7 Fun Places You Can Visit in Benin City

Benin City is the capital of Edo State in the southern part of Nigeria. It is north of the Benin River. Formerly known as the Benin Kingdom, this city is one of the most ancient in the whole of Africa.

From its rich cultural traditions to its colourful festivals and world-renowned art, here are the best things to see and do whenever you are in town.

The Palace of the Oba of Benin: This palace is one of UNESCO Heritage sites in Nigeria and was listed1999. The Oba of Benin is the traditional ruler of the Edo people, and his palace has sacred cultural significance. The palace, which is centrally situated at the heart of the city. A palace visit comes with dos and don’ts as regards traditions and some of the restrictions include no wearing of black clothing, no whistling or pointing at the Oba or his chiefs, while dogs are not allowed due to sacrificial reasons. A tour guide will come in very handy to fully enjoy the experience.

Benin City National Museum: The National Museum in Benin is home to a large number of Nigeria’s terracotta, bronze, and cast iron artefacts. The museum was relocated from the Oba’s Palace in the 1970s and became a public essence. The museum holds three galleries and is one of the largest museums in terms of indigenous artefacts in Nigeria.

Okomu National Park

7 Fun Places You Can Visit in Benin City

Okomu National Park is the smallest of the forest reserves in Nigeria and is a forest block that covers 418 sq miles. It is home to buffaloes, red river hogs, chimpanzees, leopards, bush baby, porcupine, pangolins, duikers, and antelopes, it is also a sanctuary for the white-throated monkey, one of the rarest in the world.

Igun Street: Igun-Eronmwon quarters, also known as Igun Street Benin City, is also listed as a Cultural Heritage Site by UNESCO, and is one of Benin City’s most visited tourist attractions as it is the home of the brass and bronze casting industries in Benin.

Somorika Hills: Somorika is a town in Akoko, Edo State. Somorika boasts seven hills, each with its own unique features and names. Ogundugundu is the highest and longest of them all, while one of the geographical wonders is Oriakpe Hill, where the rock wears a little cap shaped like a fingernail. Somarika is known across Nigeria for its spiritual and physical healing powers, and people come from all over the world to be healed here.

Kada Plaza: The Kada Plaza offers a different modern counterpoint to the cultural sights and sounds that normally accompany a historic city. Kada Plaza is one of the best places to hang out with friends and family as it offers a cinema, an arcade, a Chinese restaurant, a shopping complex and a go-kart racing arena.

The Benin Moat: Construction of the Benin Moat, also known as ‘Iya’, is estimated to have started as early as 800AD, and was finally completed around 1460. The moat dug by the Edo people was constructed as a defensive barrier against external forces during the times of war and took an estimated 150 million hours of digging to construct. The moat is four times longer than the Great Wall of China and is said to be the largest single archaeological phenomenon in the world.

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