Top 20 Interesting Places to Visit in Calabar State Nigeria
Calabar is arguably the cleanest and most beautiful city in Nigeria. It is the most developed city in Cross River state and is located close to the Nigerian-Cameroonian border. This city, considered to be one of the best destinations for international tourists is blessed with a lot of tourist attractions and is definitely a city that everyone in Nigeria should visit at least once in a lifetime.
This article contains the top 20 most interesting places to visit in Calabar.
The National Museum, Calabar
Topping the list of the top 20 interesting places in Calabar is the National Museum. Formerly known as the Government House, this building was built to serve as accommodation for the British administrators in Calabar. It was both residential and administrative. It is one of the remaining history museums in Nigeria.
Duke Town Church, Duke Town
Duke town church might not mean much to a non-Christian. This church, however, is one of the oldest churches in Nigeria. It was established in the 19th century by the Presbyterian missionaries. This church has a breathtaking architecture and has been converted to a tourist site.
Summit Hills, Calabar
Summit Hills occupies 367 hectares and is a real estate development which comprises of residential buildings, a golf course, a hotel, and recreational facilities. Although summit hills was built to be a self-existing community, it is also open to tourists.
Millennium Park, Calabar
Are you visiting Calabar for the first time and looking to learn about the history of the paradise city? Then, Millennium part should be one of your major destinations. This park is also perfect for relaxation and picnics.
U.J Esuene Stadium, Calabar
As a football fan, your stay in Calabar will be incomplete without a visit to the U.J Esuene Stadium. This stadium hosted some of the matches that were played at the u-17 world cup in Nigeria in 2009. It was built in 1977 and is the home stadium of Calabar Rovers; a professional football team.
Botanic Gardens, Calabar
Botanic gardens dates all the way back to the 1880s. It was set up by the British with the aim of getting economic crops into Nigeria from other parts of the world.
Slave Museum, Marina Beach
Contrary to what a lot of individuals assume, the Slave Museum is not an old building. It was established in 2007 and was commissioned in 2011. This museum contains very rich information on slave trade activities that were very popular in the 15th century.
Drill Rehabilitation Center, Drill Ranch
Drill rehabilitation centre is a wildlife sanctuary which was built in 1991 to preserve the lives of Drills; an endangered African primate. Drill rehabilitation centre is one of the most successful animal rehabilitation centres in the world. In addition to ensuring the continued survival of Drills, orphaned chimpanzees are also taken care of.
Cross River National Park, Ikom
Cross River National Park is divided into two sections, they are the Oban and Okwangwo sections. This park houses some of the most endangered plants and animals in the world. It is also on the list of parks that are regarded as biodiversity hotspots.
Kwa Waterfalls, Kwa
Kwa waterfalls is situated in Cross River National Park. Regarded as Nigeria’s own tropical paradise, Kwa waterfalls is made of 234 well-arranged staircases and settles into a pool of water at its base. Although this waterfall is very spectacular, even more inviting is the beach at the bank of the pool which it settles into.
Chief Ekpo Bassey’s House
Imported in segments and put together on site, Chief Ekpo Bassey’s house is situated at number 19, Boko Street, Calabar. This house was home to Chief Ekpo Bassey and is now a tourist attraction in Cross River state.
Mary Slessor’s House, Odukpani
Made out of iron sheets and located in Odukpakin Local Government Area, Mary Slessor’s House is a tourist site in Cross River state. Just as its name depicts, this house was home to the woman that was responsible for putting an end to the killing of twins in Calabar. After her death, it became a primary health center and a rest home for missionaries.
Statue of Mary Slessor, Creek town
If you are thinking that the statue of Mary Slessor will be found at Mary Slessor’s house, you are wrong. The statue of Mary Slessor is a statue that was erected in honour of Mary Slessor, a woman popular for stopping the killing of twin babies in Calabar. This statue is located at Creektown, Calabar.
Mary Slessor’s Tomb, Duke Town
Mary Slessor’s tomb might not appear like a site that is worth visiting. That notwithstanding, it is a tourist attraction in Cross River state. This tomb is located at Eyamba street cemetery in Duke town and was visited by Queen Elizabeth II when she came to Nigeria.
Tinapa Resort, Calabar
Tinapa resort is a great place for both business and leisure. This resort is located in a trade free zone, thereby making it a great place for traders of all kinds of goods. In addition to being a good place for business, Tinapa is one of Cross River state’s biggest tourist destinations. It features a casino, a digital cinema, artificial tidal lakes, etc.
Tortuga Island, Calabar
Tortuga Island is a perfect place to relax after spending your day touring around the beautiful city of Calabar. This island is considered one of the gems of Calabar. Although not as popular as some of the other tourist attractions in Cross River state, Tortuga Island is a great place to hang out with your friends and family.
Marina Resort Children’s Playground, Calabar
Marina Resort Children’s playground is a world-class amusement park that was designed with the whole family in mind. This playground features lots of activities that will make any time spent here truly satisfactory. Some of its facilities are; Family café, jumping castle, swings, slides, etc.
Obudu Moutain Resort, Obudu
Obudu mountain resort is located 45km from the border shared by Cross river state and Cameroon. It is among the most visited tourist attractions in the world. In as much as it is okay to visit Obudu anytime you feel like, you will obtain much more satisfaction if you visit Obudu between October and February. During this period, the weather is ideal for going for long walks on the mountain.
Becheve Nature and African Huts, Obudu
Do you live in Calabar or visiting for the first time? Do, you love birds? If yes, then, Becheve Nature and African huts is a place that you should visit. This tourist site houses over 250 species of birds and is designed in ways that tourists can trek for up to 60km without any form of hindrance. Although Becheve Nature and African Huts is a section of the Obudu Mountain Resort, it is a place that is worth visiting even after spending time in other sections of the Obudu mountain resort.
Agbokim Waterfalls, Ikom
Agbokim waterfalls is located very close to the Nigerian-Cameroonian border. It is made up of seven streams which lead to a seven-faced waterfall. Agbokim waterfalls is an impressive and attractive tourist destination. It is a perfect location for a vacation.
Calabar boasts of more than a lot of people are aware of. If you find yourself in Calabar, then, make it a duty to visit some of these places.
