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| You begin your trip in Lagos,
the largest city in Nigeria. Enjoy a boat ride on the lagoon, shop at city
markets, explore the houses of the old Brazilian quarter, and relax at
your hotel on lovely Victoria Island. |
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We travel west to Badagry and
Nigeria's little known history of slavery. Visit the Mobee Family Slave
Museum, the Badagry Door of No Return and the new Museum of UNESCO's Slave
Route Project. Relax at Whispering Palms Resort on the shores of Badagry
lagoon. You will meet the Yoruba people who live in southwest Nigeria. |
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Money: Nigerian Naira
Time: EST + 5 hrs.
Language: English &
Local Languages.
Capital: Abuja
Population: 124 Million |
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Leaving Badagry, we fly north
to Kano on the edge of the Sahara desert. This ancient city was an important
stop on the caravan routes. You have entered the heartland of the Hausa
people - the center of Nigeria's Islamic culture. Visit the Royal Palace
and meet the Emir of Kano. Explore the dye pits where indigo cloth is produced.
Visit the camel market and the city market where you can find cloth, spices
and antique beads. Tour the Gidan Makama Museum to see relics of past emirs
and the architecture of the north. Twice a year, coinciding with Islamic
holidays, Kano hosts a colorful durbar with a procession of mounted warriors. |
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| Next we journey to Abuja, Nigeria's
capital - a new city carved out of the plains of central Nigeria. Visit
Zuma Rock, a landmark of spiritual importance that even appears on Nigeria's
money. Take a City Tour of Abuja and see the architecture of government
buildings, mosques and parks. From here we travel south by road to Oshogbo
and the sacred Shrine of Oshun, goddess of Water. |
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At the Shrine of Oshun you will
see intricate carvings that are the lifework of Austrian artist and patron
of the shrine - Suzanne Wenger. Each year the Shrine is the site of a huge
festival to honor the Goddess of the Waters and Fertility. Oshogbo is also
famous for its art schools and numerous galleries. We travel southward
to Ibadan, another of Nigeria's large cities, where you will see more examples
of fine architecture. Before we arrive back in Lagos, we pass through Abeokuta,
home to the famous Adire indigo cloth. Along our route, you will see a
cultural performance of the famous Yoruba masked Geledi Dancers. |
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| Throughout your journey you will
have ample opportunities to meet and intereact with members of the Igbo,
Hausa and Yoruba - Nigeria's three principal cultures. Shopping excursions
will form an important part of our itinerary and Nigeria is well known
for its carvings, textiles and pottery. |
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