What to see in Nigeria: 8 must-sees

Visit Lagos, the largest city in sub-Saharan Africa, where some 14 million people keep markets like Balogun bustling daily, with fabrics and spices at negotiable prices. Cross the bridge linking the island to the mainland, try jollof rice at the street stalls of Victoria Island, and take a speedboat ride on the lagoon. Among mosques, contemporary art galleries, and colonial buildings, you'll understand why this Nigerian megacity never stops.

Take in Calabar from the Cross River waterfront, where fishing boats unload their catch in front of the National Museum, housed in the former British colonial residence. Wander through Watt Market among stalls of pepper, smoked fish, and ankara fabric, and walk through Duke Town to the 1846 Presbyterian church. If you come in December, the Calabar Carnival fills the avenues with troupes and music, while the streets along Marian Road fill with street kitchens serving edikang ikong and fresh fish.

Stroll among the baobabs of Yankari, in Bauchi, where elephants cross the savanna at dawn and lions prowl near the Gaji River. Cover part of its 2,244 km² on a guided safari, spot birds among the riverside vegetation, and end the day in the warm waters of Wikki Warm Spring, open for swimming. Rangers watch over herds and fragile habitats that depend on the park's conservation.

Walk the trails of this grove on the banks of the Osun River, in Osun State, where some 200 sculptures of iron, cement, and wood stand alongside altars dedicated to the goddess Osun. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2005, it is one of the last surviving Yoruba sacred groves. Wander among shrines, sculptures by artist Susanne Wenger, and centuries-old trees as devotees celebrate the Osun-Osogbo festival by the river every year.

Cross the courtyard of the Grand Mosque of Abuja, the largest in West Africa, and admire its four minarets and golden dome towering over the heart of the Federal Capital Territory. Built in 1984, it combines a prayer hall with a library, conference rooms, and Quranic study areas. Non-Muslims may visit the outer areas outside prayer times; dress modestly and remove your shoes before entering.

Descend the 317 steps leading down to Ogbunike Cave, in Anambra State, and explore its limestone tunnels, where an underground stream flows. Barefoot, as local tradition requires, pass through chambers barely lit by the entrance, watch bats and spiders among the formations, and reach the point where the water emerges from the rock wall. Nearby, you can walk trails through the vegetation and visit the shrine the Ogbunike community links to these galleries. Every August, the Ime Ogbe festival brings the locals together to celebrate the site.