'''Calabar''' is the capital city of Cross River State in Nigeria. It is a charming and quite peaceful place, and despite the great poverty, the people of Calabar are friendly and smile often.
Understand
Calabar is one of the oldest trading cities in the Nigeria, set on a hill overlooking the river it is quite picturesque. Calabar was established as a center of slave trade by the British in 17th century, it grew to be one of the biggest.
Electricity is a great problem - expect 3-4 power outages per day.
Get in
By plane
Calabar is about 1-1/2 hours from Lagos by plane.
Calabar is about 25 minutes from Port Harcourt and has an International Airport - '''Margret Ekpo International Airport'''.
Calabar is 1 hour flight from Lagos and a 4 hour drive from Port Harcourt. With the development of the city by the present administration, the city flight schedules have increased and you can now get a flight in or out of Calabar every day. Also the major airlines in the country have their presence felt in Calabar and have flights to and from major cities in the country; they include: Virgin Nigeria, Arik Air and Aero Contractors. Their flight schedules can easily be found at their respective websites. Don't forget visas!!!!
By boat
There is also a regular boat service from various parts of Cameroon's coastline which will transport vehicles and people. You can actually get Cameroonian visas on the boat which can save you a lot of time. However, you can use Calabar as a base before transferring into Cameroon by road slightly further north.
By car
Get around
The local authorities have made a great effort to make the streets safe by enlarging them, removing potholes, and adding stripes between lanes. Local taxis are not advisable as the cars are very old and quite often the drivers are not particularly experienced. As long as you are careful Calabar is quite safe.
'''Cross River State Remlords Tours & Car Hire Services''', 170M.M. Highway, Tel: +234 (0)806 360-6723, +234 (0)802 786-5213, [http://www.remlordstours.com]. Provides transportation and tour guide services to visitors to Calabar and Cross River State.
See
There is a lot of Colonial Architecture in the older parts of Calabar that are around Henshaw Town, Duke Town and the waterfront areas.
'''Duke Town church''' One of the oldest churches in Nigeria. It was established by the Presbyterian church missionaries. If you go to Eyamba Street just past the church there is a cemetery with stunning views over the town and river. Inside the cemetrey is the tomb of Mary Slessor, a missionary from Dundee in Scotland UK. She was very influential in this part of Nigeria.
'''Calabar Museum''', on the hill overlooking the waterfront, in the Old Government House, the former residence of the colonial governor. The building was designed and built in Glasgow and shipped over in pieces. The museum concentrates on the history of Calabar, the region and slavery. It has a larger quantity of original documents relating to Nigeria. Since it is not heavily frequented by tourists you can easily get a guided tour from one of the staff. Interested persons could spend 3 hours there and barely touch the surface of the material. There are a lot of artifacts relating to the production of palm oil in the back which are fascinating too.
'''Drill Monkey Rehab Centre''', Ndidem Nsang Iso Road ''hidden behind the Jahas Guest House''. It was set up by two overlanders from the USA (Peter Jenkins and Liza Gadsby) who were biologists back home but who were persuaded by the Nigerian Government to stay in Nigeria and look after the endangered Drill Monkeys which were traditionally hunted and eaten in the Afi Mountain range that borders Cameroon. The couple now have staff in Calabar where they care for recently rescued monkeys e.g. those they capture from people trying to smuggle and export them and they also then return them to the wild at the Drill Ranch in Afi Mountains which is not too far from Calabar. You need a decent vehicle and map to get you to the ranch. The '''Afi Mountain Ranch''' (near Katabang) has cabins for guest accommodation and a forest canopy walkway (25m high!) for people to experience the environment more closely. You are able to visit both after prior arrangement with the team Tel: +234 (0)803 592-1262 Email: info@pandrillus.org Website: www.pandrillus.org. Go, meet Mickey the chimp and experience having him sit in your lap and fiddle with your hair.
The '''Cross River State Annual Christmas Festival'''[http://www.crossriverfestival.com] held every year attracts thousands within and beyond Nigeria. The Festival which include music performance from both local and international artists, the annual Calabar carnival, Boat regatta, Fashion shows, Christmas Village, traditional dances and the annual Ekpe Festival is a yearly events that bring in thousands of tourists at the time of the year.
You can also visit '''Tinapa''' [http://www.tinapa.com]. simalar to Universal studios, provides international standard wholesale emporiums, integrated shopping complexes and product distribution elements supported by business tourism and entertainment facilities.
Buy
The '''old town''' is remarkable for its great variety of small shops where you can get just about anything (but expect to bargain). There are two great markets, '''Watt Market and Marian market'''. Watt market is large, bustling, vibrant and full of beautiful materials etc. One can buy anything from live chickens to the most stunning wax materials, jeans at knock down prices and anything from car parts to the latest 'trainers'. Marian market is much smaller but is where the vegetables arrive once weekly from the north of Nigeria and the atmosphere on market day is fantastic, preachers are singing, women are joining in, traders are very vocal and one just bargains for everything.
