Captivating Wildlife
Calabar, like any African city, offers you the chance to discover the continent’s greatest treasure: its wildlife. Experience encounters that will leave you with treasured memories.
Calabar is a tranquil holiday destination in Nigeria. With a population of over 450 000 residents, it is a peaceful stopover on your trip into the country. Calabar offers you a range of attractions that cement its status as a tourist hotspot. The city’s leading sights include the National Museum, the World War 1 Cenotaph, and Millennium Park.
Cheap flights to Calabar are now available for a short time, so take this opportunity to discover this beautiful city. This destination is home to the Margaret Ekpo International Airport (CBQ), which is a 10-minute drive from the centre of Calabar. This airport serves a great selection of airline companies, including Arik Air. Popular flights departing from Johannesburg to Calabar are now available. The duration of the flight is 10 hours and 40 minutes.
| Flight Route | Airline | Trip Type | Travel Dates | Searched | Price From |
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Calabar, like any African city, offers you the chance to discover the continent’s greatest treasure: its wildlife. Experience encounters that will leave you with treasured memories.
Despite the city’s reputation for peace and quiet, it includes a range of attractions that make it perfect for the entire family, with cinemas, children’s arcades, nightclubs and vibrant beaches.
Dating back to the 17th century, Calabar provides you with the chance to learn about its history as a slave trade post and a colonial destination.
Essential details you need to know before your trip
| Country | Nigeria |
|---|---|
| Currency | Nigerian Naira |
| Exchange Rate | 1 ZAR = 12.76 NGN |
| Language | English |
| Hub Airport | Margaret Ekpo International Airport (CBQ) |
| Airline | FirstNation Airways |
| Time Zone | GMT+1 |
| Travel Adaptor | Type D & G |
As a West African country close to the equator, Nigeria experiences rain throughout the year. From June to July (summer) and during September (early autumn), however, the rainfall lessens, making this the best time to visit Calabar.
Average temperature (°C) & rainfall (mm) per month
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low °C | 19°C | 21°C | 22°C | 22°C | 22°C | 22°C | 22°C | 21°C | 21°C | 21°C | 21°C | 20°C |
| High °C | 31°C | 33°C | 33°C | 32°C | 32°C | 30°C | 29°C | 28°C | 21°C | 21°C | 21°C | 20°C |
| Rainfall (mm) | 2 | 4 | 11 | 17 | 20 | 24 | 25 | 27 | 26 | 24 | 8 | 2 |
Calabar provides the ideal stopover during your exploration of the country of Nigeria. The peaceful atmosphere of the city, combined with colonial architecture and a diverse range of attractions, make it a fine location to just rest your legs before setting off on your next adventure.
As an African city, Calabar offers you the opportunity to view and interact with the local wildlife, especially at the Afi Mountain Wildlife Sanctuary. Get an insight into the city’s history as an outpost of slavery, and learn about artefacts related to palm oil production at the Calabar Museum. One of the top attractions in this destination is the Marina Resort, which offers views of the Calabar River, and the chance to enjoy speedboat rides, nightclubs, film theatres and a slave museum.
Compare several airlines, and book your cheap flights to Calabar online at Travelstart.
South African passport holders will need a Visa to enter Nigeria. Make sure you have plenty of time for Visa processing, and that your passport will be valid for six months after your return date, and that you have two blank pages available for stamps.
South African High Commission to Nigeria
Address: Plot 371, Diplomatic Zone, Central Business District, Abuja.
Phone: +234 9 782 2850 Phone: +234 9 782 2852
When walking around Calabar, keep your valuables, especially your phone and wallet, out of sight, or else you may become the next victim of pickpocketing. A neck wallet inside your clothing would be best when you’re exploring the city on foot.
| Item | Cape Town | Johannesburg | Calabar |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant | R 100.00 | R 100.00 | R 20.00 |
| Domestic Beer (0.5 liter draught) | R 25.00 | R 25.00 | R 11.00 |
| Cappuccino (regular) | R 22.00 | R 22.00 | R 28.00 |
| Taxi 1km (Normal Tariff) | R 10.00 | R 10.00 | R 20.00 |
| Pack of Cigarettes (Marlboro) | R 37.00 | R 37.00 | R 8.00 |
A wide selection of credible hotels and suites are available throughout Calabar, giving you plenty of choices, and ensuring you can be close to your favourite attraction. The cost of staying at one of them ranges from under 7,000 Naira to over 24,000 Naira.
There are local taxis in Calabar to get you from one point to the other, but many of the cars are quite old and the drivers lack experience. Exploring the city on foot is safe enough, as long as you remember to keep your valuables out of sight.
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