Nestled among the West African Savanna woodlands and grasslands lay the country of Nigeria. Abuja happens to be the capital city of Nigeria. It was not always so, but rampant modernization led to the planned construction of this city in the 1980s. Soon, by December 1991 Abuja flourished and replaced Lagos, the most populous city in Nigeria as the capital. It is a landlocked city and marked by the presence of the immensely monolithic Aso Rock. Being a relatively new city, it is exceptionally well planned with excellent routing systems and picturesque Instagram worthy locations.
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Zuma Rock
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A gigantic monolith, the Zuma Rock is one of the most attractive features of the Abuja geography. It stands majestically along the side of the road connecting Abuja and Kaduna. This humongous single piece of rock goes up to an exorbitant height of 1,125m and is a natural wonder. The most interesting feature of this rock, however, is not its hugeness. It seems that the rock has a human-like face of its own which has come across due to years of weathering by the wind!
Usman Lower Dam
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Though Abuja is a landlocked city, it has its share of scenic water-ridden areas and the Usman Lower Dam is the most pristine of them all. It is a superb location with a water body and elevated areas in the form of huge rocks. The water attracts lots of birds all year round and this is a small haven for bird watchers looking for exotic migratory birds. Tourists and locals alike flock this place to enjoy a comfortable hike or to have a nice, cozy picnic along the picturesque banks.
National Children Park and Zoo
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In the Asokoro district of the city of Abuja lays the National Children Park and Zoo. As can be gathered from the name, this place is a shelter for the wild animals and hosts a huge collection. With all the tress and other flora in the region, this is a soothing place to enjoy a comfortable time with friends and family. Be it a picnic, or just a fresh visit, this place will garner a lot of great photographs as well as memories among the visitors.
Abuja City Gate
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The Abuja City Gate is the first man-made structure in Abuja to welcome tourists en route from the airport, which has come to have a good time in Abuja. It is more of a sentimental piece of architecture as it marks the entryway into the Abuja city center. It is used to welcome important personalities and guests into the city and also visitors from faraway lands. The City Gate features the Nigerian coat of arms and the Nigerian flag and is a location where one can never tire of clicking pictures and selfies.
Nike Art Gallery and Workshop
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7.5km from the Abuja Airport lays a meticulously designed place, most significant for art lovers. Numerous stone statues, fantastically carved structures, interesting huts with roofs that are shaped in the form of animals- the Nike Art Gallery and Workshop is a fascinating place to visit for art enthusiasts. Various workshops are also always ongoing in this interesting spot about performing arts such as singing and dancing and going all the way to such artistic endeavors as wall painting and the likes. The Nike Art Gallery and Workshop has indeed amalgamated the traditional aspects of Nigerian culture with modern means in quite an interesting fashion.
Abuja Art and Craft Village
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A village designed to artistic perfection, the Abuja Art and Craft Village should be on everybody’s to-do list visiting Abuja. The place is designed and houses the National Council for Arts and Culture and is a hub for the traditional Nigerian lifestyle. Thatched roof huts made from clay are at display in this place. These huts serve as art shops and sell a variety of Nigerian artifacts such as beaded necklaces, “soldier and horse” statuettes and so on. If you are looking to collect a souvenir from Abuja, then this is one-stop for you.
Jabi Lake
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Jabi Lake is another photogenic region in Abuja. A park designed around the lake attracts both foreign and local visitors all year round. Various activities such as horse riding, river boating, etc. are conducted at this park regularly. It is a soothing place to have a fun time with one’s family. There is a grand mall nearby that can be visited if you are indeed visiting the Jabi Lake.
Abuja National Mosque
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The most impressive structure in the entirety of Abuja is the golden dome, playing with and reflecting the sun’s light of the Abuja National Mosque. This is a very important site in Abuja as a majority of its population follows Islam. The mosque, however, is open to all kinds of visitors except during congregational meetings. Library, a religious school, and even a conference hall are all housed in this mosque.
Gurara Falls
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The Gurara Falls is a splendid waterfall located in the Suleja district of Abuja. The place is a haven for the ones who love to go clicking there way through any place. With lush vegetation and an astonishing waterfall, this is a most picturesque location in Abuja. The waterfall is charming and one can spend a good time over here in a group, or even alone. Multiple ponds are created naturally from the collected water and one can even take a refreshing swim in one of these ponds.
IBB Golf Course
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A lush green well maintained golf course, this is a breathtaking place in Abuja. The Golf Course houses 18 holes to play at and hosts outstanding food and beverages at the most affordable prices. The golf course even houses two separate tennis courts. This is a marvelous place to meet new people, even locals, and have a grand, fun time.
Millennium Park
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Of all the fun activities that Abuja has to offer, a visit to the Millennium Park is the most fun of all. This is one of the most well-groomed parks that you will ever come across and is just the finest place to have a picnic or just a gathering of friends. The most interesting thing about this wonderful park is that entry is free of any charges.
Aso Rock
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The Aso Rock is a landmark in Abuja. It’s humongous but it is only one single piece of rock. This monolith stands at a magnificent height of 400m and is one of nature’s mega structures. The rock is so humongous that it is visible from several locations within the city. No matter what, this giant wonder in Abuja should be missed at no cost and one should make it a point to visit this place irrespective of anything.
Just So You Know:
- The Abuja nightlife is filled with live band performances at various pubs and hotels and they should not be missed- especially by the night party goers.
- On the way to the airport lies The Dome- a fantastic gaming hub where one gets to play all such games like bowling, pool and even several video games.
Get Some Culture:
- The month of August will see the Abuja Summer Festival 2019, the fourth year running. Immerse in summertime fun with exquisite Nigerian delicacies, and set the party-animal free with DJs, songs, dancing, and much more at the River Plate Park this August!
- The Abuja National Cultural Center just beside the Abuja National Mosque is a humongous auditorium that hosts various Abujan cultural programs and should be visited by the ones wishing to delve deeper into the Nigerian way of life.
Grab A Bite:
- Salamander Café, Café 24, Cube Café, etc. are but some of the cafes that are available in Abuja and each one of them surpasses the other in ambiance, quality of food and so on.
- 494 Bangui St. is home to the Jevinik Restaurant that is known to serve the most delectable Nigerian cuisine in all of Abuja.
