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Niger

 * For the Nigerian state, see Niger State

Niger (Nee-ZHAIR, rarely NY-jer) is a large, arid, landlocked country situated in the Sahel. Formerly a French colony, Niger is one of the poorest countries in the world and is largely agrarian. Negative things aside, Nigeriens in general are quite friendly and down-to earth, and you can expect to come across numerous curious faces during your stay. Chances are, you may be the first person from your country they have ever met.

Tourism in this large country is limited, but travel allows you to explore an isolated nation tucked away from the rest of the world.

Cities

 * — Although both the administrative capital and commercial centre, possibly the least crowded and hectic capital in West Africa
 * — A trade hub along trans-Saharan trade routes for over five centuries, home to a magnificent palace and several mosques and a gateway to the nearby Air Mountains
 * — Along picturesque section of the River Niger with one of Niger's best markets, and a starting point for river trips to Gaya
 * — Peul town between shifting sand dunes and disappearing swampland which serves as the gateway to SE Niger & Lake Chad
 * — has a small museum, colourful market and an even more colourful chief's palace
 * — Centre of agriculture (especially peanuts), home to a colourful chief's palace, and near seasonal rivers/floodplains which have caused interesting land formations to the south
 * — Stop en route to Agadez
 * — The cultural capital of Niger, this Peul-Hausa city has perhaps the most colourful craft markets (pottery & tanning are local specialities) as well as a noteworthy regional museum and sultan's palace

Other destinations

 * — magnificent National Park, easiest accessed from Niamey
 * — See the last herd of giraffes in West Africa
 * — Two hours from Niamey, one of West Africa's largest animal markets, plus a colourful array of other traditional market and artisan wares (Sundays)
 * — A river-side town three hours from Niamey with a colorful, laid-back Sunday market as well as pirougue tours to see the hippos and islands
 * — an oasis situated in the northeast
 * Boubon — Bar/restaurant and huts to rent nightly on an island in the Niger River
 * Termit & Tin Toumma National Nature and Cultural Reserve — one of Africa's largest reserves (twice as large as Costa Rica), the park protects several animals (including the critically endangered addax, Dama gazelle, & desert cheetah), protects the nomadic culture, and features lots of scenic desert landscape. Established in 2012, it will take a few years for guides, ecotours, and facilities to become available.
 * — a natural reserve in the desert, inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list

History
Not until 1993, 35 years after independence from France, did Niger hold its first free and open elections. A 1995 peace accord ended a five-year Tuareg insurgency in the north. Coups in 1996 and 1999 were followed by the creation of a National Reconciliation Council that effected a transition to civilian rule by December 1999. In 2009, a coup d'état toppled the elected-turned-dictator government, and returned Niger to an electoral democracy. After the transition to democracy, Niger became a strong ally of Western states like the United States and France, both of which established military bases and military cooperation with the Nigerien armed forces. Niger has played an outsized role in the global anti-terror movement, serving as a base of operations for the fight against insurgents in the Sahel and Saharan regions. However, this has led to an increase in terrorist attacks in and around Niger itself by militants that cross the porous borders from Mali and Burkina Faso.

Although Niger has huge economic potential, Niger has never particularly been a wealthy country and the country has a myriad of social, economic, and political problems. Most people live in poverty and work as farmers. Niger is also the country with the youngest average population.

Economy
Niger's economy centers on subsistence agriculture, animal husbandry, reexport trade, and increasingly less on uranium, because of declining world demand. The 50% devaluation of the West African franc in January 1994 boosted exports of livestock, cowpeas, onions, and the products of Niger's small cotton industry. The government relies on bilateral and multilateral aid — which was suspended following the April 1999 coup d'état — for operating expenses and public investment. In 2000-01, the World Bank approved a structural adjustment loan of $105 million to help support fiscal reforms. However, reforms could prove difficult given the government's bleak financial situation. The IMF approved a $73 million poverty reduction and growth facility for Niger in 2000 and announced $115 million in debt relief under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative. Niger is the world's second poorest country and has the world's lowest standard of living.

People
Niger has a population of over 25 million. The Hausa (Zarma and Songhai) make up the largest ethnic groups of Niger.

Over 20% of Nigeriens are made up of nomadic and livestock raising tribes, including Fulani, Tuareg, Wodaabe, Kanuri, Arabs and Toubou.

Talk
The official language in Niger is French, although very few people speak it outside Niamey and even there do not expect a high level conversation with the traders at the markets. The local languages include Djerma (spoken mainly in Niamey and the bordering Tillaberi and Dosso regions), Hausa, Fulfulde and Tamashek (spoken by the Tuaregs in the north), and Kanuri (spoken by Beri Beri). English is of no use outside the American cultural center and a few big hotels in Niamey. However, you will find English-speakers in border towns along the Nigerian border, such as Birni N Konni and Maradi. These people are usually from Nigeria to the south and in general want something from you. As friendly as they may be, always listen to a professional guide over anyone that speaks some English.

If you learn about 20 phrases in a local language, you will gain respect in a heartbeat. Simply greeting people in their local tongue will make your trip there smoother than you would have ever thought possible. Top essential Zarma/Djerma phrases:
 * Fofo: hello
 * Mate ni go? (mah-tay nee go?): How are you?
 * Samay (sawm-eye): Fine
 * Man no...? Where is...?
 * Ay ga ba... (Eye gah bah): I want...
 * Wo-ne: That one
 * To: OK.
 * Ay mana faham (eye) MAH fah-ham: I don't understand.
 * KaLA-tonton: Goodbye

Top essential Hausa phrases:
 * Sannu: Hello
 * Me sunanka: What is your name?
 * Kana LA-hiya: How are you?
 * LA-hiya LO: It's all good.
 * Na GO-day: Thank you
 * Sai ANjima: Goodbye
 * Na GO-day, Na KO-shi: Thank you, I am full. (Polite response when offered food you are afraid to eat)

Some Arabic words are also common:
 * salam-u-laikum, which roughly means, "peace be with you," and is used in Niger when you enter a house or greet someone
 * al hamdallaye, which means to a Nigerien "Bless it, it's finished." It can also mean "no thank you." The latter can also get you out of having to sample possibly dirty food, or from eating at someone's home until your stomach explodes.
 * In-shah-allah, which means "God willing." For example, "I'll come to visit your family in-shah-allah."

Visas
Visas are required by all nationals except:
 * 1) Nationals of the African countries of Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo and Tunisia, as well as those of Hong Kong
 * 2) Alien residents holding a valid Permis de Séjour or Visa de Séjour
 * 3) Transit passengers continuing their journey within 24 hours who do not leave the airport

An International Vaccination Certificate for Yellow fever is mandatory, but Cholera vaccination certification is required only if travelling from a neighbouring country where an outbreak of the disease has been reported.
 * At the London Niger consulate, single entry visas are GBP120, double GBP220 and a multiple entry visa valid for one year costs GBP260.
 * Overland travellers can acquire a visa from the consulate in Parakou, Bénin. A hotel address in Niger is required and the consul will issue a 30-day visa for 22,500 CFA (€34) on the spot (January 2019).
 * The Nigerien embassy in Abuja, Nigeria offers up to 90 days, multiple-entry visa for NGN 20,000 (€39), 180 days is also available for a higher price. Requirements are two passport photos and a reference in Niger. They will send your application to headquarters in Niamey, which usually takes a long time to reply. But if you explain that you are short on time they will often be happy to give you the visa anyway (November 2016).
 * A 30-day visa from the Niger Embassy in Ouagadougou Burkina Faso cost CFA 25,000 =£34.

By plane
There is one international airport (Aéroport International Diori Hamani de Niamey) in Niamey.

As of August 2017, there were flights from West and North African capitals, Istanbul, and Paris. There are a few private companies and one mission aviation group (SIMAir) that do charter flights from Niamey in small planes.
 * Air Algerie flies from Algiers a few times a week (sometimes including a stopover in Ouagadougou).
 * Asky Airlines and Air Burkina connect Niamey with Ouagadougou
 * Air Côte d'Ivoire flies daily from Abidjan
 * Ethiopian Airlines flies from Addis Ababa a few times a week
 * Afriquiyah connects Niamey with Tripoli (Mitiga) a few time a week
 * Royal Air Maroc flies almost daily from Casablanca
 * Asky Airlines and Air France fly from Lomé
 * Turkish Airlines offer flights from Istanbul (IST) via Bamako
 * Tunisair connect Niamey to Tunis

By car
Travellers can get to Niger overland by roads from Mali, Burkina Faso, Benin and Nigeria.

Some adventurous souls still cross the Sahara from the north (Algeria), but that area is not secure.

As with most of the other Saharan and Sahelian states, the borders of Niger are truly just "lines in the sand" and thus are extremely porous. With the dangerous security situations in neighboring states (c.f. Mali, Burkina Faso, Chad, northern Nigeria, and Libya), conflict can spill over into Niger and there is a general sense of lawlessness around borders, especially in the Saharan part of the country. It is probably safe to say that, as of 2023, no land border should be considered safe to cross.

By bus
There are a number of private companies offering bus services from Niger to neighbouring countries and even as far as Dakar and Nouakchott (e.g. Rimbo Transport Voyageurs or SONEF). They are daily services to Lomé and Cotonou (stopping at Parakou and some towns on the road), as well as Abidjan, Bamako, Dakar, Nouakchott (all through Ouagadougou). The service to Gao in Mali was suspended due to security reasons. Tickets can be bought on at the respective companies or a sales office.

Along the Nigerian border there are local minibuses and taxis which connect Maradi and Zinder with Katsina and Kano. Normally you do not have to change vehicle at the border.

By road
Of the 19,000 km of highways, around 4,000 km is paved (as of 2010) and efforts are being made to improve some of the sections that have previously been endlessly under repair. You can travel from Ouagadougou in Burkina Faso all the way to Diffa, near Lake Chad on roads that are in decent to tolerable condition. The road from Niamey to "Park W" in the south is paved. The Zinder-Agadez route is being repaved after being in severe disrepair for years. The Birni Nkonni-Agadez-Arlit road is in poor shape.

The country has 27 airports/landing strips, 9 of which have paved runways.

From mid-December to March the Niger River is navigable for about 300 km, from Niamey to Gaya on the Benin border.

Taxis in Niamey charge about CFA 200 if the distance isn't too long, or CFA 400 for going almost across the city. At the airport in Niamey there is a taxi monopoly and the lowest you'll get a taxi for is CFA 3,000, and that's if you haggle a lot. However, if you walk south from the airport you'll hit a main road and for CFA 100-150 you can get a ride from a beat up van to the Grand Marché (Main Market), luggage included.

