Ibadan: The Uneven City over Eight Rocky Hills
Ibadan, Nigeria’s largest city in terms of geographical area, is perhaps most known for its unique topography. Spread over eight rocky hills, the city’s uneven topography is seen to be believed. Once the largest and the most important city in Nigeria, Ibadan later emerged as one of the best centres of learning in the continent of Africa. Though the city is no longer the pivot of Nigeria’s intelligentsia, the sheer number and quality of educational institutions in the city, which are perhaps the most prominent Ibadan tourist attractions, make it a definite must-visit. Today, the city is stretched between two contrasting but coexisting time zones (literally), with a modern Ibadan on one side and a not-so-one on the other.
Places to Visit in Ibadan
The list of Ibadan tourist attractions is decently expansive. Among the most prominent landmarks of the city are the many institutions that comprise its educational infrastructure, the many museums in particular the one at the Institute of African Studies, the many libraries, Dugbe Market, The Bower Memorial Tower on Oke Aàre (Aare’s Hill), Cocoa House (Africa’s first skyscraper), Mapo Hall (a colonial era masterpiece which serves as the city hall), cultural centre at Mokola, Liberty Stadium, (the first stadium in Africa), etc.
Ibadan: Travel tips, languages spoken, cuisine
Ibadan is generally safe for tourists, but it is advisable that certain areas be avoided after dark. Needless to stay, usual precautions such as keeping valuables out of sight, etc., need to be taken. Further, while visiting game areas, one should (and rightly so) follow the guide’s instructions and not feed anything to wild animals. The condition of roads in and around Ibadan is very bad; as such, given that the city has a very uneven topography, during the wet season, the roads may prove to be a particularly big headache.
The football (soccer) scene in Lagos is very active and it would not be a bad idea to catch a game or two if you are a fan. Though English is the other official language of Nigeria, it is not that well understood in Ibadan; Yoruba is the most widely spoken language. The local currency is Nigerian naira (NGN). The local cuisine is rich and draws influences from a variety of cuisines and places. What’s more, it freely is available at very affordable prices. Ibadan has a large number of eateries for all types of budgets, and it is advised that you definitely do not miss out on street food.
Best time to visit
The best time to visit Ibadan is from December to March.
Best way to reach Ibadan
- By Air: Ibadan has a well-equipped airport, and is connected to Nigeria’s air-travel hubs via regular flights.
- By Rail: Though Ibadan is connected to the Nigerian rail network, owing to ill-maintenance, there are no passenger train services that connect it of the rest of the country. The government, however, plans to change this in the future.
- By Road: Ibadan is well connected to all national and regional destinations and neighbouring popular attractions. Further, Ibadan, being region’s commercial hub, is also an apt jump-off point for almost all of the Northern Nigeria attractions. However, it must be noted that the roads in and around Ibadan are in a very bad state.
Accommodation in Ibadan
The Ibadan accommodation scene is such that you would not have any trouble finding a decent place to stay; high-end amenities, however, might very well be lacking. Further, many local and international tour operators offer Ibadan vacation package tours. These tours cover most of the Ibadan tourist destinations, but do not carry the element of risk and adventure that going solo does.