Multiethnic, offering a true natural beauty, Nigeria remains a country that threatens at any time to fall into violence.

Located in West Africa, Nigeria is, with more than 152 million inhabitants, the most populated country on the African continent, yet it represents only 15% of its territory. This large population, composed of nearly 250 ethnic groups, lives mainly in villages. The country is divided between the predominantly Muslim north, the Christian-dominated south and the animist west. Between these ethnic communities and religions, tensions and confrontations are regular. Insecurity reigns more particularly in Lagos, its former capital, facing south on the Gulf of Guinea. The Nigerian coastline stretches along nearly 800 km of coastline. The interior of the country where Abuja, the new capital, is located, is made up of plains and valleys with a succession of dense tropical forests. Here lies Yankari National Park, the best nature reserve in West Africa. With a little luck, one can observe elephants, buffaloes, hippos, crocodiles, gazelles and even perhaps lions. The country is also home to the largest variety of butterflies in the world and the very rare drill, the most endangered of all African primates, especially in Cross River National Park. To the north, Nigeria offers a hilly landscape and a large plateau, the Jos plateau, where plains and savannahs merge with the bush. Nigeria presents its main reliefs at its eastern border with Cameroon, where the Amadoua massif is built. Its highest point is Chappal Waddi at 2,419 m. The massif is divided between the volcanic Mandara Mountains and the Susbshi Mountains to the south east. It is in Nigeria that the Niger River, which meanders in the western part of the country, flows into the Gulf of Guinea. The Niger Delta is certainly one of the most fascinating regions of the country with its succession of river arms and creeks, lined with mangroves and palm trees. To soak up Nigerian history and culture, the village of Kano, the country's second largest city to the north, has a rich Hausa architectural heritage. To the southwest, Oshogbo is the cradle of Yoruba art. Its sacred forest, classified as a UNESCO world heritage site, is home to enormous sculptures and sanctuaries dedicated to the various Yoruba gods. In this village, is held every last week of August, the festival of Oshun marked by dances and sacrificial rites. The best time to stay in Nigeria is from December to March, between two rainy seasons. It takes place from April to September in the north, which has a hot and dry climate, and from April to September in the south of the country, hot and humid. The harmattan, sand wind, blows more particularly in December and January. Nigeria is Africa's largest oil producer and the sixth largest in the world. This black gold, but also the gas in its subsoil is the country's main source of income. Despite these natural resources, Nigeria remains in budget deficit. A poor country, it is confronted with corruption and violence. The crime rate is very high. Nigeria, Africa's most populous country, presents a fascinating mix of peoples, cultures and religions. This country which sees the longest river of the continent, Niger, flowing into the waters of the Gulf of Guinea offers a great variety of landscapes, between mangroves, forests, savannas and mountains, and a rich fauna. As the largest producer of black gold in Africa, Nigeria unfortunately also faces chronic political instability and misery that make it an insecure country.

Art and culture in Nigeria
Nigerian art, which draws its sources from the supernatural and animism, is one of the richest in West Africa. The Yoruba have acquired a solid reputation as craftsmen, particularly in pottery, weaving, beading and metalwork where the manufacture of masks carved from wood and representing the gods and forces of nature. The bronze, terracotta sculptures of the Nupe, Igbira and Igala, and the statues of Ife also have supernatural influences. Life in Nigeria is marked by countless syncretist and sacrificial rites. Superstitious, Nigerians also carry fetishes to attract luck and prosperity.

What to visit in Nigeria
A trip to Yankari, Gashaka and Cross River National Parks will be an opportunity to discover a wild African fauna. The Jos plateau but also the Mandara and Shebshi Mountains are ideal for hiking. The Niger Delta is a must for its ecosystem and for the island of Brass which promises a dive into ancestral Africa. Zuma Rock near Abuja is a geological curiosity.