By bus
The Nigerien government operates a bus service along the major routes of the country. While taking cars is exciting and interesting, they are dangerous, extremely hot, and more expensive. Plus, they are forced to pull over after midnight due to banditry. Because these cars often only leave in the evening, it can take several days to travel a relatively short distance. The large buses are brand new Mercedes buses and they carry a soldier at night so they may drive all night long. In addition, due to their large size, they can skim over potholes that would destroy the smaller vans.

Rent a car
There is almost no possibility to rent a car in the usual sense, although in 2005 a Hertz franchise came to Niamey and rents Toyota RAV4s. Also, you can rent a full-size "cat-cat" (4x4 from the French quatre-quatre) with a driver/guide, but in most cases you will have to arrange with companies that organise expeditions.
 * Tidene Expeditions, BP 270 Agadez, +227 440568, fax: +227 440 578

By air
Niger Airlines operates flights between Niamey (NIM), Zinder (ZDR), Agadez (AJY), and Diffa (DZRF) as of Mar 2020.

By rail
A railway line exists between Niamey and Dosso, but as of 2021 there are no trains operating.

See

 * Aïr Mountains
 * Ténéré Desert
 * Parque Nacional Du W Du Niger

Do

 * Watch the observance of Guérewol, an annual courtship ritual amongst the Wodaabe peoples.

Money
The currency of the country is the West African CFA franc, denoted CFA (ISO currency code: XOF). It's also used by seven other West African countries. It is interchangeable at par with the Central African CFA franc (XAF), which is used by six countries. Both currencies are fixed at a rate of 1 euro = 655.957 CFA francs.

US dollars and other foreign currency are not accepted in daily transactions, only to exchange into local money via a bank or black market. Exception: near the border of Nigeria, the devaluing Nigerian currency naira is accepted.

ATMs
Ecobank take Mastercard and Visa card at their ATMs in Niger.

Shopping
Bargaining and haggling is essential and expected. It's best to have a low price and a maximum price in mind before entering into a negotiation. If the price is higher than you want, just say thanks and walk away: if you were offering a fair price you will be called back. If you were offering too low a price, you won't be called back, but you can always go back later and offer more.

Nigerien artisan specialities include: See the Niamey section and the Balleyara section for sample prices of these goods and where to find them.
 * intricately imprinted leather boxes (ranging from small 5-cm boxes to full-size trunks)
 * other leather goods
 * silver jewellery
 * colourful hand-woven wedding blankets
 * coloured straw mats (locally made)
 * fabric (only the Enitex brand is made in Niger, but there are many other kinds that are also good)

Eat
Local, traditional food includes:
 * a dense millet porridge with an okra sauce, a pepper sauce, a tomato sauce, or a squash sauce on top, sometimes with veggies and a couple chunks of meat
 * rice with the above sauces
 * mushy macaroni pasta with an oily red sauce
 * rice & beans
 * corn cous-cous mixed with moringa leaves, black-eyed peas, and sauce (called dumbou in Djera/Zarma, and only available in Djerma/Zarma regions)

Availability varies widely by region, but visitors may wish to try the following delicious specialities, usually available as street food:
 * dumbou (see above)
 * kilishi: beef jerkey that comes in three flavours: regular, peanut-spiced, and hot-pepper-spiced
 * masa: delicious sourdough pancakes eaten with a peanut/hot pepper/ginger spice mix or a brown sauce
 * fari masa: fried dough balls served with either a squash/tomato salsa or sugar
 * chichena: like fari masa above, but made from bean flour instead of wheat flour
 * koudagou (Djerma/Zarma): fried sweet potato chunks with sauce

Less exotic but also tasty:
 * brochettes — meat kebabs made from either beef, lamb or goat
 * omelet sandwiches
 * mangoes: if in season, they are bigger and juicier than any available in the western world
 * yoghurt: pasteurized, sweet, and available wherever there is a fridge
 * fried fish sandwiches
 * ground beef sandwiches
 * plates of garlicky green beans or peas (usually in bars and restaurants)

Be careful of the salads — even in the city, they're usually not OK for western travellers.

Drink

 * Drink plenty of filtered or bottled water. You will get dehydrated during your trip to Niger at one point. At times it can be hard to find bottled water, but ask for "Purewater" (pronounced pure-wata) that comes in sealed plastic bags for usually CFA 25 (CFA 50 in some hard-to-reach places). You will also need to replenish your salts more frequently than you are accustomed.

Keep in mind that drinking alcohol is generally forbidden in Muslim culture, so take extra care to keep drunken, inappropriate behaviour behind closed doors and out of the public eye.

The national beer is called, appropriately, Biere Niger. The only other locally produced beer is a franchise of the French West-African Flag brewery. While taste is in the eye of the beerholder, Biere Niger is decent. Both are brewed in the same tank from the same ingredients with the slightest variation on how much reconstituted malt they put in each batch. All other beer, boxed wine, and hard liquor is imported.

In rare pockets of the capital you can find millet beer homebrew, brewed by Burkinabe immigrants. This is drunk out of calabash gourd bowls. Some compare the taste to a dry, unsweetened cider. See the Niamey section for directions.

Locally-made non-alcoholic drinks are delicious. Safety depends on the water quality: generally OK in the capital and NOT OK in rural areas. They are either sold by women out of their houses (ask around), by young girls from trays on their heads, or by young boys pushing around coolers. These drinks include: To drink, you bite the corner off the bag.
 * lemu-hari: a sweet lemony-gingery drink
 * bisap: a dark red kool-aid-type drink made from hibiscus leaves
 * apollo: a thick, pinkish-brownish drink made from the baobab fruit
 * degue: sweet yoghurt with small millet balls (like tapioca)

Learn
There is a dearth of educational opportunities in Niger. Illiteracy is a huge problem in Niger and most Nigeriens are unable to get an education.

This all is enough to say that the educational scene of the country is unlikely to be attractive to most people reading Wikivoyage.

Work
Working in Niger can be a rewarding experience, but it is important to be aware of the potential risks involved. Security is a major concern and it is important to take precautions when working in the country.

Niger's biggest export happens to be people leaving Niger. Because the country is so poor, many Nigeriens move abroad in search of better opportunities.

Stay safe
Niger is politically unstable and lawlessness is widespread. The latest coup d'état in early 2010 increased the unstable situation and every traveller should follow independent news closely and stay in contact with their embassy. Vicious and sadistic Al-Qaeda and Boko Haram members are present in Niger and have kidnapped and killed many, so it is essential to know the off-limit regions and avoid them.

In the region north of Agadez, there have been many carjackings, kidnappings and robberies in the past sixteen or so years. The problems continue, and tourists should consider the area essentially lawless. You should not venture beyond Agadez even if you have a guide and a 4x4 vehicle unless you seriously know what you are doing. The roads past this point are of terrible quality and bandits are abundant.

Avoid driving late at night in a private vehicle. Occasionally armed robbers will operate near the town of Galmi (central Niger) and around Dosso-Doutchi (in western Niger), as well as on the road to Gao, Mali in the Tillabery region. Normally, there are police checkpoints on the main highways which limit criminal activities during the day.

The main annoyances you are likely to meet are young boys shouting "Anasara", which means 'foreigner' in most local languages, derived from the Arabic word. You will also be asked for a 'cadeau' pretty much every time you see a person outside your hotel. The word is French for 'gift,' and it is best not to perpetuate the misery this word causes to foreigners working in the country.

Niamey is safer. If you stay away from markets after dark, use taxis and are extra careful to avoid where the streets cross ravines, you shouldn't run into any problems. In markets there is a risk of pickpockets or handbag straps being cut but you are more likely to lose money by haggling poorly and in French.

Carrying a backpack and camera, looking like a tourist, and especially being white, will definitely draw some unwanted attention. Most of the attention is from people who try to get your money legally, either by selling you a toothbrush or by begging, but there are always a few less honest people.

Stay healthy
The Centers for Disease Control is an excellent resource for authoritative advice on health issues for travellers to Niger.

Drink lots and lots of water while in Niger because the dry heat will dehydrate you, and you may not realise. It is the best preventative step you can take. Bottled water or water sealed in a bag (called pure-wata) is available in most of the cities but in a pinch, city tap water is reported to be well-chlorinated. Be particularly wary of well water, stream water, and rural water.

Replenish your salts as well as liquids.

Wear loose conservative clothes, big hats, and lots of sunscreen. If in doubt, wear what the locals wear.

Malaria, including encephaletic malaria, is a problem, and is chloroquine resistant in Niger. Take your prophylaxes, use heavy-duty insect repellent (DEET is best, though nasty), and consider carrying a mosquito net to sleep under.

Giardia and amoebic dysentery are common. Be wary of any roadside food, unless you buy it hot off the grill. Even items fried in oil could make you sick if the oil has been heavily used and is old. Best to avoid salads and uncooked veggies. Also, never drink unfiltered water (including ice).

Schistosomiasis is present in most water bodies in Niger, so travellers should avoid going in the water everywhere — except chlorinated swimming pools.

In case you were unable to stay healthy, the Clinique Pasteur (situated in front of the Lycée Fontaine) has clean facilities, sterile needles, and competent, sympathetic doctors. The Clinique Gamkalley and many other clinics are around, however, you may need to watch out for dirty needles, over-prescription and aggressive staff.

Respect
Visitors are treated as kings in Niger (there is a Koranic proverb to that effect), so be careful not to abuse the hospitality you will be shown. For the most part, try to accept all the small tokens and gestures (cokes, tea, small gifts, etc.) that you are offered. It isn't good to refuse too much, and don't think "these people are too poor to give me these things". That is offensive as taking good care of guests is a point of honour and gives people great pleasure.

Subjects (politics, religion, family) that are considered private in other parts of the world are discussed openly and freely in Niger.

When speaking to Nigeriens, make direct eye contact and try not to raise your voice.

Nigeriens are well aware that their country has a lot of issues and most Nigeriens are dissatisfied, angry and frustrated with their government. There's nothing wrong with discussing politics so long as you approach the subject with respect and caution.

In the working world, money is one of the most important motivational factors. Given the extremely poor state of the Nigerien economy, many Nigeriens strive to make a lot of money to escape a life of hardship. This sadly is also one of the reasons why fraud and scams are common in the country.

Friendships and relationships are taken seriously in Niger. If someone does something for you, you're expected to return the favour. Not doing so is rude.

Dress conservatively, which means no shorts, no skirts above the knees, and no tank tops. For women, dressing revealingly can be seen as very offensive, even in Niamey. Also, dress nicely, as clothes determine how well you are treated back.

Islam is the dominant religion in the country and is practiced by virtually everyone. Ramadan is strictly observed. This being said, Niger is a secular state and the form of Islam practiced by the population is, by a long chalk, liberal. Niger is a rare example of religious tolerance; there are no sectarian tensions whatsoever. You're unlikely to offend a Nigerien by discussing religion — it's easy to talk about it openly.

Always ask people, especially camel drivers, market sellers, and the elderly, before taking a photograph. Many Nigeriens still find it offensive.

