Kano
Nigeria · 481 m
Description
Kano is the oldest city in Nigeria and was for a thousand years the southern terminus of the trans-Saharan caravan routes, which made it the commercial capital of the Sahel. Fourteen kilometres of mud city wall still ring the old town with its gates, and Dala Hill, where the first settlement stood, gives the view across the flat roofs. The Kurmi market has traded since the fifteenth century. The indigo dye pits at Kofar Mata have been in continuous use since 1498 and are the last of their kind, still worked by hand.
Length of stay
Recommended length of stay: 1 to 3 days (optimal 2 days)
Travel season
Best time to visit: November – February
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Highlights
- Kofar Mata indigo dye pits
- Kurmi Market
- Kano city walls & gates
- Emir's Palace & Gidan Makama Museum
- Dala Hill viewpoint
- Kano Great Mosque
- Durbar festival (approx. April)
- Hausa leather & craft workshops
- Old town earthen architecture
- Trans-Saharan trade history
Getting there
- Airports:
- KAN