The "giant of Africa" is a country to mark on your map of visits, both for its natural beauty and pulsating economy, and for the cultural contrasts you will find there.
FROM BEACHES TO SAVANNAHS
As we have already mentioned, Nigeria is a country of contrasts and even its climate and landscapes prove it. From the sandy beaches to the tropical forests, through the savannahs plateaus, the warm and humid climate of the coast, which contrasts with a desert and arid north - we can’t forget how close we are from the Sahara desert.
One of the places you can not miss is the Yankari National Park, with its elephants, gorillas, lions, hippos and all the wildlife in its natural habitat. If you’re still not convinced, let us tell you about Wiki Hot Springs, the perfect place for a swim in crystal clear waters, surrounded by mandrills.
THE “GIANT OF AFRICA”
With 174 million inhabitants, Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa and also one of the richest. In its subsoil there is one of the largest oil reserves in the world. About a million square kilometers of "black gold," can you imagine? With a production of more than 1500 million barrels of oil per day, Nigeria is the largest African producer of this fossil mineral.
THE CULTURAL WEALTH OF NIGERIA
But when we speak of the greatness of Nigeria, we are not referring only to its population or its natural resources. Nigeria is able to gather within its borders a mixture of peoples and cultures, histories and religions that won’t leave any visitor indifferent. It is true that we see this "mixture" a bit throughout Africa, but here we breathe a cultural wealth in raw state. There are more than 250 different languages and cultures, predominantly Muslim but also Christian, especially after the colonization of Nigeria by Europeans in the 19th and 20th centuries.
It was also by this time that the first African sculptures, some of them from Nigeria, arrived in Europe. And what for many was considered primitive, served as inspiration for great masters such as Gauguin and Picasso.
When buying a souvenir, opt for a piece of handicraft, whether in leather, bronze or wood and bring a piece of Nigerian culture. Funeral masks, ivory sculptures and terracotta pieces are some of the examples you can purchase.