Slavery is still relatively common in the central areas, away from the towns. You can generally spot slaves by the unadorned, solid ankle bracelets on both feet, which look like manacles and may well serve that purpose. Unless you feel particularly brave, discussion of the subject with either victims or perpetrators is probably best avoided.

Connect
See the Friends of Niger website for discussion boards where you can ask questions before you go to Niger and maybe get some Nigeriens or others assist.

title: Niger


text:
Nigeria

Nigeria (Hausa: Najeriya, Igbo: Naíjíríà, Nigerian Pidgin: Naijá, Tyap: Naijeriya, Yoruba: Nàìjíríà) is a large country in equatorial West Africa. Often regarded as the "Giant of Africa", Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa, with about 216 million people in 2022.

Rich in diversity and landscapes, the country is home to more than 250 ethnic groups and 500 languages. The Hausa are the largest ethnic group, who make up more than 30% of the population.

Nigeria is divided roughly in half between Muslims (who are mostly found in the north and make up between 50-53% of the population) and Christians (who are mostly found in the south). The majority of Nigerian Muslims are Sunni Muslims, and the majority of Nigerian Christians are Protestants. Nigeria has the fifth largest Muslim population in the world, and the sixth largest Christian population in the world.

Nigeria does have its fair share of political and social problems, but don't let that deter you; the country is endowed with a vibrant youth population who have continued to bring glory to the country in various spheres of human endeavours. The entertainment industry in Africa can not be mentioned without referencing 'Nollywood and Afrobeat'; Nigeria's movie industry and popular genre of music respectively. The country is richly blessed with a plethora of appealing tourist attractions, incredibly friendly, jovial, and sociable people, and delicious food (especially the famous West African delicacy, Jollof Rice), and travel provides you the chance to experience and explore one of the most fascinatingly diverse countries on the planet. There's lots to do and see in Nigeria.

Cities

 * — the capital, with beautiful rolling terrain and modern Nigerian architecture
 * — city of the Edo people and rich cultural state
 * — oil region, with the world's highest concentration of butterflies in the surrounding regions
 * — the coal city
 * — geographically the largest city in Africa
 * — important Hausa city, commercial hub of the north
 * — second most populous city in Africa, former colonial capital and huge commercial hub, economic capital of Nigeria
 * — home of the Sacred Grove of Osun, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
 * — capital of Rivers State and largest city in the oil-rich region, primarily belonging to the Ikwerre

Other destinations

 * — a seven-part waterfalls in an area of tropical rainforest.
 * — inside the old Kanem-Borno Empire (present-day Borno and the Yobe states).
 * — primary moist tropical rainforests in the north and central parts, with mangrove swamps on the coastal zones.
 * — Nigeria’s largest national park, near the border with Cameroon
 * — a protected savannah in North Central Nigeria
 * — protects typical Savannah vegetation with easy viewing of wildlife and landscape
 * — part of a rainforest ecosystem that is the habitat for many vulnerable species of flora and fauna.
 * – named after the Oyo Empire this large park combines archaeological, cultural and historical aspects.
 * — the largest wildlife park in Nigeria is home to several natural warm springs.

The pre-colonial era
The Nok culture of northern Nigeria flourished between 1000 BC and 500 AD producing life-sized terracotta figures which are some of the earliest known sculptures in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Tiv culture in the north central region of Nigeria dates to 6 BC. Some of the famous bronze terracotta sculpture heads from this culture have been shown around the world.

In the northern part of the country, Kano and Katsina have recorded history which dates back to around 999.

The kingdoms of Ifẹ and Oyo in the western block of Nigeria became prominent about 700–900 and 1400 respectively. The Yoruba mythology believes that Ile-Ife is the source of the human race and that it predates any other civilization. Another prominent kingdom in south western Nigeria was the Kingdom of Benin whose power lasted between the 15th and 19th century. Their dominance reached as far as the well known city of Eko, later named Lagos by the Portuguese. Benin City, the capital of the Kingdom of Benin, grew into one of the most impressive cities in pre-colonial Africa, with its city walls said to be four times the length of the Great Wall of China. However, little of its former glory remains as it was razed to the ground during the British invasion in 1897, with only one building surviving the invasion. Its artworks were looted by the British and can now be seen in the British Museum and various museums in Europe and the United States.

In southeastern Nigeria the Kingdom of Nri of the Igbo people flourished from around the 10th century until 1911 and the city of Nri is considered to be the foundation of Igbo culture.

In northeastern Nigeria, the Kanem Empire ruled from the 8th century to 1376 and was succeeded by the Bornu Empire, which was a powerful Islamic monarchy until it was defeated by the Fulani in the early 19th century.

The first Hausa kingdom was ruled by a queen, Amina, in the 11th century. Hausa kingdoms, based in what's now northern Nigeria, flourished from the 15th to 18th centuries, before eventually being defeated by the Fulani, who proclaimed the Sokoto Caliphate in 1809. The Sokoto Caliphate ruled for less than 100 years before being abolished by the British.

Although the Bornu Empire, Sokoto Caliphate and Kingdom of Benin were eventually absorbed into British Nigeria, the descendants of the rulers retained their titles and influence through the colonial period and maintain them to this day.

Colonial era
Portuguese explorers were the first Europeans to begin trade in Nigeria, and called the main port Lagos after the Portuguese town of Lagos, in Algarve. This name stuck on with more European trade with the region. The Europeans traded with the ethnicities of the coast and also established a trade in slaves which affected many Nigerian ethnicities. Following the Napoleonic Wars, the British expanded trade with the Nigerian interior.

In 1885 British claims to a West African sphere of influence received international recognition and in the following year the Royal Niger Company was chartered. In 1900 the company's territory came under the control of the British government, which moved to consolidate its hold over the area of modern Nigeria. On January 1, 1901 Nigeria became a British protectorate (northern and southern protectorates) and part of the British Empire. In 1914 the northern protectorate and the southern protectorate under the colonial rule were merged forming one single entity named "Nigeria". meaning: Niger [river Niger] area. The name "Nigeria" was given by the wife of the British Governor-General in charge of the country - Sir Lord Lugard.

Following World War II, in response to the growth of Nigerian nationalism and demands for independence, successive constitutions legislated by the British Government moved Nigeria toward self-government on a representative and increasingly federal basis. By the middle of the 20th century, the great wave for independence was sweeping across Africa.

Post-independence
On October 1, 1960, Nigeria gained its independence from the United Kingdom. In 1961, the neighbouring British Cameroons was split into two, with Northern Cameroons becoming part of Nigeria, and Southern Cameroons becoming part of Cameroon. As was the habit of colonialists during that era, no attention was paid to the fact that the "protectorates" suddenly and quite chaotically merged hundreds of distinct and autonomous ethnicities, or to the fact that some communities were ripped apart by the sudden construction of boundaries that never existed before. There was never a truly developed sense of singular Nigerian identity. In part, it was this disequilibrium which set the stage in 1966 for several successive military coups.

The Northern coup, which was mostly motivated by ethnic and religious reasons, was a bloodbath of both military officers and civilians, especially those of Igbo extraction. The violence against the Igbo increased their desire for autonomy and protection from the military's wrath. By May 1967, the Eastern Region had declared itself an independent state called the Republic of Biafra and the 30-month Nigerian Civil War began. More than one million people died, many of them starving to death before Biafra was defeated.

During the oil boom of the 1970s, Nigeria joined OPEC and billions of dollars generated by production in the oil-rich Niger Delta flowed into the coffers of the Nigerian state. However, increasing corruption and graft at all levels of government squandered most of these earnings. Nigeria re-achieved democracy in 1999 and although the elections which brought Obasanjo to power in 1999 and again in 2003 were condemned as unfree and unfair, Nigeria has shown marked improvements in attempts to tackle government corruption and to hasten development. Ethnic violence over the lack of profit-sharing with residents of the oil-producing Niger Delta region and inadequate infrastructures are some of the current issues in the country, which is the top oil-producing country in Africa.

Climate
Varies; equatorial in the south, tropical in the centre, arid in the north. Natural hazards include periodic droughts and flooding. Tornadoes and hurricanes are rare because they typically are weak at this stage and travel west of the Atlantic.

Terrain
Southern lowlands merge into central hills and plateaus; mountains in the southeast, plains in the north. The Niger River enters the country in the northwest and flows southward through tropical rain forests and swamps to its delta in the Gulf of Guinea. The highest point is Chappal Waddi at 2,419 m.

People
Nigeria is the continent's most populous nation and the world's 7th most populous. The people of Nigeria are generally nice, with some even engaging you with conversations. As the Giant of Africa, Nigeria has more than 500 ethnic groups with different languages and customs. The largest ethnic groups — Yoruba, Igbo, Fulani/Hausa and Tiv — comprise more than 75% of the population. They have strong religious beliefs and respect for the elders is a must-do.

Holidays

 * New Year's Day (January 1)
 * Easter (Good Friday and Easter Monday, according to the Western Christian tradition)
 * Workers day (May 1)
 * Children's Day (May 27)
 * Democracy Day (May 29)
 * Eid al-Adha
 * Eid al-Fitr, marking the end of Ramadan
 * Eid al-Maulid, Prophet Muhammad's birthday
 * Independence Day (October 1)
 * Christmas (December 25)
 * Boxing Day (December 26)

Tourist information

 * Nigeria Tourism website

Talk
More than 500 languages are spoken in the country, making Nigeria one of the most linguistically diverse countries in the world. As impressive as that may sound, many of the country's languages are endangered, and many Nigerians are semi-literate or illiterate in their native languages.

The official and most widely spoken language is English and it serves as the 'lingua franca' of the country. Yet, it's not widely spoken in rural areas, and many Nigerians struggle with it; in 2015, it was reported that over 60% of Nigerian school students received a failing grade in English in Nigeria's most important school leaving examination.

Nigerian Pidgin, a pidgin derived from English, is mostly used in informal conversations.

Hausa is the second most spoken language in Nigeria, given that the Hausa make up 30-40% of the population in Nigeria.

Yoruba is spoken by nearly 42 million Nigerians and you are likely to find a Yoruba speaker in Southwestern Nigeria.

Entry requirements
Nigeria isn't a country you can just waltz into. There are few visa-free arrangements in place, and almost everyone requires a visa in advance to enter the country, unless they're citizens of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). Nationals of Kenya are allowed to get a visa on arrival in Nigeria, though.

If you’re coming for less than 30 days, getting a “Visa on Arrival” is almost always the way to go. However, “Visa on arrival” is kind of a misnomer because you must apply for it beforehand, no sooner than two weeks before your trip. Once you land, you’ll go to the airport’s visa on arrival office so they can take your biometrics and put the visa in your passport. At the Lagos airport, this can take a few hours depending on how backed up they are. While annoying, this route is almost always far easier than dealing with your local embassy.

