24/07/2018
TOUR AKWA IBOM / CALABAR
Here comes the Akwa Ibom and Calabar carnival (from 26Dec, 2018 – 3rd Jan 2019)
This is how you will most likely be greeted when you visit the beautiful culture-rich cities of Akwa Ibom and Calabar.
Emedi ooo!!!
Located in the Southern part of Nigeria, these two states were one (Cross River state) until September 23rd, 1987 when Akwa Ibom state was made a separate and independent state.
Both Cross River and Akwa Ibom states pride themselves in various notable natural and man-made resources, which make them choice locations for tourists from all over the world.
Being one of the biggest oil producing states and industrial sites, this twin-states can boast of being a major contributor to the Nigeria’s economy and development.
Cross River was the first Nigeria capital during the colonial era and has the first sea port discovered in Nigeria.
The cities of Calabar and Uyo are “neat and green” and so, you can enjoy unpolluted fresh air as you tour through them to savour the beauty of very interesting, historic, educative, and entertaining sites. Oops, and lest I forget and in case you don’t, know… the meals – Wow! The people of Akwa ibom and Cross River know just what’s right for your rumbling tummy. These states have very rich varieties of foods and their culinary skills is top notch. A visit to either their local kitchens, restaurants, or bars will give you a life time experience, giving you a reason to want to visit over and over again.
And yeah, the people of Cross River and Akwa ibom know how to enjoy life to the brim so if you are a night life lover, these cities are ready to give you an unforgettable experience. Don’t leave these cities without enjoying the beauties of their night life they offer.
What better way to start your journey into Akwa Ibom and Cross River state than from the capital cities, Calabar and Uyo.
It’s interesting to get acquainted with one of the best-organized cities in Nigeria. Quite simply, they are always camera ready, leaving many tourists with several pictures perfect moments and memories they would find hard to forget.
Let’s not bore you with too many stories that might sound too fascinating to be true. Come with us as we virtually take you through some mind-blowing locations you wouldn’t mind spending fortunes and travelling through lands and seas to experience.
Day One:
Hello Akwa Ibom / Calabar (Arrival):
Hang out at 5pm around Ibom plaza and dinner
a. Ibom Connection
Strategically located in the very heart of Uyo City, the popular Ibom Connection stands tall as a fascinating monument symbolizing the unity of the people of Akwa Ibom state. It is indeed a delightful art-piece, skirted with a dazzling selection of uniquely beautiful flowers. The landmark presents a beautiful glimpse of the great works of art and architecture tourists are likely to find around Uyo.
b. Ibom Plaza
Right across from the Ibom Connection is the Ibom Plaza. One of the best places to go shopping. Whatever you think to buy you will find there at very affordable prices. Ibom Plaza has an open theatre, double-rolled water fountain within the Plaza making it one of a kind in Nigeria.
Day Two:
City Tour
Ibom Tropicana Entertainment Centre
Modeled after the Sun City of South Africa and the famous Disneyland in Orlando, Florida, USA, the Ibom Tropicana Entertainment Centre comprises of a 14-storey building with a 250-bedroom five-star hotel, an ultra-modern convention centre with a multi-floor capacity of 5000, a galleria with cinema, a shopping complex, a 10,000 sitting dome as well as and theme park with various dry and wet rides/attractions.
Day Three:
a. Ibeno Beach
Who doesn't like the beach? Sand, sun, sea and the blue sky. Well, at Ibeno Beach you have loads of that. A 30km long stretch of white sand and clear waters, Ibeno Beach has the longest beachfront in West Africa. A popular tourist attraction for Nigerians and several foreigners. Whip out the sunshades and a sunny disposition, you're sure to have the time of your life.
The Playground.
Step into the Playground after a long day of taking in the sights and sounds. You will be welcomed by the very satisfying aroma of meat on a grill (except you are vegetarian, and you'll probably change your mind after a visit to the Playground). Home of all things barbequed from suya to snails, you would be glad you came.
Dinner at Lé Meridien Ibom Hotel and Golf Resort.
