Whether you are coming to Nigeria for the first time on an official assignment or you are a
tourists looking to visit any of the fascinating destinations in the country, a detailed packing guide
can make the difference between having a seamless pleasant travel experience that will make
you want to visit Nigeria again and again; versus a miserable experience that can make you
wish you never made the journey in the first place!
Our goal with this blog post; the complete packing guide for every visitor in Nigeria, is to give you a
detailed packing guide that will include what you would wear during your visit as well as all the other essentials that will make your stay in Nigeria smooth and comfortable. We sure want you to enjoy your visit to Nigeria and be happy to visit again!
But before we examine the different items that should make their way into your suitcase for the
journey, it would help to understand that what goes into your travelling kit will be largely
dependent on several factors; your purpose for travelling, what time of the year you are visiting
and the location you’d spend the most part of your visit.
Related; The Ten Most Beautiful Places in Nigeria that every Tourist loves
When you think of it, Nigeria is indeed a beautifully diverse country. Our weather and manner of life differ from place to place. What is obtainable in the northern state of Kano may be totally different from what you get in Lagos
In this blog post, you will get the complete packing guide for visitors to Nigeria so that you can make your stay completely enjoyable
whether you are coming in the heat of September or the drenching rain and cold of July. We got
you covered! Just stick with us.
A complete Packing Guide for Visitors to Nigeria during the Wet Season
Nigeria is generally hot all year round, however, there are two primary climate seasons in the
country, the wet and dry seasons. The wet season starts in April and ends in September with
heavy and light rainfalls that could keep you indoors and away from your activities if you let it.
On the other hand, the dry season starts in November and ends in March. The season is
characterized by chilling harmattan cold between December into early February.
The wet season in Nigeria can be fun and exciting when you prepare for it. Surprisingly, most
Nigerians do not make adequate preparations for the rainy or wet seasons, so they always have
to deal with getting drenched by the rain on some days or getting their legs all dirty from dipping
them in muddy water left by the rain in places like the local markets.
Let us take a look at some of the essentials you would need to pack if you are visiting Nigeria in
the wet season
Umbrella; You will need a sturdy umbrella to shield you from rainy days. Because the weather
is generally unpredictable during the wet season, you would need to take your umbrella with you everywhere you go, so ensure to buy a portable one that can be easily packaged and fitted into
your travelling bag
Knee-length boots; You will need them to keep your feet dry and comfy during the wet season
in Nigeria. They will come in handy if you need to go to local markets where the ground gets
muddy and messy. Boots can go well with any outfit, but if you are looking to be stylish, you can
match those with tight denim jeans
Waterproof Rain Jacket; This is important considering that an umbrella could still leave some
part of your body wet. A waterproof rain jacket on the other hand will ensure that you are
covered top down. It will also help keep you warm so that you don’t go shivering from the cold,
and if you want, you can get one with a hood, so that your hair is kept dry. You can wear light clothing inside so that when the rain abates, you can take it off
Shower Caps; it is not an uncommon site to see women wearing colourful polythene bags
around their heads during the rainy season in Nigeria. It is an improvised way of protecting their
hair from getting wet and smelly. However, a better option is to get a strong waterproof shower
cap that can cover your hair from all sides
Rubber flip-flops, shoes and boots. These items are water friendly, and you can be sure to
keep your feet dry, while protecting your leather shoes whenever it rains.
Sweaters, jackets, stockings and duvets; Will keep you warm during the night when it gets really cold. With a sweater and stockings on, you can snuggle into your duvet and have a good night rest
A complete Packing Guide for Visitors during the Dry Season in Nigeria
As earlier stated, the dry season in Nigeria starts in September and ends in March. This period
is characteristically hot, except at night and in the early morning when it gets chilling cold because of the harmattan.
Here are some of the essentials that should make it into your luggage, if you are visiting Nigeria in the dry season.
Light and loose cotton outfits and linen fabrics
T-shirts, shorts, stockings, underwear and even beach wear made from cotton are ideal for the dry season because these materials are made from natural fibre and are heat resistant. Asides from this, they are lightweight and breathable, so you don’t feel heavy while on them, and when you perspire, you won’t feel sticky and damp.
Lightweight cotton and fabrics can also dry easily. You can do a quick laundry and repack them
if they get dirty, thereby keeping you neat and tidy throughout your visit.
Avoid clothes made from polyester and nylon fabrics, like suits, because they don’t absorb heat, and could leave you feeling uncomfortable from heavy perspiration. If you need to make business visits where you need to dress formally, you can pair cotton long sleeves or lightweight blazers with long trousers or knee-length skirts if you are a lady.
Also, opt for light-coloured outfits like light pink, but avoid whites because the hazy dust can easily get you stained.
Pack Sunscreen and sunglasses with UV filters; This is important to prevent the harsh rays of sunlight from dealing with your skin during the day.
Get a wide-brimmed hat to also prevent the harsh effects of the sun on your face. This is also a
a stylish item that can be worn to the beach.
You will also need a water bottle to store water and keep you hydrated all day long. However, take note that filling your bottles from a public tap may not be safe for your consumption. So, you will want to prepare to buy water from reputable water bottling companies in Nigeria.
Get a lightweight backpack; You will need this for travelling light. The backpack can easily contain the things you’d need for a short trip, and you can move around with it easily without having to push heavy luggage around
You will also need open-toe flip-flops and shoes for casual destinations like the market. You can
also put them on if you feel hot from wearing shoes all day. Remember that the idea is to dress for comfort and convenience
A portable umbrella will also be handy. You can keep yourself covered from the scorching sun.
The complete packing guide If You are Visiting Northern Nigeria
Kaduna, katsina, kano, Zamfara, and Jos are some of the northern states in Nigeria.
Northerners are typically conservative. If you are travelling to the north, consider packing outfits
that can cover most parts of your body, including scarves for covering your hair, if you are a lady.
You want to appear as modest as possible.
What colours of clothing to avoid in Nigeria
Avoid white outfits during the wet season in Nigeria, because you could easily get stained from
dirt splashes. And you certainly don’t want to go about with stained outfits. However, you can
put on a white outfit beneath a jacket, and take it off when you arrive at your destination
Also, if you are visiting the northern part of Nigeria, you would want to avoid wearing blue or
black clothing as much as possible. These colours will attract tsetse flies. Trust me, you don’t want to be bitten by tsetse.
They can transmit the parasite Trypanosoma brucei which causes human African trypanosomiasis (HAT,) also referred to as African sleeping sickness (a deadly disease you want to avoid at all costs.)
Other items to pack for your Journey to Nigeria
Insect/mosquito repellent: The mosquitoes in Nigeria are notorious for transmitting malaria. You
want to repel mosquitoes and other harmful insects as much as possible.
Adapter plug and step-down voltage converter: These will come in handy when you suddenly
realize that your electronic devices are not designed for the local voltage (230V).
Now that you’ve gotten an idea of what to include in your packing list during your visit to Nigeria,
you can start making arrangements to shop for items you may not have currently.
To have a great shopping experience, check out our marketplace, Naijapackage. We have stored up a wide variety of essential items you will need during your stay in Nigeria.
By the way, do you think anything is missing from our packing list? Let us know in the comment.