Lagos traffic shapes every plan, and a day trip is no exception: the difference between a good day out and a day in a car is usually leaving before seven.
Badagry
West of Lagos, towards the Benin border, Badagry was one of the slave ports of the Bight of Benin, and it keeps the history plainly.
- The Point of No Return, on the sandbar across the lagoon, where captives were taken to the ships.
- The slave relics museums and the old barracks in the town.
- The first storey building in Nigeria, built by missionaries in the 1840s, and the place where Christianity was first preached in the country.
It is a sobering trip and an important one. Go with a local guide, who will make far more of it than a sign can.
Abeokuta
The capital of Ogun State, about two hours north on a good day.
- Olumo Rock, the granite outcrop that sheltered the Egba people in the wars of the nineteenth century, with caves, shrines and a view over the city.
- Itoku market, for adire, the indigo-dyed cloth Abeokuta is known for.
Epe
East along the lagoon, Epe has a busy fish market and the feel of a lagoon town rather than a suburb. Combine it with the quiet Lekki beaches on the way.
Nature, inside Lagos
You do not have to leave the state for green space:
- Lekki Conservation Centre, a protected wetland with a canopy walkway through the trees and monkeys underneath.
- LUFASI Nature Park on the Lekki-Epe Expressway, a forest reserve with walking trails.
Both charge for entry; check current prices before you go.
Further, for a weekend
Ibadan, the other great Yoruba city, is a train ride away on the Lagos-Ibadan railway, and worth more than a day.
Getting there safely
- Leave early, come back before dark. The roads are slower, and less safe, at night.
- Know the way back. Fuel up before you leave the city, and carry cash: card machines and data are less reliable outside Lagos.
- Expect checkpoints. Keep your documents and your vehicle papers with you.
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