Calabar

== Tourist attractions ==
Calabar sees itself as the "tourism capital of Nigeria". This is supported by the state government.<ref name=":3">{{Citation |title=Africa's biggest Carnival in Nigeria {{!}} 2023 Calabar Carnival |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r2LI12wNabU |access-date=2024-01-19 |language=en}}</ref>

=== Museums ===

==== Slave History Museum ====
One of the five main themes of the museum is the Esuk Mba slave market in Akpabuyo. The slave trade in Calabar was based on slave raiding and trading, which mainly took place in the hinterland, where the enslaved were mostly prisoners of war. The prisoners of war were collected at this market and sold as slaves to slave traders.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |title=Slave History Museum, Calabar {{!}} Slavery and Remembrance |url=https://slaveryandremembrance.org/partners/partner/?id=P0027 |access-date=2024-01-19 |website=slaveryandremembrance.org}}</ref>

Another exhibition shows objects from the slave trade, including chains and shackles. The traders used these to prevent resistance while transporting as many people as possible over long distances.<ref name=":4" />

One exhibition shows the various means of payment used in the slave trade, from copper bars, manillas and Danish guns to brass bells, gongs, flutes and more. The arrangement of the slaves on a ship is artistically illustrated. The slaves are arranged in different positions depending on where they were accommodated on the ship, either sitting, standing or side by side. These positions were maintained until the ships reached their destination in the New World - a crossing that could take several months.<ref name=":4" />

Finally, another exhibition traces the efforts of abolitionists such as William Wilberforce, Thomas Clarkson and Granville Sharp, who saw the slave trade as morally reprehensible and a matter of natural rights. They therefore put forward twelve proposals for abolition. A British Act for the Abolition of the Slave Trade of 25 March 1807 finally stipulated that the slave trade should be abolished by law from 1 May 1807.<ref name=":4" />

The [[Media Trust|Daily Trust Nigeria]] reported the museum's decline. However, the negative report could be due to the COVID wave that was rampant at the time.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-04-24 |title=Why Calabar History Museum no longer attracts traffic |url=https://dailytrust.com/why-calabar-history-museum-no-longer-attracts-traffic/ |access-date=2024-01-19 |website=Daily Trust |language=en-GB}}</ref>

==== National Museum resp. Old Residency Museum ====
[[File:Old Residency, National Museum, Calabar 02.jpg|thumb|National Museum Calabar]]
The ''National Museum of Calabar'' was built in 1884 (it is sometimes incorrectly stated to have been built in 1959). It was formerly the government building or the governor's residence during colonial rule, which was built in Britain and then shipped in parts to Calabar. The Calabar National Museum is made of old Scandinavian pine and has preserved centuries-old relics, especially documents, furnishings and artefacts from the colonial era.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-09-07 |title=Eleven Top Tourist Attractions in Calabar |url=https://blog.vectatravels.com/top-tourist-attractions-in-calabar/ |access-date=2024-01-19 |website=Vecta Travels Blog |language=en-US}}</ref> The museum houses the relics of the slave trade, including the names of the people who supported the slave trade and the currency of the slave trade. The Calabar National Museum, designed and built by the colonisers in Glasgow, houses souvenirs from the slave trade. In 1959, the building became a national monument.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Godlewski |first=Joseph |date=2020-05-30 |title=Drawing from the archives: notes on the Old Residency in Calabar, Nigeria |url=https://medcraveonline.com/AHOAJ/AHOAJ-04-00160.pdf |access-date=2024-01-19 |website=MedCrave}}</ref>
[[File:Hand sculpture roundabout, Calabar, Cross River state2.jpg|left|thumb|The Calabar hand sculpture]]
The National Museum was once the home of a British governor. It is located in Calabar, Cross River State, and displays unique artefacts and historical heritage.

On a tour of the museum, you can see the furnishings used by Europeans during the slave trade and colonial period. You can also see the constitutions in their original documents, which are kept in a large library.<ref>{{Cite web |title=National Museum in Calabar What's On In Calabar |url=https://www.whatsonincalabar.com/national-museum-calabar/ |access-date=2024-01-19 |website=What's On In Calabar |language=en-GB}}</ref>

Calabar's most impressive monument is located in the park of the National Museum. It depicts two chained hands.

