Dates: May 21 – 30, 2026
The program connects with the expedition to Burkina Faso from May 14 – 19, 2026 and with the expedition to Benin and Togo from May 31 – June 9, 2026

Duration: 10 days / 9 nights

Number of participants: 7 – 12

Cost per person:

• 3 890 EUR subject to 11 – 12 participants,
• 4 050 EUR subject to 9 – 10 participants,
• 4 250 EUR subject to 8 participants,
• 4 450 EUR subject to 7 participants, based on DBL accommodation.

10% early booking discount (in case you book before December 21, 2025)

Everything is included, except for:

• international flight to Lagos and return flight from Kano (Nigeria),
• Nigerian visa (we assist to arrange business visa "on arrival" at 400 EUR incl. visa fee and pre-visa PDF document to be sent before departure and to be used for boarding),
• international medical insurance,
• lunches.

Estimated cost of international flight Moscow – Kano and Lagos – Moscow: 950 – 1200 EUR (to be bought on your own. We consult you).
Estimated cost of international flight Cairo – Kano and Lagos – Cairo: 550 – 600 EUR (to be bought on your own. We consult you).

Single supplement: 650 EUR (provided in hotels throughout the entire itinerary).
* In Nigeria, TWIN rooms (with 2 separate beds) are not available in most hotels, apart from Lagos. Travelers who do not share a double room (with 1 bed) are strongly advised to pay the single supplement.



TRAVEL PROGRAM: tour to nigeria

Day 1. May 21, 2026 (Thursday). LAGOS

Arrival in Lagos – economical capital of Nigeria.
Upon arrival in the southern Nigeria, Lagos city, we will be picked from the airport and afterwards, proceed to visit the Kalakuta museum, found after the name of Fela Kuti, famous Nigerian musician and political activist of 20th century. Later checking in at our hotel.
At night, optionally, we can visit the African Shrine of Femi Kuti, son of the legendary Fela Kuti. We spend some time dancing to various Afrobeat songs before retiring back to your hotel.
Overnight stay at IBIS hotel, or IKEJA hotel or similar.

Meals included: breakfast
Accommodation included: IBIS hotel, or IKEJA hotel or similar

*Recommended flights to Lagos:
— Any flight arriving in Lagos no later than 10 am on May 21.


Day 2. May 22, 2026 (Friday). LAGOS

Today, we will visit Makoko, the floating village of fishermen and a large low-income community with half the population on water and half on land. A third of the community is built on stilts along the lagoon and the rest is on the land. Makoko is also referred to as the “Venice of Africa” owing to its waterways. The waterfront part of the community is largely harbored by the Egun people who migrated from Badagry and the Republic of Benin. We will have a canoe tour and a walking tour around the area.
Then proceed to visit the remarkable National Museum, which houses an array of artifacts and antiquities from all over Nigeria.
From the Museum, we will continue to the Lekki Conservation Centre for an encounter with nature, embarking on a trail via the wooden routes and the canopy walk. It is a very refreshing experience. From the conservation center, we will proceed to have lunch, before proceeding to the Elegushi International Crafts Market.
Finally, visit to the Nike Art Gallery, arguably the largest collection of art works in Africa.
After the gallery, we will return to our hotel and get refreshed and pack our bags in readiness to be transferred to the airport.

Meals included: breakfast
Accommodation included: IBIS hotel, or IKEJA hotel or similar


Day 3. May 23, 2026 (Saturday). LAGOS – KANO

After breakfast in our hotel, transfer to the airport of Lagos for catching return flight to Kano.
Arrival in Kano. Meet the guide at the airport and transfer after clearing immigration requirements.
From the airport we will proceed to Dala Hills, the origin of Kano. From there, we will continue to the Kurmi market, one of the oldest markets in West Africa dating back to 15th century. From the market, we will proceed to our hotel and check in for the night.
Dinner and overnight at BON Hotel Kano or similar.

Meals included: breakfast
Accommodation included: BON Hotel Kano or similar


Day 4. May 24, 2026 (Sunday). KANO – DAMBE BOXING

After breakfast, we go on a city tour of Kano starting from the Emir’s palace and the adjourning Gidan Makama museum, which houses the history of Kano and the Hausa tribe anthropology.
From the palace, we will visit the Grand Mosque, and then we will touch base at Gidan Dan Hausa museum, a superb example of early 20th-century Hausa architecture with a fine collection of old artefacts in its interior. Here we will introduce Hausa culture and architecture.
After lunch, we will visit the ancient Kofar Mata Dye pits, the origin on indigo dying whose tradition has been passed among generations. After some time at the pits, we will proceed to have a “Dambe” experience. Dambe is a local boxing contest between young men and it is a sport that is as old as Kano itself.
From the boxing arena, we will return to our hotel and prepare for dinner. Overnight at BON Hotel Kano or similar.

Meals included: breakfast, dinner
Accommodation included: BON Hotel Kano or similar


Day 5. May 25, 2026 (Monday). EID-UL-ADHA AND DURBAR FESTIVAL IN KANO – HAUSA HYENA MEN IN GABASAWA – KANO (85 km, 2 hours drive)

Today is Eid Ul Adha – the end of Ramadan and a day of prayers and celebration. We will witness the procession to the Eid prayers and a mini Durbar upon return from the Eid ground.
Today is the day the Durbar festival is expected to start*.
Between 9 and 10 am Durbar parade is happening right on the streets of Kano where we can encounter the Hausa aristocracy in full regalia: Hausa chiefs with the warriors parading horsebacks head towards the palaces and the big square of prayer. All day different rites can be witnessed everywhere.
In the evening and the next day, the Durbar ceremonies continue and we will also attend. It is normally 3 or at least 2 days of ceremonies and festivals in Kano and Dutse Emirates.
In the afternoon, we will depart for Gabasawa after an early breakfast. At Gabasawa, we will visit the Gadawan Kura – Hausa Hyena men, a group of street performers who earn their living by exhibiting their hyenas, baboons, pythons and other wild animals. We’ll spend the day exploring their village and enjoying their displays and performances.
After about 2 hours performance, we return to Kano.

