Cross River State: One of the Top 10 Places to Visit in Nigeria

Gustave Flaubert wasn’t wrong when he observed that “Travel makes one modest, you see what a tiny place you occupy in the world”. Wherever you are in the world, in seeking an exquisite destination to visit with your family, Cross River State remains one of the top 10 places to visit in Nigeria. The State is located in the South-Eastern Nigeria along the Calabar River. This amazing place harbors the most breathtaking scenarios in West Africa.

From the famous Obudu mountains in the North, to the horrendous Atlantic Ocean in the South.

A winding road to Obudu Mountain — Photo source: www.dangerousroads.org

Cross River is enveloped in a rich bizarre of amazing sunset, high peaks, multi streamed waterfalls, temp rain forest, rare wild-life as well as an ancient history. The State has some of the most developed tourist resorts in West Africa. Its capital, Calabar (also referred to as ‘Canaan city’) is made up of colorful neighborhood and towns. Here, rich varieties of places that provide soothing relaxation and assorted recreational facilities prevail.

With smooth and lively nightlife, vibrant and unique cultural heritage, outdoor adventures and an eclectic range of mind-expanding attractions. The State has beautiful and historic sites. These sites include: slave museum at the city’s Marina Resort, Zoo Garden Park in the center of town and the exclusive Aqua Visitors Resort tugged away in the creeks and swamps of Calabar.

The resort by the Marina occupies a large landscape with an industrial feel. The well arranged landscape is tempered by upscale design elements. Its cozy reception hall is exquisitely embroidered in ombre-style. The watercolor walls starts off in blue-green near the ceiling and then fade to pink-white. The comfy sofas in the waiting area posses a plush banquette seating and a centerpiece bar adorned with greenery.

In Calabar, if you desire to embark on a boat cruise from the Marina Resort, it calls for no brain quiz. You can easily hire a speed boat-out to one of many island beaches in the Atlantic Ocean. This trip is just 30minuites away from the resort. Would you be looking for where to shop during your visit in the city? By far the most apt market of the resort around Calabar is the Tinapa Business Resort complete with its own world class shopping centre, Water Park, hotel and Hollywood star films studio.

Attached to the Calabar free trade zone and with Atlantic Ocean only an hour away, the government and the host of private investors believe Tinapa will become a world class business and entertainment resort eventually transforming Calabar into a global trading and tourism hub. Just a few years ago, Tinapa announced the opening of T-mart, the largest retail shop in Nigeria. At Tinapa, anything in the world could be imported for merchandise.

Cross River State has one of the best culinary reputations in Nigeria. The menu is designed to impress, too. Although it changes regularly, you will always find a mix of seafood, wood-fired pizzas, and house made pasta. Not excluding on the menu rich protein food such as grilled pork, roast chicken and braised lamb. If the burrata and blistered tomato toast is on the menu, order it. The blend of flavors is so addictive; you will find yourself trying to replicate it at home all summer long. Cross River feels like a place that is rediscovering itself. It is serene, neat and accommodating.

And thanks to a plethora of festivals and events, the Calabar City is frequently in a cheerful frame of mind attracting some of the biggest names in international entertainment such as Hugh Masakela, the Jazz musician who has become a regular performer at Tinapa, and around the city especially in December when the city hosts a Christmas festival that last an incredible thirty-two days. Today, with the city’s carnival breaking international records as the Africa’s biggest street party, Cross Riverians are proud to welcome people from all over world to the greatest original festival on the continent.

For Eco tourists, head north of Cross River to explore the Drill Ranch, an internationally recognized centre for the protection of endangered primates, particularly drill monkeys. Cross River State is rich in wild life. As nature reserve, it houses several species of primates, birds and a thousand butterflies. With support from the Cross River State government, these ground breaking conservation efforts have created new possibilities for endangered species like the drill monkeys. The State encourages the growth of ecotourism. Cross River possesses the largest rain forest remaining in Nigeria. It is earmarked as one of the 10 top hot spots in the world for biodiversity. Dating back to the Jurassic period , the 72,000 square kilometer area of primary rain forest support a huge quantity of life and contains about 86 species of trees per hectare. Many of them are found nowhere else in the world.

When you ramble into “Canaan City,” as locals call it, you will have no choice than to let your soul out to savoring memorable experiences. These joyous memories unfold like happy accidents in a blockbuster movie. Today as West Africa’s fastest growing tourist destination. And Nigeria’s safest state, Cross River state has brought Nigeria to the threshold of a new age. As one of the top 10 places to visit in Nigeria, there is more to this city than postcard images and fun, it is a city full of history, artifacts, crafts, surprises and awe-striking topographies. A trial will definitely convince you.