To get the Visa on Arrival pre-approval letter, you’ll just need a passport scan, passport photo, flight booking, and invitation letter from a local company. Since 7 May 2023, the Nigerian Immigration Service has moved to a new website. You can apply for a visa through their new visa application page. Whether the new website's payment portal is working has yet to be tested.

Alternatively, you can try to apply for a tourist or business visa through your local consulate or embassy. However, many Nigerian consulates and embassies don't process visa applications directly and will require you to use a 3rd party processing service like OIS. You'll often need to travel to one of their centers in-person and present a valid passport, a completed visa application form, two passport-sized photographs, a letter of invitation (a hotel reservation may suffice), proof you have funds to cover your travels in Nigeria, and proof you have paid for the visa application. This is almost certainly more hassle than the Visa on Arrival process so it is not recommended.

If you’re coming here longer-term for work, you’ll need to enter the country on an STR (subject to regularization) visa. These can only be applied for at a local consulate or embassy. After entering the country on this visa, you’ll be able to apply for a CERPAC (Combined Expatriate Residence Permit and Aliens Card) which allows you to stay and work.

If you’re coming here to work for a local company, they’ve likely already received an expat quota for you (approval to hire a foreigner) and getting an STR visa should be fairly straightforward (although it can take a month to process).

Nigerian visas are notorious for being very expensive for nationals of certain countries, as different nationalities are charged wildly different fees. If you're a citizen of the United States, you will be charged US$160 to apply for a Nigerian visa. Citizens of India and Bangladesh have the highest visa fee requirements (they are charged US$253 to apply for any type of visa), whereas citizens of mostly African and Asian nations are charged much less. Due to a bilateral agreement, citizens of Singapore may obtain Nigerian visas free of charge.

A handful of Nigerian embassies also charge a US$170 biometric fee in addition to the visa fee for your nationality - countries whose Nigerian embassies charge this fee include Egypt, Japan, Malaysia, South Africa and the United Kingdom. Citizens of Singapore are exempt from paying this biometric fee.

By plane
Lagos is the main international airport for the country, but others include Abuja, Kano, Port Harcourt and Uyo.
 * Several European airlines fly to Nigeria: British Airways (London Heathrow - Abuja, Lagos), Virgin Atlantic (London Heathrow - Lagos), KLM (Amsterdam - Lagos), Air France (Paris-Charles de Gaulle - Lagos), Turkish Airlines (Istanbul - Lagos), Lufthansa (Frankfurt - Abuja, Lagos),
 * Delta Air Lines operates daily non-stop flights a week from Atlanta
 * United Airlines operates non-stop service from Washington DC to Lagos.
 * Other inter-continental airlines fly to Lagos. They include: Middle East Airlines (Beirut), Qatar Airways (Doha).
 * African airlines that fly to Lagos include: South African Airlines from Johannesburg, Egypt Air from Cairo, Ethiopian Airlines from Addis Ababa, Africa World Airlines from Accra, Kenya Airways from Nairobi, Royal Air Maroc from Casablanca, among others.
 * Ibom Air operates daily local flights to numerous cities within Nigeria and is expanding their routes to other African countries.
 * Air Peace has local and international flights (from other African countries, Dubai and London), Aero from other African countries.
 * Besides these, there are other airlines that operate domestic and regional flights to places like Abidjan, Accra, Banjul, Conakry, Dakar, Douala, Freetown, Johannesburg, Libreville, Monrovia.
 * There are also airports in most states of the federation and local air travel is widespread.

By train
There are no international passenger services to Nigeria.

By boat
Transport by boat isn't widespread unless you venture into the riverine areas of Nigeria.

Get around
If you're located in a major city like Lagos or Abuja, taking ride-sharing services Bolt and Uber is usually the easiest way to get around.

However, if you're traveling outside major cities you'll most likely want to hire a car and driver. The road systems in Nigeria are relatively poor compared with North America or Europe, but often still passable. The "okada" (motorcycle) is not for the faint-hearted (there used to be no helmets but as a law the rider is required to have two helmets for himself and a passenger, although very few okada riders adhere to this rule.) and should only be used for short distance journeys. "Okadas" will get you to where you want to go quickly and you will get there in one piece. In Lagos, there are lots of buses and taxis. There are two main types of buses, the molue (an old 911 Mercedes Benz truck turned into school-like bus and the danfo (a Volkswagen Kombi bus turned into an eight-seater minibus). Most smaller cities have more taxis than buses, and they are quite affordable.

For travelling from one city to another, you go to the "motor park", find the taxi that's going to your destination, and wait until it "fills up". The price is fixed, you don't have to negotiate. Some drivers may have a risky driving style however - practically this means that the only rule consistently adhered to (by cars, not necessarily motorcycles), is keeping to the right.

By car
Driving in Nigeria (especially Lagos) is somewhat unique, vaguely resembling driving in Cairo. If mastered, you should however be able to cope in most other countries. While driving in Abuja is relatively decent due to regularly maintained roads, it still doesn't compare with roads in more developed countries.

Many roads are bad, but there are rarely any major accidents, you just have to strap your seatbelts in and enjoy the ride. Expect potholes of every size, and that, except on the highway, people will drive on the wrong side to avoid potholes or other bad patches of road. Sometimes entire roads are non-existent, so be prepared for anything. It is advisable to keep your distance from lorries or large vehicles, as many are driven without side-view mirrors, fully functional brakes, and most dangerous of all, securely strapped/attached cargo.

Grass or branches on the road means there is a broken down vehicle ahead of you, be careful.

If you are white, get used to Nigerians shouting at you as you pass by. It will be something like "Oyibo", "Oniocha", "MBakara", "Bature" or "white man". It all means the same, they are just telling you to smile as you pass.

Self-driving for short-term visitors unfamiliar with the roads, especially in Lagos, is by no means advisable and could actually be quite foolish, perhaps even dangerous. You could easily wander into an area or a road block set by local gangs. If you choose to rent a car, it will come with a driver familiar with the area and style of driving, which is the easier and safer option.

Police may try to take fiscal advantage of you as a foreigner. If you wish to drive yourself it is advisable to stick to the rules, as you will be an easy target for police officers to "fine". These are not real fines, they are payable directly to the officer in cash - without a ticket or a receipt. Even if you obey the traffic rules, police will find some petty reason - like not indicating your intention to drive straight. Should you be pulled over, do not give your license, as you will then lose all bargaining power when negotiating the "fine", which could easily be a maximum of all the visible cash you have on you at the time. Rather, carry a copy of the license and hand that over, or show your license through your window. Also, do not let the police get into your car. They are not really dangerous, but it could get expensive and certainly annoying. However, if you just don't pay and remain calm, it only costs time. They have no real power over you. Especially over weekends and festive times, it is common practice for police, especially in the richer areas of Lagos, to flag you down and wish you happy weekend/holiday/Christmas/Easter/sunny weather/trip to work. In this case, you did nothing wrong and they do not intend to "fine" you, but are rather asking for a tip. If you insistently yet politely refuse to give something, they will eventually let you go. Just wish them a nice weekend/holiday/etc. too.

If you work for a big company in Nigeria, you will usually have a company driver to drive you around, thereby avoiding the above mentioned problems to a large extent. He can arrange a local driver's license for you should the need arise without a driving test or proof of foreign license.

Nigeria is not part of the most standard international Road Traffic Convention and as such will require a special International Driving Permit (valid only for driving in Nigeria, Somalia and Iraq) (if you do not want to get the Nigerian license), not the normal one applicable to almost all other countries in the world.

The last Saturday of the month is Sanitation Day in Lagos and Kano, when the locals clean their premises. While it is not illegal to be out on the street between 7–10M, due to the higher than usual presence of police officers and road check points, most Nigerians choose to restrict their movements until after 10AM. Should you be caught at this time, you may be taken away by the police to perform some "public sanitation" duty, like mowing lawns, etc.

By train
After having been abandoned for a long time, rehabilitation of rail services in Nigeria are finally in full swing. Helped by Chinese investment several new lines are expected to open in the next few years while older lines are renovated. While still much slower than flying, it is now possible to travel across some parts of the country by train. Nigeria Railway Corporation is the sole operator; this might however change as the government mulls liberalization of the railway sector.

Abuja now has almost daily connections with cities in the interior of Nigeria such as Ilorin, Minna and Kaduna. The Lagos-Ibadan Railway provides high-speed service from Lagos via Abeokuta to Ibadan.

By plane
Ibom Air, Arik and Aero Contractors have scheduled domestic connections with modern aircraft and reasonable prices. Their websites are user-friendly and well updated. In Lagos, the two domestic terminals, while next to each other, are about 4-5 km (of road which would not be wise to walk if you don't know the place) from the international terminal, and you would therefore need a taxi to get from the one to the other, should you wish to transfer from an international flight to a domestic one.

By bus
Getting around is relatively easy, except that there could be delays due to traffic jams within most major cities. There are multitudes of coaches and buses that will take you to any part of Nigeria you wish (ABC Transport Services is well known for its services among others). Lagos state government also operates a transit system (BRT buses) which serves the Lagos metropolis.

By taxi
Ride-hailing is available in Nigeria and the following are the most anticipated providers:

See

 * Lagos: There are different beach fronts, like Oniru Beach, Landmark Beach, Badagry Beach, Tarkwa bay Beach.
 * Lekki (suburb of Lagos): Lekki Conservation Center - a nice little fenced-off and interesting tropical rainforest reserve with wooden walkways, located on the outskirts of the city on the Lekki Express Way, just before the second toll gate. Lekki Beach, Eleko Beach
 * Plateau: Hiking and sightseeing the Riyom rocks.
 * Enugu: Hiking the old coal mines, and cultural events, e.g. New yam and atilogwu dancers.
 * Calabar: Harbour where you can get boat rides, a nice cinema, sit-out parks and slave monuments in the Marina Resort located in Calabar; also there is Tinapa, a little drive outside the city.
 * Obudu: Small town a few hours to the north from Calabar very close to the Cameroon border - rent a car from Calabar airport (comes with driver) and ask the driver to take you there via Tinapa. This is a cool mountain escape with a nice resort (Obudu Mountain Resort) on the mountain (the president also has a weekend home there). They have some forest walks, hiking, one of the longest cable cars in the world and very nice pristine swimming pools with fountains available.
 * Imo: Igbo Ukwu Shrine, if you are interested in Nigerian art.
 * The old walled cities of Kano, Katsina and Zaria.
 * Oyo: Palace of Alaafin, traditional markets and Calabash carvers.
 * Taraba: Tourist attractions like Mambilla plateau (highest point in the country).
 * Machina: A town with its annual cultural festival which takes place in March featuring cultural events such as traditional wrestling and horse racing.
 * Argungu: A small town with its annual fishing festival that occurs three days with approximately 35,000 fishermen catching fish in the murky waters.
 * Abuja: The capital, one of the most beautiful African cities has many tourist attractions including The Zuma rock, Millenium park and lots of rolling hills.