* ⁠Durbar Festival normally implies 3 days (sometimes 2 days) of ceremonies and takes place according to Lunar calendar (depending on the date of Eid Ul Adha). The exact dates of Durbar will be set closer to the date, but most probably it will start on May 25 (however may start on May 24 or May 26, according to the moon). In any case, we schedule our visits to Durbar Festival places in Kano and Dutse on any dates from May 24 or May 26 it may take place.

Meals included: breakfast, dinner
Accommodation included: BON Hotel Kano or similar


Day 6. May 26, 2026 (Tuesday). KANO – DUTSE – FULANI VILLAGE – DUTSE (150 km, 2.5 hours drive)

Today will be a royal visit day where we will be treated to a feel of royalty at the palace of the Emir of Dutse with its beautifully decorated buildings and inner chambers. The palace is one of the unique royal residences in northern Nigeria.
From the palace, we will have lunch and proceed to the Dutse rocks range. Here we will interact with local Fulani villagers and spend some time exploring their culture before proceeding to Dutse.
If this is the day of Durbar festival, we will for sure attend it in Dutse. In Dutse the scale of parades is smaller than in Kano, but we may also attend shows of men who play with hygiene, the fetishists in Kano or towards Dutse, the Bori or other opportunities that the Durbar Festival provides.
Overnight at Grand Ambar Hotel or similar.

Meals included: breakfast, dinner
Accommodation included: Grand Ambar Hotel or similar


Day 7. May 27, 2026 (Wednesday). DUTSE – KAFIN MADAKI – BIRNIN KUDU ROCK PAINTINGS – BAUCHI (220 km, 4 hours drive)

After breakfast, we depart to Bauchi founded in 1809 by Yakubu Germa, a commander under the orders of Usman dan Fodio during his Islamic Jihad campaign in the early 19th century. Bauchi (which means 'pagan' in the Hausa language) soon became a center for the marshaling of slaves to the north, and quarters with elaborate architecture, mosques and madrasas flourished in the city. The city was also the birthplace of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, a central figure in the country's struggle for independence, who became Prime Minister in 1960.
On the way, we make a stop  to visit the site of the Birnin Kudu rock paintings, a fascinating proof of ancient human civilization in Sub Saharan Africa. These paintings are reputed to be more than two millennia old, situated in the lush landscape of Northern Nigeria.  It proves that there have been some sort of civilization in the area now known as Nigeria, which predates many of the western civilizations that dominate today. From the rock paintings site, we will continue to Kafin Madaki, to visit its ancient palace, a magnificent example of traditional Hausa architecture. Arrive in Bauchi, and proceed to lunch in a local restaurant. In the afternoon, visit to the Emir's palace and meet with dignitaries.
Overnight stay at Sulgad Majestic or similar.

Meals included: breakfast, dinner
Accommodation included: Sulgad Majestic hotel or similar


Day 8. May 28, 2026 (Thursday). BAUCHI – VILLAGE OF ZULAWA TRIBE – SHARO CEREMONY IN PEULH VILLAGE – DUTSE (240 km, 4 hours drive)

After breakfast, we depart to a traditional Zulawa tribal village, which is particular for its facial tattoos of these animists (now only found on the faces of the elderly) and a unique 'dance of the mirrors', which we will witness.
Return to Bauchi for lunch in a restaurant. Heading north towards Jigawa, we make a stop at a Peulh (Fulani) village, where we can witness the violent Sharo initiation ceremony, where boys are beaten with wooden sticks to test their strength and endurance.
Arrival in Dutse and accommodation at the hotel. Dinner in a private house and overnight stay in double rooms with services. Overnight stay at the Grand Ambar Hotel or similar.

Meals included: breakfast, dinner
Accommodation included: Grand Ambar Hotel or similar


Day 9. May 29, 2026 (Friday). DUTSE – KANO (130 km, 2 hours drive)

Breakfast at the hotel and transfer to Kano. We are back in Kano – second-oldest Hausa Emirate. We can stroll the walled city that can still bring the traveler back to the medieval ages, when this place was one of the Global commerce centers. Visit to artisanal market and shopping for souvenirs.
In the evening, we will witness an age long traditional “Bori” performance. Bori or Maguzanci is a pre-islamic traditional religion of the Hausa people that involves magic and spirit possession of the participants.
Farewell dinner and overnight stay at BON Hotel Kano or similar.

Meals included: breakfast, dinner
Accommodation included: BON Hotel Kano or similar


Day 10. May 30, 2026 (Saturday). KANO — INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT HOME

After breakfast transfer to the airport to take international flight back home.

Meals included: breakfast
Accommodation included: no

*Recommended flights from Kano:
— Any flight departing from Kano any time on May 30.


* The order of visits and excursions, as well as logistics of the expedition, can be modified according to external local conditions (i.e. schedule of festivals or ceremonies, state of security, state of roads, etc.). If some visits and/or tours could not be done due to external conditions, they will be replaced when possible.

** The participant of expedition to Nigeria must be motivated to be respectful to the culture of local tribes and peoples, be aware of the objectives of the trip and possible program changes depending on external local conditions, security conditions and any other reasons, be able to adapt to the new environment and culture.