Seriously, materials in Calabar are second to none. Beautiful waxes from Ghana, stunning materials from all over Africa can be found in Calabar - all at prices that will amaze. There are many very professional tailors who can make wonderful clothing from linens etc.
For those of us that we haven't tasted fresh live fish, you can get it direct from the sea.
A and A Farms, Ikot nakanda, akpabuyo, Tel: +234 (0)806 951-3512 Email:info@aandafarms.net), [http://www.aandafarms.net]. Poultry, fishery, Piggery, Feedmill.
Eat
Go to '''Bogobiri Corner''' and enjoy suya from the many vendors.
'''Freddies Restaurant''' is the local eaterie. Run by Ellie and a very professional staff, Freddies is a successful and well run restaurant. Main menu is lebanese foods but Ellie will try to please everyone. Good salads, fish and best of all huge prawns are the best. Local beers, wines and all drinks are available and all at good prices.
'''Chinese restaurant''' at the Mirage Hotel is well run and although fairly limited menu, food is good - not cheap though.
Drink
Sleep
Adrians Place. lot 171 Asari Eso Layout. yoola jafojo. 234 (0)803 600-3000. ttp://www.adriansapartments.com.
Adrian's Place MCC. 8 MCC Road. yoola jafojo. 234 (0)803 600-3000. ttp://www.adriansapartments.com. This is an annex of Adrian's Place at Asari Eso Layout. Right on the road where all a 24 hours fun is available.
Le Chateau Hotel. lot 56 MCC road. ttp://www.ths-lechateau.com. Satellite TV, air-con, restaurant. It's possible to nake online reservation at the hotel's website
The Channel View. 4 MCC Road. 234 (0)87 23-0594. ttp://www.channelviewhotelng.com. 234 (0)87 23-1006.. One of the best hotels in Calabar
Cytaro Hotel. 0 Bishop Moynagh Avenue. taro33@yahoo.com .
G Guest House. 2 Otop Abasi Street. -gh@skannet.com .
Jacaranda Suites. lots C2-C6. ff Atimbo Road. 234 (0)87 23-9666. 234 (0)87 23-9667. ttp://www.jacarandacalabar.com. Unique ambience and furnishing with luxury hospitality services
Mariam's Hotel. 25 Old Ikang Road. ff No. 65 Ndidem Iso Road. ytaro33@yahoo.com .
Mega Hilton Hotel. 3 Duke Town Close. 234 (0)87 23-7400, +234 (0)87 23-7994. 234 (0)87 23-7400.
Mirage Hotels. lot 230 Unit D, Block B, MCC Road. iragecalabar@hotmail.com. The Mirage is clean with basic amenities. Staff are friendly and well trained, particularly the porters.
Pyramid Hotels and Conference Center. lot 160 Muritala Mohammed Highway. yramidhotels@yahoo.com.
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The listing below, lack any information beside the address:
'''Aqua Vista Farms''', 1 Messembe Close, Anantigha. LISATEX 5 Expo Archibong Road, Calabar
'''Calabar Grand Hotel''', 2 Ekong Bassey Lane, Off Atimbo Road.
'''Chalsma Hotels''', 2 Effiong Mfonduok Street, Off RCC Junction, By Muritala Mohammed Highway.
'''MCC Lounges''', 69 MCC Road Calabar
'''Regency Mirage''', 2 Obame Ikoya Road, Off Marian Road Estension.
'''The Anchorage Guest House''', 8 Ediyang Street, State Housing Estate.
'''Ete Kamba Guest House''', 7 Duke Town Close, State Housing Estate.
'''Equity''', 54 MCC Road.
'''Home Life Gardens''', 15 Barracks Road, Calabar
'''Jevics Hotel''', 121 Ndidem Iso Road.
'''Mosang Guest House''', 10 Ikot Abasi Oboli Street, Off ICC Junction.
'''Nelbee Guest House''', 5 Dan Archibong Street.
'''Peladium Hotel''', 106 Mariam Road.
'''Paradise City Hotel''', 68 Atekong Drive, State Housing Estate.
'''Parkway Mirage''', 4 Obame Ikoya Road, Off Marian Road Estension.
'''Unican Hotels and Conference Center''', Plot D 85 Akin Layout, Eastern Highway. PMB 1115.
'''The Metropolitan'''. Murtala Mohammed Highway P.M.B 1071, Tel: +234 (0)87 22-0911. Closed for refurbishment (May 2006).
'''Zoo Garden Hotel''', Mary Slessor Avenue, Opposite Target Street.
Contact
Internet Cafes
'''Link On PC''', 15 New Edgerly Road, Phone: +234 (0)805 240-5210, Email: link_on_pc@yahoo.com. Scanning, Printing, Chatting and Browsing and Photocopying as Well As All Night Browsing Services Everyday. There are enough machines for walking visitors and guides are available to help people who can't browse well get on the Internet.
'''Cross River State IT Village''', at Women Development Center Parliamentary road, [http://www.crossriveritvillage.com/]. Equipped with state of the art IT facilities, Wifi, Wireless Internet, IT capacity building and Coffee shop and restaurant.
Get out