ABOUT ARGUNGU FISHING FESTIVAL, NIGERIA:

The Argungu Fishing Festival is the culmination of a four-day cultural event in the north-western state of Kebbi in Nigeria.

With only 1hour to catch the biggest fish, thousands of fishermen take formation like an ancient army, carrying their traditional nets and gourds. At the sound of a gun, they charge towards the river and leap into the water.

 

PLANNING A TRIP TO ARGUNGU FISHING FESTIVAL IN NIGERIA: WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW

 

• Foreign Alien Visa: If you are planning on visiting the Argungu Fishing Festival in Nigeria but do not hold a valid visa for travel, and you are neither a Nigerian Citizen (with a valid Nigerian Passport) nor a citizen of the Visa free travel countries (with a valid Passport) of the Economic Community Of West African States, then you must obtain a visa before leaving your home country to visit Nigeria. NOTE: Citizens of the following countries can travel visa free to Nigeria provided they hold a valid Passport: Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo and Cape Verde. Citizens of Kenya may travel visa free to Nigeria and obtain a Visa at their point of entry to Nigeria.

 

• Travelling to Argungu Fishing Festival, Kebbi State, Nigeria: FROM OUTSIDE NIGERIA: To get to Argungu in Kebbi from outside Nigeria, you may fly the following airlines that offer services to Lagos or Abuja. They include Delta Airlines, United Airlines, Arik Airlines, British Airways, Qatar Airways, Ethiopian Airlines, Emirates, Turkish Airlines, Royal Air Maroc, Virgin Atlantic, Etihad Airways, EgyptAir, AirFrance, Alitalia, Royal Jordanian, Lufthansa, South African Airways, KLM and Iberia. FROM WITHIN NIGERIA: Argungu in Kebbi is not accessible by air but visitors can take the following airlines to Sokoto in the nearby State of Sokoto. Airlines flying to Sokoto include, Arik Air and Aero.

 

• Where to stay in Argungu, Kebbi, Nigeria: It is advised that visitors book a hotel in Sokoto, in the nearby state of Sokoto and take a day trip to Argungu in Kebbi which is a 1hr:45min drive away.  For a list of hotels in Sokoto, click Here.

 

• Getting to Argungu Fishing Festival in Kebbi from Sokoto in Sokoto State, Nigeria: The best way to get to the Argungu Fishing Festival is via road. Visitors are advised to rent/hire a car which usually comes with a driver. Hotels in Sokoto often offer a car rental/hire service to their guests. Arrangements should be made during hotel reservation for a rented/hired car to pick you up from the airport to the hotel and from the hotel to Argungu and back. 

 

OUR TIPS: VISITING THE ARGUNGU FISHING FESTIVAL IN  NIGERIA

 

• Making Calls: Buy a local SIM card and slut it in your phone and call your loved ones from your local line. It will save you a fortune. Roaming rates you are likely to pay for answering or making a call from Nigeria will be in the region of $1.50 - $3.00 per min. A local service provide like GLO will not charge you for receving calls and when you make a call back home, it will be in the region of $0.10c - $0.70c per min with USA being cheaper at $0.10. Prepaid topup plans start from as low as $0.70 - $100. Internet Data bundles are also cheap with plans starting as low as $19.00 for 1.5GB, $32.00 for 4GB etc.

 

• Emergency Contact Number in Nigeria: for Police, Fire Service or Armbulance is 112.

 

• Medical Treatment: Nigeria operates a Prepaid Medical treatment system and visitors are advised to takeout a medical insurance policy with a company that serves a hospital in the city you will be visiting in Nigeria. Click here for a list of accredited medical insurance companies in Nigeria. NOTE: It is advised that you take out a policy with one of the accredited Medical insurance providers here in nigeria as hospitals may refuse your foreign medical insurance policy provider.

 

• Money: If you have a Debit or Credit card that is a VISA or Mastercard, you can make payments over the counter at retail stores, restaurants, hotels etc and withdraw cash at a local ATM here in Nigeria at any of these Banks; UBA Bank and Guaranty Trust Bank. Nigeria has the most advanced banking system in Africa and as long as your card is either a VISA or MASTERCARD you can make payments or make withdrawals here in the local currency at an excellent rate. Visitors from within nigeria are also advised to travel with their Bank debit cards to make withdrawals at Sokoto. NOTE: Please do not carry thousands of dollars in your pocket under a misguided thought that you will be unable to access money in Nigeria, it may be seized by Customs at the port of entry or even worse, may be lost.

 

• Making withdrawals at ATMs in Argungu Fishing Festival, Kebbi, Nigeria: There are no ATMs at Argungu in Kebbi, you can make withdrawals from a UBA Bank ATM or Guaranty Trust Bank ATM at Sokoto before proceeding to the Argungu fishing festival. NOTE: Foreign aliens are advised not to venture into Sokoto town unaccompanied by a hotel provided rental car and driver. It is estimated that $500.00 is more than sufficient for a day trip to Argungu fishing festival. 

 

• Foreign Alien Tourist, Driving while in Nigeria: NOTE: Although, you can drive in Nigeria with a Valid foreign driver's license issued by your home country, provided you obtain a valid International Driver's Permit (IDP) before leaving your home country, Foreign Aliens are advised not drive themselves to the Argungu Fishing Festival. Domestic flights to Sokoto (near Argungu) leave from Lagos and Abuja. If you do decide to drive alone, Your IDP must be accompanied by a valid driver's license issued by your home country and carried with you at all times while driving. Further, you must verify that the vehicle you are driving while in Nigeria is insured, is road worthy (Road worthiness certificates are issued by the Vehicle Inspection Office) and copies of these documents are carried with you at all times.

 

• Tour Guide/Expenses: When travelling to another country or part of the country, please remember to take all pre cautions as every city (from London to New York City) with a major tourist attracton has con artists posing as tour guides. Plan for the trip and book a 3-5 star hotel. Rent/hire a car which comes with a driver who knows the city/town excellently, he will be your tour guide for an extra tip.