Nok Culture Tour in Nigeria

Your educational student tour has begun as you travel to Abuja. As your plane descends, take a look out your window to see Nigeria’s vast landscape of forests, swamps, and flatland. A local guide will be waiting at the airport to transfer you to your safari lodge. 

The afternoon is for you to rest, relax, and explore. Take a dip in the hotel pool, wander the city markets, or rent a bike. In the evening, you’ll meet with your guide for a traditional Nigerian cuisine dinner of fried plantains and Okro soup. YUM!

Before delving into the country’s anthropology, take a day to explore your surroundings. Start at Zuma Road to view its unique shape, resembling a human face. Absorb magnificent views as the rock beautifully presides over a spectacular landscape. Enjoy lunch at the nearby country club before making your way to the Ushafa Pottery Village. View hundreds of handmade pots. You might even find a couple that makes the perfect souvenir. Finally, arrive at Jabi Lake for a boat cruise and sea meal. Enjoy the wind in your hair and views of Abuja city.

Today, you will begin learning about Nigeria’s Nok culture at the National Commission for Museums and Monuments. There is an extensive exhibit dedicated to this ancient civilization. Be sure to check out the famous terracotta statues, which were discovered by archaeologists in Kaduna state. These sculptures date back to 500 B.C. (that’s old!) and are of people with almond-shaped hollow eyes and elongated heads. The Nok was an extraordinarily advanced society with complex judicial systems and tools, who mysteriously disappeared in 200 A.D. A professional anthropologist will accompany you on this excursion to educate you more on the Nok civilization.

Saddle up for an adventurous day. Begin the day at Jabi Park’s equestrian center. Choose your favorite horse for a trail ride to the Guarara Falls. Enjoy a picnic lunch and a dip in the cold water if you dare. As you ride, keep a lookout for many bird species that populate Nigeria. Following this, you will make your way to Abuja Federal High Court to learn about the Nok’s judicial system in an appropriate setting. Learn about the different classes of courts used in this civilization, as well as their beliefs on crime’s capacity to destroy families.

Begin the day with a drive to Nok where you will visit the major sites of archeological findings: Samun Dukiya, Taruga, and Jos. Here, you will have the opportunity to step foot on the ground where the Nok civilization resided. Learn more about their way of life and the archeological findings of this civilization. You’ll also explore how the Nok population rapidly disappeared in 200 A.D. Some theorists propose it was due to their reliance on charcoal while others suggest it was due to climate change or famine. What do you think?

You have worked hard this week to learn about the Nok culture of Nigeria, so it’s time for a reward of an extraordinary experience. Make your way to the Yankari Game Reserve for an African safari! Jump in a 4×4 where a ranger will drive you to the park’s wildlife hotspots for the opportunity to see a diverse array of animals. This land is home to giraffes, hippos, elephants, rhinos, zebras, and cheetahs. Following lunch inside the vehicle, you’ll make your way to one of the parks natural warm springs. Dive in for a refreshing swim after an adventurous day!

It has been an incredible week in Nigeria, but the time has come for you to say goodbye. Enjoy one final breakfast with your group and guide. Next, it’s off to the local airport to catch your departure flight home.