Flying to Nigeria – a comprehensive flight guide

Posted by admin No Commented Thursday, July 2nd, 2009

Under: Nigeria

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Nigeria has over 22 airports with paved runways. Of these, 4 are international airports including, Murtala Muhammed International Airport located in the suburb of Ikeja, 22km (14 miles) northwest of Lagos, Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport-3km (5 miles) north of Kano, Abuja Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport-35km (22 miles) from Abuja and Gombe Lawanti International Airport in Gombe. Port Harcourt is currently closed for renovation. There are also 21 Airstrips built mainly by the Nigerian air force and multinational oil companies scattered about the country. The Federal Government owns and operates all the airports in Nigeria through its regulatory body, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria.
There is a good choice of Airlines for your flight to the country. Currently Nigeria doesn’t have a National Airline, so competition on domestic flights is severe. Everyone wants a piece of the pie, but no single Airline has really emerged from the pack yet — for example, there are up to 10 Airlines offering flights between Lagos and Abuja at any one time. However we would advise travelers that those Airlines which stretch their tentacles outside Nigeria are more trustworthy than those which don’t.
For instance, SAA (South African Airways), BA (British Airways), Ethiopia Airlines, Virgin Atlantic and Kenya Airways all fly to Nigeria and if you’re departing from any other destination in South Africa you will have to go via Johannesburg and board a connecting flight. One flying from South Africa and would wish to visit the Yankari National Park, either Kano or Abuja would be the best airports to fly to.
Among the several Airlines offering domestic Nigeria flights include Chanchangi Airlines, Nigeria’s largest domestic airline and flies between Lagos and Abuja, Kaduna, Port Harcourt and Owerri. Arik Air connects Abuja with Benin, Calabar, Enugu, Lagos and Port Harcourt. Arik Air operates from the general aviation terminal. Virgin Nigeria, a venture between Virgin Atlantic and private investors, flies from Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos to Abuja, Kano, Owerri, Sokoto and Calabar.
Also to note, Opodo is the only major consolidator offering Nigeria flights from the UK. Unfortunately there is difficulty in finding reasonably priced flights to Nigeria and more so, this has been compounded by the recent suspension of Virgin Nigeria’s long-haul flights, although parent company Virgin Atlantic still operates regular flights to Lagos from London Heathrow.
Virgin Nigeria have also suspended their London to Lagos flights in order to concentrate on their short-haul services, while relative newcomer Arik Air, who offer flights from Heathrow to Lagos, have rapidly become a major player on the Nigerian domestic scene.
Of recent, most domestic flights from Lagos Murtala Muhammed international airport operate from the brand new domestic “MMA II” terminal close to half a mile from the international terminal. In late 2008, British Airways announced they were re-scheduling their Lagos flights to arrive by 6pm, specifically because of concerns over the persistent traffic congestion on the routes connecting the airport with Lagos Island and Victoria Island.

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Knowing Nigeria

Posted by admin No Commented Thursday, July 2nd, 2009

Under: Nigeria

Nigeria, the 32nd largest country on earth is Africa’s most populous nation and leading oil producer. It is an attractive coastal destination with a coastline on the Gulf of Guinea with Niger, Benin, Chad and Cameroon as neighbours. Much as the country has been sunk in years of civil war, military dictatorships and sectarian conflicts among Nigeria’s 250 tribes as well as tensions between the Muslim population and the Christian population, who live in the oil-producing south, Nigeria still upholds its most appealing tourist destination status in Africa. The country is known as the “giant of Africa” certainly due to its size and petroleum wealth.
Nigeria is a diverse state with pronounced geographical scenery. The Obudu Hills, for instance in the southeast give way to great beaches. In the middle and southwest of Nigeria are rainforest, the Lagos estuary and savannah. The Sahel melts into the Sahara in the north. In addition, Nigeria takes pride in several National Parks including Old Oyo, Yankari, and Cross River.
Yankari National Park. This is found in the north east and believed to have Nigeria’s only remaining wildlife. On about 2,244sq km, it boasts of more than 50 species of creature including elephant, baboon, antelope, lion and buffalo and over 350 species of bird including stork, vulture and egret. It also poses with natural warm water springs. Nigeria is a year-round destination that with much ease you can book a flight. The country’s splendid hotel facilities and lodges are also inspirational.
The Cross River National Park is made up of two forest reserves (Bashi-Okwango and Oban Forest) and has the last remaining rain forest in Nigeria. At home in the park are forest elephants, the indigenous white-faced monkey, lowland gorillas, leopards and buffalo.
The climate.