Le Méridien Ibom Hotel & Golf Resort, the pride of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, and self-acclaimed Nigeria's unexpected retreat is a must-visit. Amidst rich palm forest vegetation, this magnificent hotel promises the very best of hospitality that money can buy. The lush greens of the world-class 18-hole golf course are one of the best in the Nation.
Day Four:
Visit to the following Tourist Sight:
a. National Museum of Colonial History.
Here's one for all the art and history buffs. Located at Wellington Bassey Way, The National Museum of Colonial History in Uyo houses collections centres on the creation of the state as well as ethnographic items – artefacts, relics, valuable antiquities and carvings related to the people of Akwa Ibom State. It also contains an attractive, shaded waterfront garden where one can watch small boats drifting on the creeks.
b. The Amalgamation House.
Amalgamation House is the building in which Lord Lugard declared the amalgamation of the Northern and Southern Protectorates of Nigeria in 1914. A one storied cottage - it is claimed to be the first administrative headquarters of the region before it was taken to Calabar.
c. Presybterian Church
It was built by the famous missionary- Mary Slessor, who stopped the killing of twins amongst the people of the region. Her tomb was also built on the spot where she was buried and the house she lived before her death situated around Ikot/Oron/Itu village in Akwa Ibom State.
d. Godswill Obot Akpabio International Stadium.
The Godswill Akpabio International Stadium (formerly Akwa Ibom International Stadium) is an all-seater national sports stadium located in Uyo, the state capital of Akwa Ibom. The stadium is known as the champion's nest since it serves as a home to the Nigerian Super Eagles as well as a centre for various social, cultural, and religious events. The 30,000 seater ultra modern multi purpose sports complex was modelled after Allianz Arena. Undoubtedly the best stadium in Nigeria, it is built to meet all international safety standards. Visiting this stadium would be pure joy for any lover of football.
Unity Park
More commonly known as “Cenotaph” to those local to Uyo. Unity Park serves as a public park and cenotaph for fallen heroes. Each year the Armed Forces Remembrance Day holds there. Visit Unity Park especially on Saturday mornings and hundreds of people engage in various activities.
Dinner at Kilimanjaro Restaurant
Famous for its exotic and delicious dishes, a visit to Uyo is not complete without tasting their native delicacies. Enter Kilimanjaro, one of the best places to eat meals in Uyo. From native Akwa Ibom dishes to foreign delicacies.
CALABAR IN A BIT!
Day Five:
Transit to Calabar
Visit to Summit Hills
Summit Hills
This is a 367 hectares real estate development outside the city centre which has as its main attraction the imposing International Convention Centre.
There is also a hotel, recreational facilities, a golf course, a nature reserve, a purpose-built hospital and residential accommodation. Summit Hills is, to put it frankly, a jaw-dropping development which when fully completed, will herald the arrival of Calabar as a destination city in Africa and beyond.
The impressive mixed-use lifestyle development combines convention, recreation, arts, culture, housing and healthcare facilities all within an exclusive and idyllic location which is serviced by some of the most excellent transport links in Nigeria including the Margaret Ekpo International Airport bypass linking to the city centre, Tinapa and the Calabar Free Trade Zone.
The train ferries passengers between Summit Hills and the Tinapa Complex, allowing smooth access to Studio Tinapa, Tinapa Shopping Centre, and the Tinapa Water-park. Isn’t that awesome?
Day Six:
TinapaResort,Calabar
Tinapa is a resort district, 10 km outside of Calabar, in the Cross River State, Nigeria. The hotel comprises of 243 rooms and delivers top class comfort and service to every guest.
A visit to Tinapa exposes its breath-taking architectural design, and includes a wholesale emporium, retail outlets, food court with take-away outlets, administrative centres, parking space for 3000 cars and coaches, wave pool, standing wave surfing, lazy river slide, water slides, picnic area, children's pool and play area. The fisherman's village compromises of the mud bar, a branded nightclub, arts and crafts village and a man-made lake.