Do
Nollywood is a huge film industry based in Nigeria. By the early 2010s, Nigeria was producing more films than any country other than India, and the value of production was third after the U.S. and India. Nollywood films are enjoyed around the world. With diverse cultures in Nigeria, the Nigerian film industry isn't language biased: movies are shot in English, Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa, Edo, and other 300 Nigerian languages. There are cinemas in most cities and large towns where you can experience this important side of Nigerian culture.

Money
Nigeria's currency is naira (symbol: ₦, ISO 4217 code: NGN). Banknotes circulate in denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500 and 1,000. In 2023, high inflation caused the naira to lose half its value against other currencies.

Cash all your naira back into another currency at the airport before you leave Nigeria. The rate is irrelevant, as the naira is not worth that much outside Nigeria. Naira bills/coins may be of interest to currency collectors, but other than that, they will be nothing more than colourful souvenirs of your trip. Banks will change foreign currency to naira, but usually not the other way around, even though you are a foreigner. You would therefore need to use the Bureaux de Change at the International terminal or the new Domestic terminal or street vendors to get foreign currency should you end up with unused naira at the end of your trip. A safe place to change in Victoria Island is in the tourist market of Eko Hotel in Victoria Island.

If the Bureaux de Change at the airport are closed, the car park outside the International terminal is full of street vendors only willing to change money from any major currency. When dealing with these street vendors, keep the money you are buying fully visible until the deal is finished (i.e. don't put into handbag and later discover it is wrong and then try and bargain) and count carefully with them, as they tend to try and short-change you with a note or two, especially when you change foreign currency into naira (which is a thick bundle of small notes), but with necessary vigilance are generally fine. Street vendors are also plentiful at the main land borders to change naira into CFA francs (XOF (Benin and Niger side) or XAF (Cameroon side)) if need be. XOF and XAF are freely and easily convertible to and from euros at a rate of 655.957 (sometimes with a small commission) when you are in the French countries.

Changing large bills of US dollars or euros will give a better rate with professional money changers, such as on the currency exchange market near Lagos Domestic Airport. This is a walled enclosure with a large number of money changers, which is primarily used by local nationals.

If you have a Visa card, you can withdraw money from Standard Chartered Bank ATMs in Lagos on Aromire St, off Adeniyi Jones, Ikeja & Ajose Adeogun St in Victoria Island Branch, Abuja and Port Harcourt (in Naira) and ATMs of some other banks with "Visa" stickers on them, like GT Bank, UBA, and Zenith. This will save you a lot of stress carrying large sums of money and it is secured. On Abuja and Lagos International Airport money can be withdrawn from ATMs. On Lagos International there are several ATMs, several may not function at all times. On Lagos Domestic Terminal there is also a functioning ATM in the domestic terminal on the 1st floor. Usually this a quiet ATM which also is very private and secure.

MasterCard/Maestro users can also withdraw money from ATMs at several branches of Zenith Bank and GT Bank. Some ATMs of Ecobank, First Bank and Intercontinental Bank also allow for MasterCard/Maestro cards. Look for the red ATM sign outside, or ask the on-site security officer at any branch. Also look for Ecobank, they have a branch within the premises of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport. Visa is however a safer option if you are visiting the French countries around Nigeria as well, as MasterCard/Maestro is close to useless in these countries.

If you do use an ATM, be aware of the risks of card cloning. This a problem with the airport ATMs which do not have a security guard watching over them. Check your statements regularly after using your card and alert your bank to any suspicious activity.

Nigeria is on an active drive to become a cashless society, and as such, more and more hotels, restaurant and shops (all the bigger ones at least) accept major credit cards (Visa being the preferred one, but ask first, there is both "local Visa" and "international Visa", and MasterCard). Diners Club and Amex are almost universally useless in Nigeria. When paying by card, take the usual precautions (watch how they swipe, don't let the card out of your sight, etc.)

Bargaining
At markets, you are supposed to haggle for your goods (a notable exception is bread: its price is fixed). As a general rule, the real price is about half the price that was first asked. The seller may exaggerate the price when he or she thinks that you are a rich tourist ignorant of the real price. After agreeing on a price, don't walk away without buying; this is considered very rude.

Shops like supermarkets and restaurants will typically charge fixed prices. Fresh products and Western-style sit-in restaurants are quite expensive, with it not being uncommon to pay US$75 for a dinner per person.

Eat

There are many types of traditional cuisine to enjoy. For example: afang soup, okra soup, owo soup and starch in the Niger Delta, plantain (fried, boiled, roasted), pepper soup, amala, eba, efo, pounded yam (iyan - Yoruba for "pounded yam", pronounced " ee-yarn" ), jollof rice, ground nut soup, ogbono soup, isi ewu (goat's head stew), egusi soup, suya (kebab), moin moin, ewedu, gbegiri soup (beans soup), edikangikong, ground-rice, puff-puff, chin chin, ikokore, owerri soup (ofe owerri), which is the most expensive African soup in Nigeria. Not to forget 404 pepper soup - it will make you act like "Oliver Twist." You must realise that 404 means "dog meat." And yes, it can only be found in certain parts of the country because in the west it is seen as barbaric.

For the less adventurous traveller, there are loads of "foreign" restaurants in Lagos, e.g. Sky Bar and the grill at Eco Hotel, Churasco's, Lagoon and Fusion all three next to each other (all-you-can-eat Brazilian grill, Indian and Sushi respectively) with a nice view of the lagoon, Piccolo Mondo, Manuella's Residence (great Italian Pizza from Manuella the Italian lady), Bungalow (close to Coschari's BMW in VI) - good sports bar, grill and Sushi, great Sunday buffet at Radisson Blu. Chocolate Royal is a nice family restaurant with excellent ice cream selection (including ice cream cakes) and pastries in VI. Inside Chocolate Royal is an Oriental restaurant called Métisse. Bottles in VI is a grill and Mexican restaurant. And there are loads more flavours from every corner of the world. Just Google and ask taxi to take you there. Outside Lagos and to a lesser extent Abuja, Western food will tend to disappear, with "Jollof Rice and fried chicken" being a "safe" option if you are not adventurous. Fried plantains, shawarma and chicken suya are some of the best options if you are craving some street food. These are often sold by locals at the roadside.

Foreign restaurants are expensive and you can prepare for a bill of at least $50 to $75 or even $100 per head for main course. If this is too much, try the Syrian Club in Ikoyi (turn North - away from the water) at the Mobil filling station in Awolowo Road (the night club street) in Ikoyi, continue a few blocks and on your left you will see the Syrian mosque, turn in the gate just after the mosque and the Syrian Club will be on your right on the inside of the premises with nice Lebanese/Syrian flair at very affordable (for Lagos) prices in an outdoor setting.

If you are a new expat living in Lagos, do yourself a favour and acquaint yourself early on with the following more expensive, foreign-owned, but well worth it, smaller specialist shops in VI selling all the delicacies and nice imported red meats that foreigners long for in and that Shoprite, Park and Shop, Next, and Goodie's (the main supermarkets) may not stock: 1. Deli's on Akin Adesola (the main road leading to Bar Beach), 2. L'Epicérie across the road from Mega Plaza and 3. La Pointe on Kofo Abayomi Street (close to the Brazilian Embassy/Consulate) and not easy to spot. Knowing these places will significantly improve your coping ability in the first couple of months.

Drink

 * Nigeria is one of the places where Guinness is brewed outside of Ireland. And they do it pretty well, although it's not the same product. The Guinness brand (with logo and copyrights where they should be) is also used to brew both an alcohol-free malt version of the black stuff, and an extra strong (about 7.5%) version of Guinness in Kenya (in the case of the latter) and Tanzania (in the case of the former).
 * Beer is a big business in Nigeria, although the move toward evangelism and Islamic law is making its mark. Lagos is relatively unaffected due to its cosmopolitan nature. Heineken, Star, Harp, Gulder and other international beers are available.
 * Malt beverages (non alcoholic) are very common in Nigeria.
 * The other cheap drink of choice is gin, which is locally made. It may contain toxic methanol due to lack of quality control, so steer clear.

Other drinks to consider include: palm wine, wine, zobo (red soft drink, is a tea of dried roselle flowers), kunun, kai kai (also called ogogoro).

The northern states have implemented Sharia (Islamic) law, which means that alcohol is prohibited. Ironically, the only places where you can drink a beer in these states are the police staff bars and the army barracks, because these are institutions under federal law. Beer is available in Kano, in restaurants managed by foreign or Christian people, Chinese restaurants, and/or French cafes.

For a real night out, go to the Sabongari area of the old town. Plenty of bars around that stay open till very late. Many do decent food as well. Sabongari is also the place to buy alcoholic drinks and there are plenty stores open late into the night. Some hotels in Kano are "dry", however in Tahir Guest Palace the staff will be quite happy to buy you a few bottles of beer for you in your room (all rooms have large fridges).

Sleep
Almost all hotels in Nigeria require you to pay before you get your key. This applies even to the Sheraton and the Hilton. Typically you are requested to pay 125% of the room rate and you will be refunded when settling the bill at your departure. If you stay more than one night you need to keep the credit up. However, paying this deposit by credit card can leave you open to subsequent fraudulent use of your details.

Learn
There are lots of private and public primary (elementary) and secondary (high) schools. It is worth it to organize a trip to whatever institution of learning you are interested in as this would give you a personal perspective on what facilities are available in your school of interest. There is a nationwide, standardized common entrance exam for students wishing to go into secondary schools, after they have completed their primary schooling. To gain admission into the universities (both public and private universities are in every state of the federation including the FCT), a prospective student has to sit for and successfully pass the UME (Universities Matriculation Examination) which is administered by JAMB (Joint Admission and Matriculation Board). Also, individual universities regularly screen prospective candidates to make sure they are up to par for university-level work.

Work
Working in Nigeria can be a very positive experience. Nigerian organizations tend to operate like small families, taking in newcomers with open arms and avoiding the coolness and sterility that often characterize the Western professional work environment. For instance, don't even think about coming into the office in the morning without greeting each of your colleagues. Even if you don't, be sure that they will go out of their way to greet you and inquire about your well-being.

It is hard to make generalizations about a country with 140 million inhabitants, but some Nigerians have a work ethic that would put most Westerners to shame. An eight-hour day (not including lunch) seems to be the norm, though it's not uncommon for people to stay late into the night and even come in for a few hours on weekends. Depending on the organization, a foreigner may be able to avoid this, but one should be prepared to work beyond the standard 35-40 hr work week.

