Africa: Explored 100 Tourism Destinations in 12 Months Across Nigeria and Ghana

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By Patrick Wisdom

What started as a joke in January slowly turned into one of the most defining journeys of my year.

I casually said I was going to visit 100 destinations in Nigeria in January 2025. At the time, it sounded ambitious, almost impossible. But once I started, the list kept growing. One destination led to another. From taking people on tours around Lagos, to intentionally visiting places first-hand before recommending them to clients, travel quietly became part of my everyday life.

I never liked art galleries at the beginning. I honestly didn’t get the appeal of just visiting a place to sightsee. But the more galleries I visited, the more curious I became. I started paying attention to the effort, the creativity, the intelligence behind each artwork. Art stopped being “just pictures on walls” and became stories, emotions, and perspectives. That curiosity made me willing, excited, even to explore more galleries wherever I went.

None of this would have been possible without the permission of my boss and my travel buddies. They were always willing, always ready to move, no matter the destination. They made each trip easier, more fun, and more memorable. Together, we turned long roads, tight schedules, and unexpected detours into shared laughter and stories.

I also got the opportunity to visit several hotels across Lagos as part of a team that reached out to hotels for the Top 100 Hotels Awards in Nigeria. That experience opened my eyes. Walking through different hotels, resorts, and hospitality spaces, sometimes they treat me as a VIP and sometimes I’m a normal guest, that gave me a deeper understanding of standards, what excellence looks like, how hospitality shows up in service, design, and guest experience, and how much work goes on behind the scenes.

At some point, the journey became overwhelming.

There was a time I felt it was no longer possible to continue. After an incident, I became scared of the road. The excitement faded, and I lost the will to travel. Fear replaced curiosity. Then I had a conversation with my boss Mr Ikechi Uko, one honest, encouraging conversation that gave me back the confidence I didn’t even realize I had lost. That was how I found myself on the road again, stronger and more intentional.

Among all the experiences, Carnival Calabar stands out the most.

Experiencing Carnival Calabar, popularly called Africa’s Biggest Street Party, changed my perspective completely. I realized that the Carnival is far more exciting when you experience it live than when you watch it on a screen. I used to think the title was just because of the large number of carnival dancers alone. But being there made me realize something deeper: it’s not just one street partying, it’s many streets coming alive and partying at the same time. The colours, the music, and the energy, it’s an experience that stays with you long after it ends.

Visiting hotels, resorts, and art galleries also remains one of my favourite parts of the journey. Each visit added to my knowledge, sharpened my eye for quality, and showed me just how creative people can be when given space to express themselves.

List of places visited
January

1. J Randle Center for Yoruba Culture and History, Lagos
2. Soto art Gallery, Lagos
3. Signature Beyond Gallery, Lagos
4. MYDRIM Gallery, Lagos
5. Lekki Conservation center, Lagos
6. Thought Pyramid Art gallery, Lagos
7. Ko Art Space Gallery, Lagos
8. Lakowe Lakes and Resort, Lagos

February

9. The George Hotel, Ikoyi Lagos
10. The WheatBaker Hotel, Ikoyi Lagos
11. Movempick Ikoyi Hotel, Lagos
12. Westwood Hotel, Ikoyi Lagos
13. J Randle Center for Yoruba Culture and History, Lagos
14. Biodun Omolayo Gallery, Lagos
15. Nigerian National Museum, Lagos
16. Quintessence Gallery, Lagos
17. Wave beach, VI Lagos
18. Upside Down house museum, VI Lagos
19. Radisson Blu Hotel, Ikeja Lagos
20. Leola Hotel, Ikeja Lagos
21. Reli-on Hotel, Ikeja Lagos
22. CITIHEIGHT Hotel, Ikeja Lagos
23. Elomaz hotel, Ikeja Lagos
24. Owu Waterfall, Kwara
25. Nike Guest House, Osun state
26. Afin Ilu drum gallery, Osun state
27. Lekki Conservation center, Lagos
28. Park view Hotel, Ikoyi Lagos
29. Beni Gold hotel, Ikoyi Lagos
30. Golden tulip hotel, Lagos
31. Ibis hotel, Ikeja Lagos
32. Hotel ibis royals, Lagos
33. Joygate hotel, Lagos
34. Welcome center hotel, Lagos
35. Stop over Hotels, Lagos
36. Marriot airport hotel, Lagos
37. Blue lodge hotel, Lagos