Nigeria experiences more than one climate: the north is dry, south is equatorial and the centre is tropical. With these 3 types, the weather always ranges between warm to hot, though with some rainy seasons. The coastal areas experience 2 rainy seasons between May to June, and later in October, while the north has a long dry spell running from October to April.
In general Nigeria’s climate is humid sub-tropical, but there are variations across the country. Along the coast temperatures top 32 degrees (C) and humidity is a factor. In inland areas, the wet season extends from April to October and the dry season runs from November to March. Temperatures during the dry season can reach 40 degrees; hot days and cold nights. June is a month of heavy rainfall in the south; and the dusty harmattan winds blow between December and January.

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Tourist Attractions in Nigeria

Posted by admin No Commented Wednesday, July 1st, 2009

Under: Nigeria

Nigeria is an equatorial West African country with a coastline on the Gulf of Guinea and is bordered by countries Cameroon, Niger, Chad and Benin. Nigeria is a commonly fancied tourists destination especially those with the desire to participate in its numerous cultural celebrations and festivals. The Durbar festival, for instance, a very pronounced event is celebrated in several of towns in Nigeria, including the most famous ones of Katsina, Kano and Bida. It is a very popular tourist attraction. To get there you would take a flight to Kano.
Addition to the cultural attractions of Nigeria, are the diverse landscape scenery, National Parks and several geographical sites that hold prime appeal for tourists

Nigeria takes pride in its eight National Parks, the major ones being Yankari National Park, Kainji National Park and Old Oyo National Park. Kainji National Park is the oldest established in 1976. It also includes Kainji Lake -a reservoir resultant of the Kainji Dam built in 1968. Only the western sector of the national park - west of the lake is currently open to visitors and the landscape here is chiefly Sudan-Guinea Savanna. This Park is in the west of Nigeria and would involve a lengthy trip from either Lagos International Airport or Abuja International Airport.
Old Oyo National Park is extremely close to the border with Benin in west of Nigeria and is more easily accessible from Lagos International airport to the south. The park is home to a vast range of bird species, plant life and animals particularly buffalo. It also has the wreck of the celebrated old Oyo city, capital of the Oyo Empire.
Yankari National Park is in the north east and is the most popular tourist attraction in the country and the largest of the eight national parks. It was opened in 1991 and extensively promotes ecotourism. The park offers visitors the best chance to observe up to 350 species of bird and wildlife wandering such as the African Bush Elephants, Tantalus Monkey and Waterbuck. The Park boasts of 4 natural warm water springs; most prominent is the Wikki spring that can accommodate all park visitors all day, particularly those residing there. Indeed this offers the most ideal place to enjoy a safari trip and a life time experience.

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Flying to Egypt –a comprehensive flight guide

Posted by admin No Commented Tuesday, June 30th, 2009

Under: Egypt

Egypt has a host of varied attractions to discover and explore. The North African country is easily accessible from Britain. An Egypt-destined flight from Europe requires roughly 5 hours getting you in the middle of a completely different culture. The country boasts of its ancient civilization which gives it one of the richest histories in the world like one traveler once said, “Pick one of the several literatures about the Pharaohs and read on your flight to Egypt and get immersed in a culture that dates back more than 4,500 years.”

