Abuja is the capital city of Nigeria and it also doubles as the hub of most of the major government organizations. Apart from the governmental influence Abuja wields, it also packs quite a number of fun and adventurous experiences for residents and first-time visitors. Here are 5 of my favourite experiences in Abuja in no particular order:
1. Hiking
Abuja is blessed with a lot of hills and mountainous areas and this provides a fantastic adventure for outdoor lovers. Every other Saturday, different hike groups set out in the early hours of the morning to catch the sunrise atop one of the many hills spread across the city. My favourite hike group is @stridesng and I have published a post on all you need to know/do when hiking. You can read it here.
2. Camping on a hill
This is the upgrade to your hiking experience. This is usually done on a Friday night/Saturday morning and it entails a short hike up a hill and then spending the night with lots of fun and star gazing. It provides an unparalleled night view of Abuja and a different outdoor camping experience.
3. Kayaking
This is one of the latest additions to the fun things you can in Abuja. Located just behind the national stadium is a small lake where kayaks can be rented and you enjoy paddling lazily on the lake or challenging your friends to a quick water race. Whichever one you fancy, it is sure to provide you with a soothing experience especially if you go in the early morning or late evenings. You can find a kayaking guide here.
4. Go Karting & Paintballing
Central Park Abuja offers a premium destination for fun in Abuja. If you’ve got kids, they will love the go-kart rides and adults are not left out too. The paintballing arena also serves as a good team-bonding activity for organizations looking to do something outside the regular routine. After engaging in these fun activities, you can relax to fantastic pizza and smoothies or check out the famous Yahuza suya (barbecued chicken/beef) which is just a stone throw away.
5. The Nike Art Gallery
Located along the expressway leading to the airport, this art gallery is a haven for art lovers. Owned by famous Nigerian artist and designer, Nike Davies Okundaye, the art gallery features exquisite Nigerian art and culture that will leave you wanting more. It is also home to Nigerian artists and craftsmen who ply and display their works and crafts. It is a quiet place to indulge and express your inner artist.
This list is by no means exhaustive as the city has a host of other attractions such as well maintained parks and gardens where you can enjoy picnics and go bird watching…Next week, I will be sharing another list of fun things you can do in Kaduna state which is about 2 hours drive from Abuja.
Keep being a journey rockstar!
Nice. Thank you for sharing. Hactually, I’ve been looking for some fun activities in Abuja, you just made my search a whole lot easier.
Whoop! Glad I was able to make your search for fun activities very easy. Maybe you will write about your experience one of these days. Thanks for reading. Grateful.