The notion of "African time" applies very much to the work environment in Nigeria. Meetings are regularly held later than scheduled and often take longer than necessary. Although Nigerians will unabashedly admit to their habitual tardiness, rarely does one see efforts to correct this behavior. The higher one's position, the later one may arrive at a meeting. On top of that, starting the meeting before the important people arrive is very rude--a common principle shared with many Western countries. When dealing with foreign organizations, Nigerians will often make some efforts to correct this behaviour, for some Nigerians are aware that their conception of punctuality is not shared by all.

Those who are used to the strict North American conception of political correctness at the office may be shocked by the more liberal inter-sexual relations in the Nigerian workplace. Mild sexual jokes are common in meetings and in the office in general, though usually good natured and harmless. A white person working in an all-Nigerian workplace should also be prepared to frequently be reminded of their skin tone, though never in a nasty way. This can become tiresome, but Nigerians are generally very friendly. They use the term "Oyibo" (white man in Yoruba) or "Bature" (white man in Hausa) as a form of affection.

The use of professional titles in written and verbal form is very common in Nigeria. Expect to address your boss as Sir, Doctor, Colonel, etc., and avoid using the first name of a superior unless given permission to do so. Being a foreigner, you will be forgiven for any faux pas, but it is always best to err on the side of caution and politeness.

The mobile phone (cell phone) is an essential tool for virtually all urban - and most rural - Nigerians. Because of the many local networks, many people have two or even three "handsets", each on a different network. Anyone doing business in the country for more than a few days should consider having a mobile phone.

Stay safe
"This is Nigeria ... Police station dey close by 6 Security reason o ... This is Nigeria Look at my nation o SARS stop me for road any explanation you go talk am for station o"

- Falz (local rapper)

Nigerian crime levels are fairly high, particularly in Lagos. The far north eastern regions of Nigeria are troubled by the Boko Haram jihadist group which is known for its attacks on non-Muslims and taking the law into their own hands. This Islamist group is also known for its harsh interpretation of sharia law, which includes flogging. Boko Haram attacks Christians and proselytizers, so avoid traveling to the north east in large groups. The US State Department and the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office advise against travel to this area, while Global Affairs Canada recommends against non-essential travel to Nigeria (other than Abuja, Calabar and Lagos) because of the risks of terrorism, and recommends practising special health precautions because of the risk of contracting malaria.

The Niger Delta area is unsafe for tourists. There is continual low-level violence between government and militant groups, and there have been several kidnappings of foreign oil workers.

Corruption
Corruption in general is systemic and endemic in Nigeria. Transparency International ranks Nigeria as one of the most corrupt nations on the planet. In 2012, it was believed that Nigeria has lost a total of $400 billion to corruption since independence. The police are notorious for being highly corrupt and woefully ineffective, and the locals do not trust them at all. Nigerians have to pay the police to get reliable assistance for anything. Cronyism and nepotism are common in the police force, and police officers routinely target, harass, extort, and intimidate people, including locals, for bribes. As a foreigner, you may be seen as a "walking wallet" to corrupt officials.

Authorities
The Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), which was tasked to combat violent property crimes and was notorious for its gross abuse of power, was later disbanded.

Do not be tempted to argue with or fight a corrupt police officer, even if you haven't done anything wrong.

LGBT travellers
Nigeria is not a safe destination for gay and lesbian travellers.

Same-sex sexual activity is punishable by death (stoning) in the following states: Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Niger, Sokoto, Yobe, and Zamfara.

Elsewhere, same-sex sexual activity is punishable by up to 14 years of imprisonment.

It is also illegal not to report LGBT individuals and activities to the authorities, and non-reporting is punishable by up to 10 years of imprisonment.

Stay healthy
Travellers to Nigeria are required to vaccinate themselves against yellow fever, preferably 10 days before arrival in Nigeria. As malaria is prevalent, malaria pills and mosquito nets are also recommended. Polio vaccination in Nigeria is intermittent and there is a high rate of infection in the North.

Water is sold in different sizes (sachet and bottle). The bottled water and other soft drinks are safe. It is approx ₦200 for a small bottle and ₦400 for a big bottle (June 2024). The satchet/pure water is sold at ₦30 per one and ₦50 for two. The cheap "pure water" sold in plastic bags is cheaper but not as "pure" as Eva water, a brand by Coca Cola Company, or Nestle water by Nestle Nigeria. Do not buy water that does not have NAFDAC registration printed on the bottle. It is advisable to purchase bottled water from convenience stores rather than by the roadside. These upscale convenience stores usually purchase their supplies directly from the suppliers.

For the latest traveller's health information pertaining to Nigeria, including advisories and recommendations, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Nigeria destination website.

Respect
Respect for elders is a part of Nigerian culture. If someone in a position of authority (policeman, teacher, someone older than you, and the like) tells you to do something, respect them and do it. There's absolutely nothing wrong with disagreeing with someone older than you so long as you do it respectfully and tactfully.

Some of the country's languages have different ways for someone to address someone older than themselves. Handing things over to people, especially adults and people older than you, with your left hand is considered an insult.

You don't cross or jump over someone's legs if they are sitting with the legs extended out. It's considered bad luck.

Avoid shaking hands with elders and older people in non-Igbo villages. It's disrespectful to do that. Bowing down a little and kneeling or genuflecting for women or prostrating by men (especially among the Yoruba) is the normal thing to do. You may not need to do it either, but just show some form of respect when greeting older people. You can get away with not doing that in big cities or urban areas; they are less traditional there.

When entering a house in the predominantly Muslim north, you have to let them know in advance that you are visiting so that the women can prepare (cover themselves up). Some Islamic customs require women to cover their hair and bodies to other men and this is practised in the North. Knock on the door and wait to be answered before going in. They will ask you to wait while the women are informed. Wait patiently.

Connect
The country code for Nigeria is 234.

Dialing out from Nigeria: you will need to dial the International Code, followed by the phone digit numbers.

Dialing into Nigeria: callers use +234 followed by the phone digit numbers. There is also a company in Nigeria called Elixir Communication Worldwide that offers mobile phones for the blind and visually challenged. All the mobile operators have a roaming agreement with other mobile operators around the world.

The leading zero in area codes and similar prefixes is for domestic calls. It is not dialled when using the country code.

Mobile phone service providers:

Go next

 * Travel north to Niger, and into the Sahara Desert.
 * Travel east to Cameroon, for some mountain climbing.
 * Travel west to Benin, the best way out when travelling to Europe overland.
 * Travel northeast to Chad.

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Nigeria


text:
Niigata

Niigata (新潟市 Niigata-shi) is the capital of Niigata prefecture, Japan and the largest city on the Sea of Japan coast.

Understand
Niigata is a harbor city with a population of 810,000 facing the Sea of Japan. It is approximately 250 km directly north of Tokyo, and is connected with Tokyo via the Shinkansen and an expressway. Niigata is a rice-growing region famed for the high quality of its rice and sake.

History
The Port of Niigata was established in the 16th century, and the town prospered. In 1858, when the Japan-U.S.A. Treaty of Amity and Commerce was signed, Niigata was designated as one of five ports in Japan to conduct trade with the outside world. Niigata's international port was subsequently opened in 1868. In 1889, Niigata was incorporated as a city.

Tourist information site
The local tourist association has a multilingual Travel Guide site.

By train

The Shinkansen is also a fast and cost-effective way to access Niigata from Osaka, Kyoto, and Kobe (5 hours from Osaka and ¥22,310, with a change of trains in Tokyo). The Japan Rail Pass is valid with the exception of Nozomi trains running on the first leg to Tokyo. But your Japan Rail pass is valid on the Hikari and Sakura trains between Osaka and Tokyo

From Kanazawa and Toyama there used to be a one-seat service to Niigata, but this has changed with the opening of the Hokuriku Shinkansen. The fastest way to travel between these areas is to take the Shinkansen's Hakutaka (はくたか) service to Jōetsu-myōkō (上越妙高), and change to a limited express train called the Shirayuki (しらゆき) which operates five times per day. The journey from Kanazawa using this route takes around 3 hours and costs ¥10,130 each way; from Toyama, 2 hours 45 minutes and ¥9,160. If you use a Japan Rail Pass, a small surcharge of ¥450 will have to be paid for the 10km journey between Jōetsu-myōkō and Naoetsu which operates over non-JR tracks.

Trains to and from the north are fewer and farther between. The most convenient service is the Inaho (いなほ) limited express to Sakata (2 hours, ¥5,270), with about half the journeys continuing to Akita (3½ hours, ¥7,210). Local trains also run up and down the Japan Sea coast, but only run every two hours or so toward the northern part of the prefecture. These trains are routinely subject to weather-related delays and cancellations.

The Moonlight Echigo (ムーンライトえちご) was a seasonal train that ran overnight from Shinjuku to Niigata, mainly during periods when the Seishun 18 Ticket is in effect. None of these trains have run since 2014.

By plane

Shuttle buses run on a regular schedule from the JR Niigata South Exit directly to airport approximately every 30 minutes (25 minutes, ¥400 one way).

By bus
Niigata Kotsu runs highway buses to Ikebukuro Station in Tokyo (5½ hours, ¥5,250 one way), Nagoya (7.5 hours, ¥7,800 one way), Sendai (3½ hours, ¥4,500 one way), and overnight to Osaka and Kyoto (8 hours, ¥8,450 each way), as well as to a number of other cities.

Bandai City Bus Center
Ticket office windows: 08:30-19:00
 * Niigata Kotsu(Japanese Website)
 * Tohoku - Sendai, Yamagata, Koriyama, Aizu-Wakamatsu
 * Kanto - Tokyo, Takasaki, Ōmiya
 * Chubu - Nagoya, Kanazawa, Nagano, Toyama
 * Kansai - Osaka, Kyoto

Niigata Station South Exit, Bus Terminal

 * Willer Bus +81 50 5805-0383 - English/Korean M-F 10:00-20:00
 * Kanto - Tokyo, Yokohama, Tokyo Disney Land
 * Kansai - Osaka, Kyoto

By boat
Sado Kisen operates frequent services to Ryotsu on Sado Island. Rapid ferries cost ¥5,960 and cover the distance in one hour, while larger car ferries cost ¥2,060 but take 2½ hours.

Shin-Nihonkai Ferry(06-6348-1120) operates a daily service between Otaru and Niigata (18 hours, from ¥6,200). Service is overnight, and private cabins are available for a higher fare (the base fare buys sleeping space on the floor).

Ferries to Vladivostok appear to be discontinued until further notice, but as of 2018 there are still regular services from Toyama.

Get around
Niigata has a bus system that is very good, but also its very easy to walk everywhere, since most of the main attractions are within walking distance of each other.

Most major sights in Niigata can be easily accessed by bicycle. Rentals are provided by the city from several locations scattered throughout and rental fees are ¥100 for the first 3 hours and ¥100 for each additional hour. If you plan on keeping the bicycle longer than 4 hours, the trick is to return the bicycle at a nearby rental outlet and check it out again before your first 3 hours are up. In this way, your rental is charged the ¥100 rate each 3 hours. The tourist information office in the Niigata train station can supply you with the necessary maps and show you the closest rental office — about 5 minutes walk. The rental location can also supply you with maps that show you all the rental outlets. ID is needed to rent a bike. Be sure to check the brakes, tire pressure, and how to use the bike lock before you leave the rental outlet.