March

38. Oda Art Gallery, Lagos
39. Tiwani Comtemporary gallery, Lagos
40. African Artist foundation gallery, Lagos
41. Affinity Gallery, Lagos
42. Omenka Gallery, lagos
43. Ecobank Art exhibition gallery, Lagos

April

44. Ojuwku Bunker museum , Abia state
45. Ojukwu Radio Bunker museum, Abia
46. Okpara Square, Abia

May

47. Agodi Garden recreational park, Oyo state
48. Lekki conservation center, Lagos
49. Nike Art Gallery, Lagos
50. Quintessence Gallery, Lagos
51. Lagos Travel Inn hotel , Ikeja Lagos
52. Sheraton Lagos Hotel – Ikeja Lagos
53. Radisson Blu Hotel, Ikeja Lagos
54. Lagos Marriott Hotel Ikeja Lagos
55. Ibis Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos
56. Watercress Signature, Ikeja, Lagos
57. Lagos Airport Hotel, Ikeja Lagos

June

58. Lagos Marriot hotel, Lagos
59. Radisson Blu anchorage hotel, Lagos
60. Accra city hotel, Ghana
61. The inn Apartments, Accra
62. Light house, Accra
63. Kwame Nkrumah memorial park, Accra
64. Independence square, Accra
65. Sandbox beach club, Accra
66. Royal Senchi hotels & resorts, Ghana
67. Safari Valley resort, Ghana

July
69 Yemisi Shyllon Museum, Lagos

August

70. Tarkwa Bay beach, Lagos
71. Olumo Rock, Ogun state
72. Olusegun Obasanjo President Library, Ogun state
73. Yusuf Grillo Museum, Lagos
74. Idapo Lounge, Marriot Hotel, Ikeja Lagos

September

75. Nike Art Gallery, Lagos
76. J Randle Center for Yoruba Culture and History, Lagos
77. Kyma beach, VI Lagos
78. National Museum, Ikoyi Lagos
79. Lagos Continental Hotels, Lagos
80. Tarkwa Bay beach, Lagos
81. Movempick Hotel ikoyi Lagos
82. Lagos continental hotels, Lagos
83. Landmark center, Lagos

October

84. Cocoa House, Ibadan
85. Ilaji Resort, Ibadan
86. Wole Soyinka Centre for Art and Culture, Lagos
87. Eko Atlantic City, VI Lagos
88. Iwalewa Art Gallery, Lekki Lagos
89. Quintessence Art Gallery, VI Lagos
90. Lekki Conservation Center, VI Lagos
91. Omu Resort, Lekki Lagos

November

91. Badagry Recreational Center, Lagos
92. Whispering Palms resort, Lagos
93. Eko Hotel & Suites, Lagos

December

94. Landmark Nike Lake Resort, Enugu
95. Everyday Mall, Abakaliki
96. Awhum Waterfall, Enugu
97. Ngwo Pine forest, Enugu
98. National Museum of Unity, Enugu
99. Diamond Crue Hotel, Calabar
100. Carnival Calabar Festival, Calabar

This journey didn’t just give me memories; it gave me lessons:
1. Always know your destination well before going there.
2. Have a contact person at each destination, they help you avoid mistakes next time.
3. Be prepared for changes in plans, and don’t panic when they happen.
4. Always have cash at hand.
5. Do not share your current location on social media until you’ve left the place.
6. Find ways to support the communities you visit or help someone within them.
7. Always listen to and obey your tour guides.

I would like to use this opportunity to sincerely appreciate my boss, Mr. Ikechi Uko. Working with him feels like much more than being within the four walls of an institution or organization.

Some jobs are more than employment, they shape you. They expose you to new ways of thinking and doing things. They place you in the front row, where you don’t just learn leadership as a theory, but experience it as lived practice, leadership that is ntentional, and deeply grounded in values.

One thing I truly admire is how he incorporates mentorship into his leadership style. Many people can have a conversation with a leader and walk away unchanged. But with him, even a single conversation leaves you feeling motivated, inspired, and eager to do better.

Working with him has strengthened my belief that success is not far from me. For someone like me, who was born and raised in the streets of Ajegunle, this journey is a reminder that where you start does not limit how far you can go, especially when you are guided by the right leadership.

One hundred destinations later, I didn’t just see Nigeria, I understood it better, and I understood myself even more.