==== Mary Slessor's House ====
[[File:Mary Slessor.jpg|thumb|Mary Slessor]]
Mary Mitchell Slessor was a Scottish missionary sent to Nigeria by the United Presbyterian Church in the 19th century.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mary Slessor Building Cross River State :: Nigeria Information & Guide |url=https://www.nigeriagalleria.com/Nigeria/States_Nigeria/Cross-River/Mary-Slessor-Building.html |access-date=2024-01-19 |website=www.nigeriagalleria.com}}</ref> ''Mary Slessor's House'', built around 1880 in Akpap Village, Calabar, Cross River State, is one of the monuments dedicated to her memory.

Originally, the house was a mud house with two bedrooms, a verandah, a shop and a parlour. She referred to it as a "trailer", but the locals called it a "good pass all". In 1889, Mr Owens, a carpenter at the mission, was hired to build a more permanent structure for her. The walls were made of iron plates with wooden doors and windows.<ref name=":5">{{Citation |title=Project Nigeria: Mary Slessor House Calabar |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PD7pk-foDRo |access-date=2024-01-19 |language=en}}</ref>

When Southern Nigeria became a British protectorate, Miss Slessor acted as a female magistrate and skilful diplomatic ambassador. For her efforts in Okoyong, she was given the Efik name Obongawan Okoyong (Queen of Okoyong).<ref name=":5" />

She was also instrumental in the establishment of the Hope Waddell Training Institute in Calabar, which provided vocational training for Efiks. Miss Slessor is widely regarded as a heroine in Nigerian history, and the Mary Slessor House stands as a historical site in honour of the missionary in Ekenge, Calabar, Cross River State.<ref name=":5" />

=== Parks / Resorts ===

==== Millennium Park ====
''Millennium Park'' in Calabar is an amusement park that serves as a famous symbol of the city, offering various recreational activities for children and adults.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Millennium Park, Calabar |url=https://www.finelib.com/listing/Millennium-Park-Calabar/86629/ |access-date=2024-01-19 |website=www.finelib.com}}</ref> Millennium Park, with its pretty and attractive garden and arcades, is a major destination for first-time visitors. Tastefully decorated to artfully showcase and embellish the rich history and culture of Cross River, it provides an excellent backdrop for carefree moments. The Millennium Park is beautifully landscaped and managed and complements the beauty and tourism concept of Calabar town.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Millennium Park, Calabar, Cross River |url=https://hotels.ng/places/park/508-millennium-park-calabar |access-date=2024-01-19 |website=Hotels.ng Places}}</ref>

==== Tortuga Island ====
Located within the Calabar Marina Resort,<ref>{{Cite web |last=jollof |date=2017-03-23 |title=Tortuga Island |url=https://turnuplagos.com/tortuga-island/ |access-date=2024-01-19 |website=turnuplagos...for information on Lagos events, concerts, seminars and more. |language=en-US}}</ref> ''Tortuga Island'' is an area with three popular plantation-style bars. The colonial-inspired themed bars are set in beautiful landscaped gardens and offer panoramic views of the river.

The famous Tortuga Island is a seating area within the resort. The operators rave about a cocktail at sunset and a delicious grilled meat dinner. You can "order from a well-stocked bar and enjoy expertly fried fish as well as some other delicacies."<ref>{{Cite web |title=Tortuga Island, Cross River |url=https://hotels.ng/places/resort/2152-tortuga-island |access-date=2024-01-19 |website=Hotels.ng Places}}</ref>

==== Tinapa Resort and Monorail ====
The ''Tinapa Resort'' seems to have fallen into disrepair during the Covid epidemic. Pictures on a travel website show broken windows and various pioneer plants around the vacant building.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Tinapa (Calabar) - Lohnt es sich? Aktuell für 2024 (Mit fotos) |url=https://www.tripadvisor.de/Attraction_Review-g671512-d2311310-Reviews-Tinapa-Calabar_Cross_River_State.html |access-date=2024-01-19 |website=Tripadvisor |language=de}}</ref> The decay also affects the Calabar monorail located on the premises, which was once the first of its kind in Africa.