See

 * Tsukioka Carillon Park is a multi-purpose park located next to Tsukioka Hot Springs. The park has a lot to offer for visitors, including the beautiful sound of chimes coming from the Carillon Tower as well as a children’s play area. The Carillon Culture Hall exhibits swords created by National Living Treasure Akitsugu Amata. Visitors can enjoy bathing in hot springs at Houzuki-no-sato Onsen, which is also within the park.
 * Tsukioka Carillon Park is a multi-purpose park located next to Tsukioka Hot Springs. The park has a lot to offer for visitors, including the beautiful sound of chimes coming from the Carillon Tower as well as a children’s play area. The Carillon Culture Hall exhibits swords created by National Living Treasure Akitsugu Amata. Visitors can enjoy bathing in hot springs at Houzuki-no-sato Onsen, which is also within the park.
 * Tsukioka Carillon Park is a multi-purpose park located next to Tsukioka Hot Springs. The park has a lot to offer for visitors, including the beautiful sound of chimes coming from the Carillon Tower as well as a children’s play area. The Carillon Culture Hall exhibits swords created by National Living Treasure Akitsugu Amata. Visitors can enjoy bathing in hot springs at Houzuki-no-sato Onsen, which is also within the park.
 * Tsukioka Carillon Park is a multi-purpose park located next to Tsukioka Hot Springs. The park has a lot to offer for visitors, including the beautiful sound of chimes coming from the Carillon Tower as well as a children’s play area. The Carillon Culture Hall exhibits swords created by National Living Treasure Akitsugu Amata. Visitors can enjoy bathing in hot springs at Houzuki-no-sato Onsen, which is also within the park.
 * Tsukioka Carillon Park is a multi-purpose park located next to Tsukioka Hot Springs. The park has a lot to offer for visitors, including the beautiful sound of chimes coming from the Carillon Tower as well as a children’s play area. The Carillon Culture Hall exhibits swords created by National Living Treasure Akitsugu Amata. Visitors can enjoy bathing in hot springs at Houzuki-no-sato Onsen, which is also within the park.

Do
Niigata has a wonderful shopping area. The ocean is nearby. There is a beautiful theater, ferry rides on the river, several museums, and in winter you can watch the swans come in.

Currency exchange
You can exchange foreign currency and sell and buy traveler's checks at airport, big hotels, local bank branches, Japan Post Bank branches and post offices. Some post offices do not provide this service, though, and even if they provide it, the kinds of currency that they can exchange vary between offices.

Eat
Like many areas in Japan, Niigata area is both well known for its rice, and some locals claim it's the best rice in the country. It's known for the following specialties:
 * Uonuma koshihikari rice.
 * Shoyu (soy-sauce) and yofu (western-style) katsudon.
 * Shoyu sekihan.
 * Noppe stew.
 * Wappa-meshi (seafood and rice steamed in a bamboo basket).
 * Sasa-dango (mochi pounded rice balls filled with red bean paste, seasoned with mugwort and wrapped in bamboo leaves).
 * Poppo-yaki (steamed bread flavored with brown sugar).
 * Hegi-soba (soba from the Uonuma and Ojiya areas that uses a special kind of seaweed).
 * Tsubame-sanjo ramen (ramen made using thick udon-style noodles).
 * Tochio aburage (aburaage is called "aburage" in Tochio).
 * Kirazu (dishes using okara (soy pulp)).
 * Kakinomoto (edible chrysanthemums).
 * Kanzuri (a special seasoning from Myōkō made by leaving chili pepper exposed on snow, then adding flour, salt and yuzu).

Drink
There are hundreds of izakaya and other Japanese bars.

Consulates

 * 🇨🇳 China
 * 🇰🇷 South Korea
 * 🇷🇺 Russia

Go next

 * Sado
 * Shibata
 * Murakami
 * Gosen
 * Aga
 * Kitakata
 * Kashiwazaki
 * Uonuma
 * Tokamachi

title: Niigata


text:
Niigata (prefecture)

Niigata Prefecture (新潟県 Niigata-ken) is on the Sea of Japan coast of the central Chubu region of Japan.

Understand
Niigata used to be divided into the provinces of Echigo (越後), on the mainland, and Sado (佐渡), a large island off the coast.

Read
My Mother is a Tractor, by Nicholas Klar. A former English teacher with a witty and informative take on Japanese society. Written from the depths of the Niigata countryside.

Tourist Information Site
Enjoy Niigata is the prefecture's official multilingual guide site.

Cities
Kaetsu Region (下越地方, Lower Echigo) Chuetsu Region (中越地方, Middle Echigo) Joetsu Region (上越地方, Upper Echigo) Sado Island (佐渡島)
 * — the prefectural capital
 * — castle town which is famous for hotsprings and salmon
 * — castle town which is famous for Tsukioka Onsen
 * — the second largest city in the prefecture
 * — Small town birthplace of the 18th-century monk-poet Ryōkan
 * - famous for production of knives and tableware, together with adjacent Tsubame City
 * — famous for its snow festival, the first in Japan
 * — popular spa and ski resort
 * — famous for its snow festival, the first in Japan
 * — popular spa and ski resort
 * — train hub also featuring the port of Naoetsu
 * — famous for Itoigawa Geopark.
 * — well known for its onsen and great skiing. Nearby Lake Nojiri is also a popular summer retreat.
 * (Sado City) — with a tragic history of exiles and slave labor gold mines, now known for its scenic beauty and a large music festival

Other destinations

 * — Island with long history and great beaches.
 * — the second largest national park in Japan.

By plane
Niigata Airport handles international flights from Korea (Seoul daily on Korean Air), China (Shanghai and Xian three times weekly on China Eastern, Harbin four times weekly on China Southern), and Guam (twice weekly on Continental). There are also frequent domestic flights from Osaka (¥25,100 one way), Sapporo (¥28,700 one way), Fukuoka (¥31,700 one way), and other cities.

By train
The Joetsu Shinkansen line connects Niigata to Tokyo in around 2 hours, passing through Yuzawa on the way.

Alternatively, the Nagano Shinkansen line connects Nagano to Tokyo also in around 2 hours. From Nagano one can take an express or local train onwards to Myoko and Joetsu in Niigata Prefecture

See
Every year, around the last ten days of July, there is a big fireworks display in Kashiwazaki, which is well known for the ones which are shot off over the Japan Sea. Moreover, the number of the fireworks shot off there is about 15,000 shots and those are so beautiful.

Niigata Garden Road
Niigata Garden Road (にいがた庭園街道, Niigata Teien Kaido, partly bilingual site) is an itinerary of 150km composed of 29 Japanese gardens and traditional buildings in the northern Niigata area, established in 2019.

Do
Niigata is the heart of Japan's Snow Country, which means it's a great place for skiing (see above destinations).

Eat
Niigata is famed for its koshihikari rice, generally considered one of the best grades in the country.

Drink
Thanks to its famous rice and abundance of mountain streams, Niigata produces some of the best sake in the country including famous labels like Kubota (久保田), Koshinokanbai (越乃寒梅) and Hakkaisan (八海山).

Go next

 * Yamagata Prefecture
 * Fukushima Prefecture
 * Tochigi Prefecture
 * Gunma Prefecture
 * Nagano Prefecture
 * Toyama Prefecture

title: Niigata (prefecture)


text:
Niihama

Niihama (新居浜) is a city in eastern part of Ehime Prefecture, on the island of Shikoku, Japan.

Tourist information site
The local tourist association has a Japanese-only guide site with integrated Google Translate.

Get in
Niihama station is on the JR Yosan Line from Uwajima to Takamatsu.

Do

 * Niihama Taiko Festival (新居浜太鼓祭り) is a traditional festival which is held every year from October 16th to 18th. In those 3 days, 47 taikodai (drum floats), each representing a district in Niihama city, are carried by more than 150 peoplr and parade the streets in the city. This festival is also known as a man's festival (otoko matsuri).

Go next

 * Shikokuchuo
 * Saijo
 * Imabari
 * Matsuyama
 * Kanonji
 * Okawa
 * Ino
 * Marugame
 * Takamatsu

title: Niihama


text:
Niijima

Niijima (新島) is a fairly small island (24 km²) and one of the Izu Islands. It is administered as part of Tokyo, but it is about 160 km south of the city. It is known mostly for its surfing and free outdoor hot springs.

Understand
Niijima is generally a sleepy island perfect for a relaxing holiday, but during summer holidays it does attract large crowds. Still, even when busy, there are generally enough secluded beaches to find a quiet spot.

Beyond simply relaxing on the beach, Niijima is most known for its surfing. The geography is such that a fairly good wave can generally be easy to find, and it is often possible to have a beach nearly, if not totally, to yourself.

In addition to surfing, there are many free outdoor hot springs that are a popular way to relax.

Tourist information site
The island and Shikinejima are administered as a municipality, Niijima Village. Its Tourist Information Center has an official Japanese-only guide site.

By boat
It is 2 hours and 20 minutes away by jet boat from Takeshiba Sanbashi Pier, in Tokyo, operated by Tōkai Kisen. Tōkai Kisen also operate a 9-hour overnight ferry. The ferry leaves Takeshiba Sanbashi at 22:00 (23:00 in the summer months) and arrives early morning in Izu Ōshima (approximately 6 hr), before continuing on to Toshima (7 hr), Niijima (8 hr), Shikinejima (8½ hr), and Kōzushima (9½ hr). The ferry then returns following the same route, leaving Niijima at 12:00 and docking in Tokyo at 17:00. It is possible that in rough weather, such as in the picture on the right, the ferry is unable to dock in Niijima.

Other ferries leave from Shimoda, Shizuoka Prefecture.

Finally, Niijima-mura operates a high-speed ferry between Niijima and Shikinejima with 3 boats per day, and 4 per day in the summer months. The one way fare is ¥420, or a return fare is ¥820.

By plane
There are daily flights, weather permitting, from Chōfu Airport located in western Tokyo. The flight takes approximately 45 minutes. The planes flown on this route are 18-seater Dornier turbo prop and a 9-seater Islander turbo prop.

Get around
The island is small enough that a bicycle is more than enough. Some accommodation has bicycles to lend, but they are also easily rented.

See
Maehama Beach on the western side of Niijima sees many wind surfers. The triathlon and ocean water swims (see below) take place here. Mt. Fuji can often be seen from Maehama.

Habushi Beach, on the eastern side of the island, is a nationally protected reserve with its waves and white sand, and is a good location for surfing. The beach is approximately 6.5 km long and is overlooked by koga volcanic cliffs, the highest of which is 250 m.

