Dates: June 4 – 11, 2025

Duration: 8 days / 7 nights

Number of participants: 7 – 12

Cost per person:

• 3 250 EUR subject to 11 – 12 participants, or
• 3 390 EUR subject to 9 – 10 participants or
• 3 590 EUR subject to 8 participants, or
• 3 750 EUR subject to 7 participants, based on DBL accommodation.

10% early booking discount (in case you book before March 4, 2025)

Everything is included, except for:
— international flight to Kano (Nigeria) roundtrip
— Nigerian visa (we assist to arrange business visa "on arrival" at 400 EUR incl. visa fee and pre-visa PDF docunet to be sent before departure and to be used for boarding)
— international medical insurance
— lunches.

Estimated cost of international flight Moscow – Kano – Moscow: 950 – 1200 EUR (to be bought on your own. We consult you).
Estimated cost of international flight Cairo – Kano – Cairo: 500 – 650 EUR (to be bought on your own. We consult you).

Single supplement: 420 EUR (provided in hotels throughout the entire itinerary).
* In Nigeria, TWIN rooms (with 2 separate beds) are not available in most hotels. Travelers who do not share a double room (with 1 bed) are strongly advised to pay the single supplement



TRAVEL PROGRAM: tour to nigeria

Day 1. June 4, 2025 (Wednesday). ARRIVAL IN KANO

Arrival in Kano. Meet the guide at the airport and transfer after clearing immigration requirements.
From the airport we will proceed to Dala Hills, the origin of Kano. From there, we will continue to the Kurmi market, one of the oldest markets in West Africa dating back to 15th century. From the market, we will proceed to our hotel and check in for the night.
Dinner and overnight at BON Hotel Kano or similar.

* Recommended flights:
— with Ethiopian Airlines with 3 hours 20 minutes stopover in Addis Ababa, departs from Moscow on June 3 at 21:30, arrives in Addis Ababa at 5:50 am on June 4, departs from Addis Ababa at 9:10 am on June 4, arrives in Kano (Nigeria) at 12:15 pm on June 4,
— with Qatar Airways with 2 hours 20 minutes stopover in Doha, departs from Moscow on June 3 at 17:05, arrives in Doha at 22:30 on June 3, departs from Doha at 0:50 am on June 4, arrives in Kano (Nigeria) at 9:15 am on June 4,
— any other flight with arrival in Kano (Nigeria) no later than at 12:00 pm on June 4.

Meals included: dinner
Accommodation included: BON Hotel Kano or similar


Day 2. June 5, 2025 (Thursday). KANO – DAMBE BOXING

After breakfast, we go on a city tour of Kano starting from the Emir’s palace and the adjourning Gidan Makama museum, which houses the history of Kano and the Hausa tribe anthropology.
From the palace, we will visit the Grand Mosque, and then we will touch base at Gidan Dan Hausa museum, a superb example of early 20th-century Hausa architecture with a fine collection of old artefacts in its interior. Here we will introduce Hausa culture and architecture.
After lunch, we will visit the ancient Kofar Mata Dye pits, the origin on indigo dying whose tradition has been passed among generations. After some time at the pits, we will proceed to have a “Dambe” experience. Dambe is a local boxing contest between young men and it is a sport that is as old as Kano itself.
From the boxing arena, we will return to our hotel and prepare for dinner. Overnight at BON Hotel Kano or similar.

Meals included: breakfast, dinner
Accommodation included: BON Hotel Kano or similar


Day 3. June 6, 2025 (Friday). EID UL FITR AND DURBAR FESTIVAL IN KANO – HAUSA HYENA MEN IN GABASAWA – KANO (85 km, 2 hours drive)

Today is Eid Ul Fitr – the end of Ramadan and a day of prayers and celebration. We will witness the procession to the Eid prayers and a mini Durbar upon return from the Eid ground.
Today is the day the Durbar festival is expected to start*.
Between 9 and 10 am Durbar parade is happening right on the streets of Kano where we can encounter the Hausa aristocracy in full regalia: Hausa chiefs with the warriors parading horsebacks head towards the palaces and the big square of prayer. All day different rites can be witnessed everywhere.
In the evening and the next day, the Durbar ceremonies continue and we will also attend. It is normally 3 or at least 2 days of ceremonies and festivals in Kano and Dutse Emirates.
In the afternoon, we will depart for Gabasawa after an early breakfast. At Gabasawa, we will visit the Gadawan Kura – Hausa Hyena men, a group of street performers who earn their living by exhibiting their hyenas, baboons, pythons and other wild animals. We’ll spend the day exploring their village and enjoying their displays and performances.
After about 2 hours performance, we return to Kano.

* Durbar Festival normally implies 3 days (sometimes 2 days) of ceremonies and takes place according to Lunar calendar (depending on the date of Eid Ul Fitr). The exact dates of Durbar will be set closer to the date, but most probably it will start on June 6 (however may start on June 5 or June 7, according to the moon). In any case, we schedule our visits to Durbar Festival places in Kano and Dutse on any dates from June 5 to June 8 it may take place.

