most Nollywood movies are shot there. It has being nicknamed by many Nigerians as Nigeria’s small London because of the beautiful landscape.
The presence of a free trade zone nearby, along with its beautiful scenery provides visitors an outstanding experience of business mixed with leisure.
Tinapa is world class. This project is the brainchild of the dynamic Cross River State Government of Nigeria, under the distinguished leadership of former Governor Donald Duke with over $300 million invested in the initial development of the resort.
Tinapa resort is a resort for business and leisure. Visitors enjoy the beautiful scenery along with the entertainment made possible by the availability of a movie production studio, casino, cinema, amphitheater, pubs and children arcade.
Obudu Cattle Ranch
Obudu Cattle Ranch is located in Cross River State of Nigeria and on a plateau 1576 meters above sea level, offering outstanding natural scenery. The semi temperate mountain climate along with its beautiful views is a perfect holiday location for tourist and adventurers.
The Obudu Mountain Resort also provides the tourist with a sporting environment to play golf, food, log fire and traditional accommodation in chalets and African round huts.
Obudu Mountain Resort is also located in Cross River State, Nigeria. The beautiful scenery along with its temperate climate and serenity, offer the perfect location for adventures, holidays and meditations.
The Mountain Resort has seen tourism increase in that part of Nigeria as various tourists both local and international patronise Obudu Mountain resort.
Ikogosi Warm Spring
Ikogosi Warm Spring is located at Igede town in Ekiti state. Streaming side by side is a warm spring and a cold spring that meets at a juncture, each keeping its properties. This wonder makes the springs a vacation destination in Nigeria.
To also add beauty to the natural wonder is topography with rich green scenery. Just for comfort, a resort was built around the warm and cold spring to provide comfort, accommodation, conferencing facilities for tourists in Nigeria and other recreational activity.
It is legendary and unique in that it is said to be the side-by-side presence and fusion of a warm spring and a cold spring which even if they run parallel to each other, never mix. Looking for a place to tour? Try Ikogosi.
Badagry
Badagry is located in Lagos state and it is a place that showcases the relics and artifacts of the slave trade. Guns, chains and locks used then on the slaves are kept by the Mobe family in Badagry and are available for tourists to view and handle.
Badagry also has the first storey building in Nigeria, built in 1845 and the spot where Christianity was first preached in Nigeria.
Badagry is a notable town in Lagos. The town is very prominent in Nigeria’s history as it serves as one of the first places of contact between Nigeria and the Europeans. The town is notable for the slave trade widely known back then in the slave trade era of years past.
Badagry also has the spot where Christianity was first preached in Nigeria. It has the first storey building in Nigeria, built in 1845 and still standing.
The Idanre Hills
The Idanre Hills,located in Ondo State has an amazing arrangement of slopes with various tourists interest. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with the ancient palace and hills still intact on top of the hills.
There is also the presence of a 640 steps with 5 resting spots up to the highest point of the hills that provides a clear view of the hill and Arun river and stream which according to myth gives a strange feeling to whoever swims within it.
Idanre Hills is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is a collection of hills with spectacular view. The hill is an abandoned city with hither-to dwelt in houses, an ancient palace and shrine, all left intact on top of the hills.
A climb through the 640 steps with 5 resting places up to the top of the hills is rewarded with a first-hand view of settings on the hill and the Arun River and a clear stream which is claimed to give a strange feeling to people who swim in it.
The top of the hills also presents a panoramic view of the Idanre town which is at the foot of the hills.
The Mambilla Plateau
The Mambilla Plateau, located in Taraba state stands at about 1,830 meters above sea level. It is richly blessed with green pastures that allows plants like apple, pears, strawberries, tea and irish potatoes to grow there because of its temperate climate.
Driving up-hill through the winding road provides an outstanding experience. The plateau environment is without mosquitoes and tse tse flies.
Standing tall at about 1,830 meters above sea level is the legendary Mambilla Plateau which is thought to be the highest point in Nigeria.
Mambilla Plateau is blessed with a rather temperate climate which is quite a contrast to the usual tropic climate experienced in Nigeria.
Olumo Rock
Olumo Rock is located at Abeokuta in Ogun state. It was used as a hiding place for early settlers in Abeokuta against their enemies and to monitor them from a more advanced point. It is one of the most visited tourist attraction sites.
New renovations in 2006 saw the likes of a museum, restaurants, water fountain and an elevator added to make visiting Olumo rock a worthwhile experience.
Olumo Rock is located in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital and it served as a nature-given refuge for early settlers in Abeokuta against enemies.
The features of the rock which prepared it as a refuge are amazing. A number of caves are designed to serve as rooms, halls and bunkers while the top serves as a point from where enemy advance could be monitored.
River Niger and Benue
Rvers Niger and Benue are two of the largest rivers in West Africa, they both meet at the confluence town in Lokoja, the Kogi state capital.
Tourists will also be interested in fishing activities that take place on the rivers. Ferry and boat services are available.
Lake Chad
Lake Chad is the largest natural lake in Nigeria. The lake is of immense economic importance as it serves the agricultural needs of Borno State in Nigeria as well as those of the neighbouring nations of Niger, Cameroun and Chad.
For tourists the attraction offered by Lake Chad is in boating, birdwatching, fishing villages and aquatic animals like hippopotamus, crocodile and clawless otter.
