ABOUT CALABAR CARNIVAL FESTIVAL, CROSS RIVER, NIGERIA:

Calabar Carnival at the Calabar festival is an annual carnival in Calabar, the capital city of the Nigerian southeastern state of Cross River. It is "Africa's Biggest Street Party" and thus the largest cultural Festival in Africa with 50,000 Costumed revellers, 2million spectators and an audience of over 50million TV viewers watching a unique display of African heritage showcased through music, dance, drama and visual creativity which is reflected in the design of floats, costumes and make-up.  

 

EVENT DATE AND ACTIVITIES AT CALABAR FESTIVAL, NIGERIA:

The Carnival takes place on the 26th and 27th of December each year, and is the highlight of the 32-day Calabar Festival which runs from 30th November to 1st January. It features 5 major competing bands and 10 non-competing bands. The major bands are comprised of around 10,000 revellers each, including up to five kings and queens wearing large scale costumes that interpret the annual theme and set the tone for the other outfits.

 

The event hosts top Nigerian musicians, Nollywood Actors, comedians and international artists like, the Akon, Fat Joe, Young Jeezy, Nelly, Kirk Franklin, and many more.

 

PLANNING A TRIP TO CALABAR CARNIVAL FESTIVAL, NIGERIA: WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW

 

• Foreign Alien Visa: If you are planning on visiting the Calabar Carnival Festival in the southeastern state of Cross River 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.

 

• Flights to Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria: OUTSIDE NIGERIA: To get to Calabar from outside Nigeria, you may the following airlines that offer services to Lagos City, Abuja City, Kano City and Port Harcourt. 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: You will then take a connecting domestic flight from the nigerian cities mentioned above to Calabar. Domestic airlines flying to Calabar inlude: ArikAir. 

 

• Where to stay in Calabar, Nigeria: Calabar has a variety of accomodations available. Click here for a list of Hotels in Calabar. 

 

• ​Getting around Calabar, Nigeria: Visitors to Calabar can choose to bring their own vehicle or rent/hire a vehicle which usually comes with a driver for the entire period. (To rent/hire a car, please visit or contact Avis or Calabar Channel View Hotel).

 

 

OUR TIPS: VISITING CALABAR CARNIVAL FESTIVAL, 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: for Police, Fire Service or Armbulance is 112.

 

• Medical Treatment: Nigeria operates a Prepay 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 either 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 the Bank debit cards to make withdrawals at Calabar. 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.

 

 

• Foreign Alien Tourist, Driving while in Nigeria: 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. NOTE: 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, please remember to take all pre cautions as every major 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.