When to visit –the weather
Egypt’s weather generally falls into two seasons, that is, the summer- running from June to September with extreme high temperatures (up to 31 degrees average on the coast and up to 50 degrees in Aswan) and winter coming between October to May. Although with this kind of weather, the country presently thrives lively with prolific modern resorts along its coastlines as attractions of the cosmopolitan cities. Because the heat of the summer can be unbearable, the peak season for travel to Egypt is between October and May. This time is especially appealing to most European travelers as they can easily get onto a short flight to Egypt and escape the harsh winter months of their own country. The other advantage of visiting during this time is the increased peace and quiet existing at major tourist sites. The month of Ramadan is usually less popular with Western visitors because restaurants close down for the month.

Popular flight destinations to Egypt include Cairo, Hurghada, Aswan Daraw, Alexandria, Alexandria El Nohza, Luxor, Sham El Sheikh, Mersa Matruh and Assiut.
Egypt Air, Ethiopian Airlines, Air Kenya, Etihad, Lufthansa, Emirates, South African Airways and British Airways are the most prominent Airlines The country also has a few airlines offering direct flights for instance South African Airlines offers direct flights from Johannesburg to Egypt. Otherwise there are linking flights available through cities of London Heathrow, Dubai and Harare, all depending on who you fly with.

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Tourist Attractions in Egypt -Major

Posted by admin No Commented Saturday, June 27th, 2009

Under: Egypt

Egypt is in north eastern Africa and is connected to Asia via the Sinai Peninsula and has extensive coastlines both on the Mediterranean and on the Red Sea. Cairo is the country’s capital and largest city and is the place to come to, to see the Pyramids of Giza. The country is mostly all desert and thus is very hot and dry throughout the summer with irregular exceptional mild winters. Rainfall is extremely low throughout the year so you don’t need to worry about getting wet.
In the summer the Red Sea Coast hits temperatures of up to 43C (109F), whilst elsewhere they go between 27C (80F) and 32C (90F). The best months to visit are between November and March when the weather is bearably tour-friendly.
Egypt, as always mentioned is a darling for people wishing to visit and discover its ancient architecture. The country’s ancient civilization gives it one of the richest histories in the world – get one of the several known literature about the Pharaohs and read on your flight to Egypt and become acquainted with a culture that dates back more than 4500 years.
The Great Pyramid of Khufu (Cheops) is the biggest pyramid and the only remaining one of the Seven Ancient Wonders of the world constructed of over 2 million giant blocks of stone. The smaller pyramid is the Pyramid of Khafre (Chephren) and smaller still is the Pyramid of Menkaure (Mycerinus). Also here is the spectacular Sphinx and Temple of the Sphinx. Climbing these pyramids was at one time a very popular thing to do but now banned as it very dangerous. At present Camel rides are quite more popular around the pyramids, though overrated. Much as it can be claustrophobic and hot, going inside the pyramid is very interesting as one traveler said “A visit to this land of the ancient Pharaohs is one of those trips of a lifetime|.”

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Chobe National Park

Posted by admin No Commented Saturday, June 27th, 2009

Under: Botswana

Chobe National Park is the second largest park in Botswana and is famous for its impressively immense numbers of Wildlife. Located on Chobe River in the Northern region of Botswana and bordering the Moremi Game Reserve in the south, Chobe National Park has arguably the largest Elephant population in the world and is home to great numbers of other game species.
This National Park said to be a natural world lover’s haven particularly between May and late September (the dry spell), has immense herds of Buffalo, Eland, Giraffe, Impala, Lechwe, Oribi, Roan, Tsessebe, Waterbuck, Wildebeest and Zebra that can be observed more easily. In other words the animals are superbly visible especially when the foliage has reduced. Such a multiplicity of habitats attracts a variety of natural world.
The wide Chobe River is the lifeblood of the area and feeds adjacent floodplains much loved by Elephants. The Park covers a variety of the country’s riverine forest including floodplains and the mopane and miombo woodland.
Activities -Game drives in the Chobe National Park offers excellent game viewing opportunities. Cruise down the Chobe River in a luxury safari boat. In the dry season Elephants congregate by the river in enormous numbers with the river side area offering magnificent bird viewing. Predators like Leopards and lions are common figures in Chobe National Park; similarly there are several Hippos and Crocodiles in Chobe River. A wide range of bird species, wild pig, baboons and monkeys also make Chobe National Park their habitat.

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