=== The Drill Rehabilitation Centre ===
[[File:Drill (Mandrillus leucophaeus).jpg|thumb|Drill]]
The ''Drill Rehabilitation Centre'' nature reserve was founded in 1991 and is the first rehabilitation project for primates in the region. Drills orphaned by hunting are donated by local citizens or handed over after confiscation by the authorities; no animals are bought or taken from the wild. More than 75 drills have been rescued and reunited with conspecifics after a thorough medical examination. Drills have reproduced poorly in western zoos, but the DRBC has recorded over 250 births from rehabilitated wild-born parents and their offspring, making the project the world's most successful captive breeding programme for an endangered primate. Today, 286 drills live in 6 family groups, each in their own natural habitat in an electrified enclosure of up to 9 hectares. There are plans to release the first group back into the wild. The Drill Ranch is also home to 28 orphaned chimpanzees. As the closest relatives of humans, the chimpanzees contribute greatly to the education of visitors by arousing interest and sympathy for the animal world. The project has two locations. The original site in Calabar, the capital of Cross River State, is where it all began. Today, the "Drill Ranch Calabar" serves as the project's headquarters, office, quarantine centre for new animals and veterinary practice, as well as accommodation for the managers and rotating volunteer staff. One of the project's 6 drill breeding groups is also located here, so that anyone living in or visiting the state capital has the opportunity to see drills. This group now comprises 39 animals in 4 generations, including the first drill. Drill Ranch Calabar is also home to a chimpanzee nursery - the project's youngest chimpanzees live here, where they receive round-the-clock care and supervision before moving to Afi Ranch at the age of 6-8 years.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pandrillus » Drill Ranch |url=https://www.pandrillus.org/projects/drill-ranch/ |access-date=2024-01-19}}</ref>

=== In the vicinity ===
Not far from Calabar you can visit the ''Kwa Waterfalls'' (approx. 15 km away), ''Ibeno Beach'' (30 km away) and the ''Cross River National Park''. These three attractions are the most popular in Calabar on tourism websites.

==== Kwa Falls ====
[[File:Kwafalls.jpg|thumb|The Kwa Falls]]
The ''Kwa Falls'' is an impressive waterfall characterised by a narrow, steep gorge from top to bottom. The sparkling water plunges into the depths and forms a pool that is ideal for a variety of water sports. Anyone can go swimming here.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kwa falls, Cross River |url=https://hotels.ng/places/waterfall/284-kwa-falls |access-date=2024-01-19 |website=Hotels.ng Places}}</ref>

==== Ibeno Beach ====
[[File:Boat at Ibeno.jpg|left|thumb|Ibeno Beach]]
''Ibeno Beach'' is one of the Atlantic Ocean beaches along the coastline of Ibeno in Akwa Ibom State. It is the longest sandy beach in West Africa.<ref>{{Cite web |last=unwana |date=2022-06-30 |title=Ibeno Beach: Everything You Need to Know |url=https://awajis.com/ibeno-beach/ |access-date=2024-01-19 |website=Awajis.Com |language=en-US}}</ref> Ibeno Beach stretches for about 30 kilometres from Ibeno to James Town along the Atlantic coast of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. With its beautiful coastline, Ibeno offers endless natural opportunities for tourism, water sports, beach football and boating. Vlogger [[Tayo Aina]] speaks of the "best kept secret of Akwa Ibom".<ref>{{Citation |title=I Found the Strangest Beach in Nigeria! |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kzQFK9D0HRU |access-date=2024-01-19 |language=en}}</ref>

==== Cross River National Park ====
[[File:Cross River National Park, Oban Division.jpg|thumb|Cross River National Park]]
''Cross River National Park'' is located north-east of Calabar and borders Cameroon. The Nigerian federal government is courting investors to develop the potential of ecotourism in this and other national parks.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Adeshida |first=Abayomi |date=2010-10-28 |title=Nigeria: FG Courts Foreign Investors for Eco-Tourism Development |url=https://allafrica.com/stories/201010290687.html |access-date=2024-01-19 |website=allAfrica}}</ref> The park's motto is "The Pride Of Nigeria". The Kanyang Tourist Village, about an hour's drive from Calabar, will provide visitors with a base from which to visit the park and will have a lodge, restaurant and wildlife museum. Activities include game viewing, bird watching, gorilla tracking, mountain climbing or hiking, sport fishing, boat cruises and the Botanical Gardens and Herbarium at Butatong.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2011-08-18 |title=.:: Cross River National Park, Cross River State |url=http://hospitalitynigeria.com/cross_park.php |access-date=2024-01-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110818011619/http://hospitalitynigeria.com/cross_park.php |archive-date=18 August 2011 }}</ref>

Attractions include the Kwa Falls (see above). The Agbokim Falls on the Cross River plunge over a cliff into the tropical rainforest in about 7 steps. There is a small zoological garden with animal species that are rare in Nigeria, which has helped to save some rare species from extinction.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2010-10-05 |title=Cross River State National Park {{!}} Cometonigeria.com |url=http://cometonigeria.com/wheretogo/hot-destinations/cross=river=state=national=park.html |access-date=2024-01-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101005223239/http://cometonigeria.com/wheretogo/hot-destinations/cross=river=state=national=park.html |archive-date=5 October 2010 }}</ref>