Don’t leave without hiking Olumo Rock, where the earliest settlers lived nearly a century ago. Founded in the 1830s as a wartime hideout, its rocky vistas contrast sharply with the flatland that is Lagos.ĭrive to the Alake’s palace, where the newly built Egba Museum curates the reign of its past kings and their colorful wardrobes. If you’re in Lagos for most of your stay, make the drive out to one of the historic towns in Yorubaland – Abeokuta. Olumo Rock, Abeokutaīest road trip for culture vultures Lagos–Abeokuta 101km (63 miles) Ofada rice and stew is the signature dish of Abeokuta © Alucardion / Shutterstock 1. Here are some of Nigeria's most rewarding driving routes. Besides, being a passenger really gives you a chance to properly savor the sights. In this case, it’s best to leave the driving to an experienced local. If you're a visitor to Nigeria or haven’t lived in the country for any length of time, you probably won't understand its peculiar road etiquette. And if your road trip takes you through the riverine areas of the Niger Delta, there is every chance that you’ll spot differences in the fishing huts as well as in the fishing boats and gear. In the dry season, you’ll likely see locals fetching firewood for household use, or tilling the soil for the approaching planting season.Īlong the way, you’ll also notice changes in the architecture, clothing and the weather. With every state border or region you cross, you’ll see lush forested areas replaced by rugged outcrops and savannah vegetation giving way to creeks, mangroves and wetlands. In both the north and south, markets abound, enlivened by warm and friendly people. Or take off from the northern end, perhaps from the historic city of Kano, and make your way southwards. You could begin your journey from the southern half of the country (say Lagos, the former federal capital) and head up north. With the government’s recent investments in road infrastructure, the highways are a lot smoother to travel on compared with a decade ago. You probably already know that Nigeria is a country of diverse ethnic groups, numbering at least 250, and there is no better way to experience a fraction of that multiplicity than through a road trip.

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