If it's your first visit to Abuja, visit the shiny new civic buildings of the neatly ordered Central District, overlooked by 1312-foot-high Aso Rock, a monolith left by water erosion. On return visits to Abuja, see African animals at Abuja's National Children's Park and Zoo and haggle for bargain souvenirs at Wuse Market.
Right in the heart of Nigeria, around 300 miles inland from coastal Lagos, Abuja is a purpose-built city still under construction. It's predominantly a business and administrative city, with the focus on embassies, government agencies and business facilities. Central Abuja's tidy grid of streets is divided into four districts. Massive Aso Rock towers over the Central District, with the Federal Government buildings located in the Three Arms Zone at the base of the rock. You'll find most businesses here in the Central District, plus the National Mosque and National Church facing each other on nearby Independence Avenue. Garki is another business district, with hotels and the International Conference Centre. The highlight of the Wuse District is the busy Wuse Market. Abuja's most exclusive district is Maitama.
Explore the caves dotting Aso Rock and see how the rock dominates Abuja's administrative and business districts. Visit the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in the Central District to watch the colourful changing-of-the-guard ceremony. You can see local flora at the Abuja Plant Nursery then haggle for crafts, batik textiles, clothes and jewellery at nearby Wuse Market for a traditional African shopping experience. Visit outdoor street bars in Garki and dine at upmarket restaurants in Maitama or on multicultural fare in Wuse.
Drop into Abuja's community pottery centres to purchase Nigerian ceramics. Visit the National Children's Park and Zoo on Abuja's outskirts to see big cats, giraffes and zebras. Head to massive Zuma Rock, known as the 'Gateway to Abuja' jutting out of the plains north of Abuja. Cool off in Abuja's Millennium Park and take a daytrip to the gushing Gurara waterfalls, an hour outside Abuja.
