The largest city in the country, however, is Lagos, the former capital. With around eleven million inhabitants, this city is also one of the most populous in the world.
The largest city in the country, however, is Lagos, the former capital. With around eleven million inhabitants, this city is also one of the most populous in the world. The population of Nigeria consists of more than 400 ethnic groups. The largest ethnic groups include the Yoruba, Hausa, Igbo, Fulani and Kanuri. Due to these ethnic groups, the most important indigenous languages of the country also include Hausa, Yoruba and Igbo, and English is the official language. The population of Nigeria is made up mostly of Muslims, Christians and followers of the traditional African nature religions.
Sights in Nigeria
Among the country’s sights are, for example, the old Portuguese colonial buildings in the ancient royal city of Oyo, the Oshun shrines of Oshogbo, the major port of Port Harcourt, the historic city of Zaria, the medieval city of Kano, and the Olumirin waterfalls near Akure.
Other attractions in Nigeria include the country’s natural landscapes, with impressive mountain ranges or the area around Lake Chad. In this region, a particularly large number of different birds can be observed. However, the area around Lake Chad is flooded during the rainy season.
The Kainji National Park, in the west of the country, is also home to many bird species. But many wild animals, such as lions, leopards, hippopotamuses and many antelope species, also live in this area. The Yankari National Park is located in the east of the country. Here, among other things, African elephants, green monkeys, African buffaloes and olive baboons can be observed in their natural habitat.
Location and Climate of Nigeria
Nigeria is located in West Africa and shares land borders with Cameroon, Niger, Benin and Chad. It also borders the Gulf of Guinea. The length of the coastline is around 850 kilometres.
In southern Nigeria, there is a humid and hot tropical climate. Daytime temperatures in this region average around 30 degrees Celsius throughout the year, and even at night, temperatures do not drop significantly. Northern Nigeria, on the other hand, is characterised by a dry and hot desert climate. The rainy season in this region lasts from April to October, and the rest of the year is dry. Temperatures are significantly higher in the north, reaching up to 50 degrees Celsius. However, temperatures drop significantly at night.
Entry and Arrival
Nigeria can be reached by direct flight from some European airports, such as Frankfurt Airport. The country’s international airport is located more than 20 kilometres from the city centre of Lagos. Transfers from the airport to hotels are possible by taxi and bus. Nigeria can also be reached by car via border crossings from other countries or via the country’s ports.
When entering the country, German tourists must present proof of a valid yellow fever vaccination, a passport and a valid visa. The visa must be applied for at the competent foreign mission before the trip. It should be noted that the processing time for the visa can take up to three weeks. The visa is issued to each tourist with a validity of three months, but the stay is usually limited to a maximum of four weeks.
