The city of Calabar in southeastern Nigeria, is one of the popular Tourist Destinations in Nigeria. Calabar is the capital of Cross River State.
History
Calabar, Nigeria has been known to European sailors as far back as the 15th century and was acknowledged as an international sea port since the 16th century. The city also boasts of the first public Hospital in Nigeria - St. Margaret Hospital, the oldest post office and one of the first two botanical gardens in the country.
Getting to Calabar
The city is served by Margret Ekpo International Airport. Calabar is about 1-1/2 hours from Lagos and about 25 minutes from Port Harcourt. In addition to this, there is also a regular boat service from various parts of Cameroon's coastline.
Population
The city of Calabar, Nigeria has an estimated population of 1.2 million residents.
Climate
The weather in Calabar has been compared to a typical December month in London and this weather remains the same throughout the year. Calabar has the highest rainfall in Nigeria.
Sightseeing
The tourists can also visit the popular attractions of the city such as Obudu Cattle Ranch and Cross Rivers National Park or Duke Town Presbyterian Church.
Dining and Lodging
There are several eateries in the city which serve native Nigerian cuisine as well as an array of international delicacies. Tourists will also find numerous hotels according to their taste, mood and budget.
Shopping
The old city of Calabar is known for its wide variety of shops where you can get just about anything. There are two great markets in the city, namely Watt market and Marian Market.
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