Meals included: breakfast, dinner
Accommodation included: BON Hotel Kano or similar


Day 4. June 7, 2025 (Saturday). KANO – DUTSE – FULANI VILLAGE – DUTSE (150 km, 2.5 hours drive)

Today will be a royal visit day where we will be treated to a feel of royalty at the palace of the Emir of Dutse with its beautifully decorated buildings and inner chambers. The palace is one of the unique royal residences in northern Nigeria.
From the palace, we will have lunch and proceed to the Dutse rocks range. Here we will interact with local Fulani villagers and spend some time exploring their culture before proceeding to Dutse.
If this is the day of Durbar festival, we will for sure attend it in Dutse. In Dutse the scale of parades is smaller than in Kano, but we may also attend shows of men who play with hygiene, the fetishists in Kano or towards Dutse, the Bori or other opportunities that the Durbar Festival provides.
Overnight at Tahir Guest Palace Annex or similar.

Meals included: breakfast, dinner
Accommodation included: Tahir Guest Palace Annex or similar


Day 5. June 8, 2025 (Sunday). DUTSE – KAFIN MADAKI – SUMU WILDLIFE PARK – BAUCHI (220 km, 4 hours drive)

After breakfast, we depart to Bauchi founded in 1809 by Yakubu Germa, a commander under the orders of Usman dan Fodio during his Islamic Jihad campaign in the early 19th century. Bauchi (which means 'pagan' in the Hausa language) soon became a center for the marshaling of slaves to the north, and quarters with elaborate architecture, mosques and madrasas flourished in the city. The city was also the birthplace of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, a central figure in the country's struggle for independence, who became Prime Minister in 1960.
On the way, we make a stop at Kafin Madaki, to admire its ancient palace, a magnificent example of traditional Hausa architecture, and at Sumu Wildlife Park, for a safari in search of giraffes, zebras and elands.
Arrival in Bauchi, lunch in a restaurant. In the afternoon, visit to the Emir's palace and meet with dignitaries.
Overnight stay at Deno Hotel or similar.

Meals included: breakfast, dinner
Accommodation included: Deno Hotel or similar


Day 6. June 9, 2025 (Monday). BAUCHI – VILLAGE OF ZULAWA TRIBE – SHARO CEREMONY IN PEULH VILLAGE – DUTSE (240 km, 4 hours drive)

After breakfast, we depart to a traditional Zulawa tribal village, which is particular for its facial tattoos of these animists (now only found on the faces of the elderly) and a unique 'dance of the mirrors', which we will witness.
Return to Bauchi for lunch in a restaurant. Heading north towards Jigawa, we make a stop at a Peulh (Fulani) village, where we can witness the violent Sharo initiation ceremony, where boys are beaten with wooden sticks to test their strength and endurance.
Arrival in Dutse and accommodation at the hotel. Dinner in a private house and overnight stay in double rooms with services. Overnight stay at the Tahir Guest Palace Annex or similar.

Meals included: breakfast, dinner
Accommodation included: Tahir Guest Palace Annex or similar


Day 7. June 10, 2025 (Tuesday). DUTSE – KANO (130 km, 2 hours drive)

Breakfast at the hotel and transfer to Kano. We are back in Kano – second-oldest Hausa Emirate. We can stroll the walled city that can still bring the traveler back to the medieval ages, when this place was one of the Global commerce centers. Visit to artisanal market and shopping for souvenirs.
Farewell dinner and overnight stay at BON Hotel Hano or similar.

Meals included: breakfast, dinner
Accommodation included: BON Hotel Kano or similar


Day 8. June 11, 2025 (Wednesday). KANO – RETURN FLIGHT

This morning, we have breakfast and transfer to Kano airport in time for our return flight.

Meals included: breakfast
Accommodation included: no

* Recommended flights:
— with Ethiopian Airlines with 3 hours 20 minutes stopover in Addis Ababa, departs from Kano on June 11 at 13:35, arrives in Addis Ababa at 20:30 on June 11, departs from Addis Ababa at 23:50 on June 11, arrives in Moscow at 7:40 am on June 12,
— with Qatar Airways with 8 hours 30 minutes stopover in Doha, departs from Kano on June 11 at 10:45 am, arrives in Doha at 23:55 on June 11, departs from Doha at 8:25 am on June 12, arrives in Moscow at 12:50 pm on June 12,
— with Egypt Air with 13 hours 35 minutes stopover in Cairo (the Egypt Air provides free hotel, transfer and visa for transfer passengers), departs from Kano on June 11 at 14:45, arrives in Cairo at 20:55 on June 11, departs from Cairo at 10:30 am on June 12, arrives in Moscow at 15:55 pm on June 12,
— any other flight to any city departing from Kano (Nigeria) any time on June 11.


* The order of visits and excursions, as well as logistics of the expedition, can be modified according to external local conditions (i.e. schedule of festivals or ceremonies, state of security, state of roads, etc.). If some visits and/or tours could not be done due to external conditions, they will be replaced when possible.

** The participant of expedition to Nigeria must be motivated to be respectful to the culture of local tribes, be aware of the objectives of the trip and possible program changes depending on external local conditions, security conditions and any other reasons, be able to adapt to the new environment and culture.