These and more make Tinapa, a world-class edifice. All these facilities are supported by a robust 24/7 independent power supply system, first-class ICT infrastructure as well as top security.
Recreational facilities such as Tinapa Waterpark is an invitation to experience unequalled family fun at Tinapa Resort. The waterpark has facilities for both adult and children.
Day Seven:
Obudu Cattle Ranch
Exploring The Tourism Potential Of Obudu Mountain Resort
Located on a plateau of about 1,576 metres above sea level at Obanliku Local Government Area in northern Cross River State, the Obudu Cattle Ranch, as it was formerly known, was established in 1949 by Mr. McCaughley, a Scottish rancher who camped on the mountaintop for a month before returning with his fellow rancher, Mr. Hugh Jones, who in 1951, together with Dr. Crawfeild developed the ranch.
While the Ranch Resort may have played host to the country’s former leaders in the past, its recent patronage, at two separate intervals, by President Goodluck Jonathan and his Sierra Leonian counterpart, Ernest Bai Koroma, highlights expressively its potential as a congenial place salutary for retreat not only for top government functionaries but also for those who value relaxation.
If anything, the visit to the Ranch comes as a bold attestation it is indeed a place of national pride, and indeed a rendezvous to showcase to the world nature’s holidaying spot, a sanctuary where world leaders converge.
Day Eight:
Sightseeing tour to the following location:
a. Marina Resort: The Marina Resort in Calabar sits on a great historical site, the water mouth of Calabar. It stands near old slave trade sites, where an estimated 30% of the slaves that left the shores of Africa were deported. Today, the Marina Resort is a preserved historical site and recreation center. Here you will find the iconic slave history museum, hotel, restaurant; night club, a carousel for the children and extraordinary views of the Calabar River. For the Original contestants who got to spend a whole day before the show exploring Calabar, it was a truly once-in-a-lifetime experience.
b. Calabar Museum
Housed in the beautiful old British governor’s building overlooking the river, the museum has a fascinating collection covering Calabar’s days as the seat of the Efik kingdom, the slave and palm-oil trade, and the colonial period. Open between 9am and 6pm daily, the Calabar Museum charges an admission fee.
An interesting part about Calabar Museum is that it was designed and constructed in parts in Glasgow, and transported to Nigeria over a series of shipments. Calabar has a long history of colonial rule, and this museum represents the era. The museum has also preserved precious papers and documents pertaining to the colonial times.
The museum offers free guided tours during off-peak periods. You can gain an in-depth knowledge about the colonial past of Calabar at the museum. There is a big library that holds legal and constitutional documents in their original forms. The upper floor has been preserved with original furnishings of the time when it was used by colonial settlers. The
antiquity, exhibits and artifacts at the museum can engage the attention of interested visitors for several hours. Unfortunately no cameras are allowed in the museum.
Cross River National Park, Cross River State
c.Cross River National Park is one of top Nigeria’s eco-tourism destinations where tropical rain forest rare animals and birds can be observed in their natural habitat.
The project has created a proper boundary for the park, and programs are being implemented against illegal hunting, logging and land clearance.
The Park is home to many localised species of plants and animals which, include gorilla, drill, chimpanzee, a gwantibo or golden potto forest elephant, saleginella specie. Baboons, Leopards, Red Foxes, Drill Monkeys, Buffaloes and Elephants are also found there. It also harbours a rich collection of flora and fauna.
Afi Mountain Wildlife Sanctuary
d. Afi Mountain Wildlife Sanctuary is manage by Cross River State Forestry Commission and it homes rare chimpanzees, gorillas and drill monkeys. Find out more about Africa’s rare chimpanzees, gorrilas and drill monkeys.
The forests on Afi Mountain are a barrier against the encroaching derived savannah from the west and north. In 1993, Pandrillus started community protection patrols using local hunters to discourage shooting and trapping, an education programme in the 17 villages surrounding the mountain, and brought the communities together as a common interest group for the first time.
Spend your Christmas in Nigeria, let’s spoil you a little with the best of treat.
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Good luck
