ABOUT THE OLD CITY OF KANO, NIGERIA:

Kano is one of the seven Hausa city-states and its written history dates back to 999 A.D., when the city was already several hundred years old. Dala Hill was the place of the first settlement in Kano City and it formed the nucleus for the peopling of the rest of the city and was the foundation of its economic and political development. Kano's was and still is a cultural, handicraft, and commercial center in Northen Nigeria, with wide trade contacts in West, North Africa and the rest of the world. Kano reached the height of its power in the 17th and 18th century and in 1809 it was conquered by Fulani Jihadists and in 1903 a British force captured the city.

 

The old city walls form a 14 kilometres radius of earth structure around the city. The foundation for the construction of the wall was laid by Sakri Gijimasu from 1095 – 1134 and was completed in the middle of the 14th Century during the reign of Zamnagawa and were further extended to their present position in the 16th century. The gates are as old as the walls and though most of the wall and gates are in ruins, some have been restored making them and other associated ancient Kano monuments, places of spiritual, historical and cultural significance. 

 

PLANNING A TRIP TO THE OLD CITY OF KANO IN NIGERIA: WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW

 

• Foreign Alien Visa: If you are planning on visiting Kano Old City 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 Kano, Nigeria: FROM OUTSIDE NIGERIA: To get to Kano from outside Nigeria, you may fly the following airlines that offer services to Kano. They include Arik Air, Turkish Airlines, Middle East Airlines, Saudi Arabian Airlines, EgyptAir and Ethiopian Airlines. FROM WITHIN NIGERIA: The following airlines fly to Kano Airport from within Nigeria. They include, Arik Air, Aero, Azman Air and IRS Airlines.

 

• Where to stay in Kano city, Nigeria: For a list of hotels in Kano, click Here.

 

• Getting around Kano city, Nigeria: Visitors are advised make arrangements for the hotel to send a car and driver to pick them up from Kano Airport. Arrangements should also be made for the hotel to provide a car and driver to take you around to see the old city of Kano. Hotels in Kano would usually arrange this service for an extra fee, provided you are a guest at the hotel. Some hotels in Kano that provide car rental/hire services for an extra fee include Kano Central Hotel, Prince Hotel and Royal Tropicana Hotel.

 

OUR TIPS: VISITING KANO OLD CITY, 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 Kano. NOTE: Please do not carry thousands of dollars in your pocket under a misguided thought that you will be unable to access money in Bauchi, Nigeria, it may be seized by Customs at the port of entry or even worse, may be lost.

 

• Making withdrawals at ATMs in Kano, Nigeria: You can make withdrawals from a UBA Bank ATM or Guaranty Trust Bank ATM at Kano. NOTE: Please do not venture into Kano City unaccompanied by your hotel provided rental car and driver. It is estimated that $300.00 is more than twice the amount needed for a day out on tour around Kano.  

 

• 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 to travel to Kano by Road. International flights land at Kano international Airport. Domestic flights to Kano 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.