A 45-minute drive from central Abuja along the smooth Abuja-Kaduna Expressway, one of Nigeria's most recognizable natural landmarks is the colossal granite Zuma Rock rising 984 feet from the surrounding savanna floor — sheer-sided, abrupt, and visible for miles across the flat plains north of Abuja. Zuma´s most striking feature is a set of natural weathering patterns on one face that form an eerily human-like visage, which has made it the subject of local legend for generations; the Gwari people who live in its shadow have long regarded it as spiritually significant, tied to stories of mystical occurrences. That outsized presence in the national imagination is reflected in its long-standing status as a design element on the 100-naira note, and in its nickname as the "Gateway to Abuja" — the rock announces the entrance to Nigeria's federal capital for anyone driving up from the south. It sits in Madalla, (pop 80,000) a workaday commuter town known for its bustling market and the Ladi Kwali Pottery Centre, honoring Nigeria's most celebrated traditional potter. Most visitors treat Zuma Rock as a striking roadside photo stop and short base hike, but guided operators offer a full, hours-long climb for the more ambitious.

Read more in my post Surprising Nigeria: Africa´s Most Populous Country Is an Underrated Travel Gem.

Fatima