NIGERIA
Highlights
Kano, the ancient caravan city of the Hausa Kingdom, with its grand palaces and imposing walls
The ancestral traditions of the Yoruba people, deeply connected to Vodun spirituality
Olumo Rock and some of the country’s most striking natural landscapes
The megacity of Lagos and an immersive visit to the stilt community of Makoko
Where we will stay
Hotels and Guesthouses
How we move around
Car or Minivan, Plane
TYPE OF TRIP
An overland expedition with limited physical demands, though a good degree of adaptability is essential. The itinerary includes short, non-strenuous walks and excursions. Questa seconda versione è quella che suona più naturale e professionale per un tour operator internazionale di fascia alta.
For more information on our trips, see the FAQ section.
DAY 1: Departure from Italy with a connecting flight to Kano
DAY 2: Arrival in Kano, Nigeria’s second-largest city, followed by entry formalities and hotel check-in. We will visit Gidan Rumfa, the Emir of Kano’s palace, dating back to the late 15th century, and immerse ourselves in its rich history through grand courtyards and lavishly decorated halls. The exploration of the city continues with the Makama Museum, housed in a traditional residence, before wandering through the maze of stalls of the vibrant Kurmi Market. At sunset, we will enjoy panoramic views over the city from the sacred Dalla Hill. Dinner and overnight stay in Kano.
Morning: Visit to the historic Kofar Mata dye pits, a centuries-old craft tradition that offers a glimpse into Kano’s important role along the ancient Trans-Saharan trade routes. We will observe traditional local dyeing techniques that have been preserved for generations.
Afternoon: Walk through Kano’s historic center and along the imposing defensive walls of the ancient city, before attending a demonstration of Dambe, the traditional martial art of Hausa culture.
Evening: Dinner and overnight in Kano.
Morning: Transfer to the city of Dutse, known for its remarkable architecture distinguished by intricate and colorful decorative details, followed by a visit to its lively local market.
Afternoon: Return to Kano to witness the performances of the Hyena Men, a unique and deeply rooted cultural tradition known for its close relationship with animals such as hyenas, snakes, and baboons.
Evening: Dinner and overnight in Kano.
Morning: Transfer to Kano airport and flight to Lagos
Afternoon: Arrival in Lagos, Africa’s largest metropolitan area and one of the continent’s most dynamic urban centers, home to more than 20 million people. After hotel check-in, visit to Makoko, the well-known waterfront community built on stilts within the Lagos lagoon, offering insight into one of the city’s most distinctive social and urban landscapes.
Evening: Dinner and overnight in Lagos.
Morning: Departure from Lagos heading north toward Abeokuta. Visit to Olumo Rock, an important historical and cultural landmark of the Egba people, with its caves, pathways, and panoramic views over the surrounding landscape.
Afternoon: Exploration of Abeokuta’s lively central market, including the traditional herbal medicine section, known for its wide variety of natural remedies, ritual objects, and locally crafted goods. The visit continues at the Palace of the Alake of Egbaland, an important symbol of Yoruba political and cultural heritage. Hotel check-in.
Evening: Dinner and evening in Abeokuta
Morning: Departure towards Osogbo, the capital of Osun State
Afternoon: Visit to the Nike Art Gallery founded by Nike Davies-Okundaye, one of Nigeria’s most celebrated textile and visual artists, renowned for her role in preserving and promoting Yoruba artistic traditions.
Evening: Dinner and evening in Osogbo
Morning: Visit to the Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most important spiritual centers of Yoruba culture. Exploration of the forest sanctuary, home to sacred shrines, sculptures, and places of worship dedicated to Osun, the Yoruba deity associated with fertility, water, and femininity. Visit connected to the legacy of Susanne Wenger, the Austrian-born artist whose work played a key role in preserving the grove and its spiritual traditions.
Afternoon: Departure after lunch for Ile-Ife, arrival and hotel check-in.
Evening: Dinner and evening in Ile-Ife.
Morning: Visit to the Royal Palace of the Ooni of Ife, one of the most important spiritual and cultural institutions in Yoruba history, followed by the National Museum of Ile-Ife, renowned for its remarkable collection of Yoruba art and archaeological heritage.
Afternoon: Exploration of sites connected to Oduduwa, the ancestral figure central to Yoruba cosmology and oral tradition, including the Opa Oranmiyan monument and the Sacred Grove associated with the origins of the Yoruba kingdoms.
Evening: Dinner and evening in Ile-Ife.
Morning: Visit to one of Ile-Ife’s important sacred sites for a deeper understanding of the spiritual traditions and cultural heritage associated with Yoruba civilisation, followed by departure for Lagos.
Afternoon: Arrival in the late afternoon in the giant former capital of the country and hotel check-in.
Evening: Dinner and evening in Lagos.
Morning: Departure for the coastal town of Badagry, an important historical center connected to the transatlantic slave trade and one of the key sites for understanding this chapter of West African history. Encounter with the Zangbeto tradition, the well-known guardian figures associated with Yoruba and Vodun cultural practices.
Afternoon: Visit to Badagry’s museums and historical landmarks dedicated to the memory of the slave trade, including the “Point of No Return,” before returning to Lagos.
Evening: Dinner and evening in Lagos.
Morning and Afternoon: Full day dedicated to exploring some of Lagos’s most significant cultural and historical landmarks, including Onikan House, Freedom Park, the former British colonial district, and King Kosoko’s Palace.
Evening: Depending on the flight schedule, transfer to the airport for the return flight to Italy, arriving on Day 13. Alternatively, overnight in Lagos and departure on the morning of Day 13.