Moyai Hill, overlooking Yunohama and Maehama beaches, contains more than 100 large stone carvings. In the local dialect, moyai means 'to work together in effort', and these statues make evident this effort. On the western side of JR Shibuya in Tokyo proper is a giant moyai statue, a gift from the people of Niijima.

Yunohama Onsen or hot spring, on Yunohama Beach, is a large outdoor bath built in the style of retro Greek ruins that provides stunning panoramic views of the setting sun and the Pacific Ocean. The bath accommodates up to 100 bathers. Water used in the bath is drawn from the ocean below.

Jūsansha Jinja, or shrine, lies at the base of the cliffs of Mt. Miyatsuka in the north-western corner of the main village on the island. This shrine, built in the Edo period, is recognized as caretakers of intangible cultural assets by the metropolitan government in Tokyo for the Shinto music and dancing, called kagura and chanting, known as shishi-kiyari that are held every December 8th.

Nearby Jūsansha is Chōei-ji, Chōei Temple, a temple dedicated to Nichiren Buddhism. Beside the temple lies the Exiles' Cemetery. The cemetery, covered with the local white sand, is dominated by the gravestones of the 118 exiles, banished to Niijima by the Tokugawa Shogunate during the Edo era for non-political crimes.

A short walk from Chōei Temple is the Exile Execution Ground. Eleven exiles who committed crimes on the island were executed here. Komori Yasu, from the kabuki story 'Yowa Nasake Ukinano Yokoguchi' is buried here.

Niijima Glass Art Center is a world-renowned site which hosts the Niijima International Glass Art Festival every autumn. At the center, visitors are able to create their own glass work to take home. Next to the museum is the Niijima Glass Art Museum which houses works from guest artists at the festival.

Niijima-mura Museum, houses artifacts from the island’s pre-history up to its modern-day surfing culture. Included is a replica fishing vessel and house from the Edo period. Details of the criminal exiles is given. A collaborative effort between the education board and the English department at Niijima High School ensured that the museum is completely bilingual: Japanese-English.

Do
Surf.

Stay safe
There is no hospital or ambulance service on the island and many spots have very light traffic, so try not to get injured. Any serious injury will likely require you to be lifted to Tokyo.

Go next
Shikinejima is a smaller island nearby. It has even less traffic, so if Niijima is not laid back enough, Shikinejima is about as laid-back as you can get in Japan, short of Hokkaido.

title: Niijima


text:
Niimi

Niimi (新見市 Niimi-shi) is a city in Okayama Prefecture, Japan.

Tourist information sites

 * The city government has an official Japanese-only guide site with integrated Google Translate.
 * The local tourist association has a Japanese-only guide site.

Get in
The JR Kishin Line traveling from the east, and the JR Geibi Line from the west, stop in Niimi, and the JR Hakubi Line connects to Niimi from the north and south.

Bihoku Bus and Hankyu Bus operate highway buses from Osaka that stop in Niimi on their way to and from Miyoshi. It's the cheapest way to reach Kansai from Niimi.

Go next
From Niimi, you can travel by train directly to the following destinations:
 * Tsuyama
 * Takahashi
 * Soja
 * Yonago
 * Okayama
 * Kurashiki
 * Matsue
 * Izumo

title: Niimi


text:
Nizamabad

Nizamabad is a city in the state of Telangana in India. The city falls in the category of a developing town with many famous monuments which are in ruins. This district is famous for the Tramaric crop and the large number of monkeys within its limits.

See

 * Temple of Rama is situated at Dichpally, a town in this district.
 * The famous Temple of Lord Shiva (Kanteshwar around 1400BC) is situated in Nizamabad.
 * Few miles away from Basar (Saraswathi Devi Temple).
 * The famous Temple of Lord Shiva (Kanteshwar around 1400BC) is situated in Nizamabad.
 * Few miles away from Basar (Saraswathi Devi Temple).

Eat
There are plenty of Dhabas (roadside open restaurants) at Dichpally.

Breakfast

 * Idly at road side tiffin center beneath old Eenadu office, the peanut chutney there is amazing.
 * Dosa at tiffin center in gandhi ganj.
 * Vada at tiffin center in vinayak Nagar.
 * Manasa Restaurant, HYD Road. For a decent tiffin or breakfast with normal price. Nice tiffin and nice people.
 * Poori at Manasa Restaurant, Nizamabd on Hyderabad road is too good.
 * Pani Puri. bandi opp collector ground, in gandhi ganj
 * Pav Bhaji, Gopal pav bhaji, one more in Gandhi Gunj
 * Jeelebi : Kumar Galli
 * Dokhla: Devi Road Bandi
 * Hind Bakery - awesome hot hot puffs

Fast Food

 * Aroma, Hyd Road.
 * NAVRANG fast food center in Gandhichowk.

Dinner

 * Pay More KAPILA Any chicken you order tastes the same, but out of all Chicken tikka and chicken 65 are good.
 * Biryani Mahfil and paradise.
 * Ankapur Desi chicken..(awesome. One would never forget the spice in lifetime.). The tastiest Chicken Curry.Ankapur Chicken was recognized as International Trademark by popular Telugu News Channel TV9. This brand cuisine is also available in Hyderabad, UAE and USA.

Drink

 * Go to Maklur and drink kallu and neera.
 * Beers and whiskey. Better to drink at home; don't go out.
 * OK kind of place is Kapila and King Club

Sleep

 * Kaplia Hotel.

Go next

 * Ankapur is a small self-sufficient, progressive model village in Armoor Mandal.
 * Bidar
 * Hampi
 * Mantralayam
 * Srisailam

title: Nizamabad


text:
Níjar

Nijar is a town of 30,000 people (2018) in Andalucia. It is an extremely picturesque, typically Moorish, agricultural town on the South East coastline, close to the breathtaking Cabo de Gata-Níjar Natural Park, 45,663 ha of protected coastal area.

Understand
The main sources of income are in agriculture, especially in the growing of greenhouse crops, and tourism, especially the watersports centre of San José.

Get around
The Autovía del Mediterráneo A-7 runs through the municipality in its northern part from east to west, towards Almería and Murcia. Other important roads are the AL-3111, which connects San Isidro with Campohermoso, and the AL-3108 to San José. Transporte Urbano Comarcal de Níjar provides summer bus service to Playa de los Genoveses and Playa de Mónsul from San José stands out. It has bus lines from the Consorcio de Transportes de Almería.

There is taxi service from the urban centres of Campohermoso, San Isidro, Las Negras and La Isleta del Moro.

See
In 2019 the Villa de Níjar was declared one of the "Most Beautiful Towns in Spain". Founded in the 13th century, the streets of white houses and slopes of the Atalaya neighbourhood and the Plaza del Mercado, the scene of the old bartering, stand out. In the Plaza de la Glorieta are the Town Hall and the Mudejar church of Nuestra Señora de la Encarnación de Nijar. Near Níjar is the Church of Huebro from 1690 with Mudejar elements.

The 16th-century church of Santa Maria is a wonderful place to see some local craftsmanship.

Do
January and September are a great time to visit, as you will stumble upon a fiesta or their agricultural and livestock fair.

On the first Sunday of October, villagers make a pilgrimage to El Huebro sanctuary, about 6 km from Nijar. Níjar is the municipality in the province of Almería with the largest number of beaches and coves along its 63 km of coastline. The best known and most visited beaches are those of San José, Playa de Monsul, Playa de los Genoveses, Playa de Las Negras, Cala de San Pedro and El Playazo de Rodalquilar. In 2010, The New York Times described the beaches of the Cabo de Gata-Níjar natural park as the "paradise of Europe". The beaches of San José and San José have also obtained the Q for Quality Flag and the Blue Flag.

Buy
Make sure you leave space in your luggage for some of the delightful ceramics, textiles and pottery that Nijar is famed for.

Eat
There is an abundance of reasonably priced bars and restaurants serving tapas and more. You won’t be short of somewhere to watch real Spanish life pass you by.

Sleep
There is something for every budget, from a four-star hotel to a simple hostel. You will also find campsites in the area: Camping Rodalquilar and Camping Cabo de Gata.

title: Níjar


text:
Nijhum Dwip

Nijhum Dwip, meaning Silent Island (Bengali: নিঝুম দ্বীপ), is a small island near Hatiya upazila. It is situated in Noakhali District in Bangladesh. Once it was called as Char Osman.

This virgin new island of Nijhum Dwip raised on the estuary of the great Meghna channel in the mouth of The Bay of Bengal. The geographical location has been identified just 2 kilometers south west of Hatia under Noakhali district. This newly accredited island may be called as cluster of islands consist of more than 4-5 small islands like Char Osman, Char Kamla, Corner of Char Osman and isolated from the mainland by Hatia channel.

This Island could be the next prime tourist spot after St. Martins Island. It has mangrove forests where you will find deer and monkeys. A huge number of migratory birds come to this island in winter, enhancing the beauty of this island. Nijhum Dwip is not easy to get to but its beauty makes a journey here well worth it.

Understand
This island was settled in 1969 and subsequently the forest department under took a massive drive for reforestation by mangrove species. Now this island has been declared as the unique eco-touristic spot for its ideal natural setup with the rich biodiversification factors and the perennial mangrove forest with wild animals like spotted deer, wild boar and rhesus macaque and for the ideal habitat for fish resources. Since the south coast is open to the mouth of great span of Bay of Bengal, the appearance of whale sometimes occurred. There are more than eight (8) thousand inhabitants found their permanent settlement in the island and their occupation are mainly cultivation and fishing. NGOs like Red Crescent, Proshika, Human Development centre and JAICA are involved with their development projects on this island. Due to its rich natural and biodiversifical factors, the touristic potentiality have enormously enhanced. In spite of difficult access and lack of good residential facilities, a few thousand enthusiastic local tourists visit this island during winter every year.

Get in
You can go to this Island either from Dhaka or from Chittagong. From Chittagong first you will to go Hatia Island by boat and from there you can go to Nijhum Island by local motor boat. From Dhaka you can go Tomzuddion by launch from Sadarghat launch terminal. From there you can go to Nijhum Island by local motorboat.

Since there is no regular river transport or passenger route from Dhaka to Nijhum Dwip, it is difficult to organize direct tour from Dhaka to Nijhum Dwip and Kuakata beach through coastal water ways. The main problem is that there is no navigation light, the hundreds of submerged islands due to the constant deposition of silt through the Megna estuary.

Sleep
Accommodation is very limited for the tourists in this Island. You can take foods from local restaurants but be careful about the quality of foods. If you can take prior permission for forest department then you can stay in forest rest house in Nijhum Island. Another possibility for accommodation is in District Parishod Guest house. If you take the permission from Thana administration (TNO) of Hatia you can also stay in the District Parishod Guest house.

title: Nijhum Dwip