Greetings from Nigeria
GREETINGS FROM … are brief field notes. Friends of OLLI send us their impressions from their travels.
Eastern Highlands, Nigeria. On their trans-African journey from Germany to South Africa, Daniela, Christian, and their three sons were particularly surprised by the highlands in eastern Nigeria, with their spectacular landscapes, unspoiled villages, and impressive off-road trails. For them, this part of Africa is one of the most beautiful and unexpected highlights of the entire western route.
Dear travel enthusiasts
In the fall of 2025, the five of us set off from Germany in our expedition vehicle and embarked on the “Trans-Africa West Route” adventure. “The five of us” are parents Daniela and Christian with our three boys, Cedric (15), Bastian (13), and Colin (10). Our Rhodesian Ridgeback, Kaino, also joined us on the journey.
We traveled through 23 countries on this once-in-a-lifetime adventure from Germany to South Africa and actually reached South Africa together by land in early May 2026. An incredible experience for us as a family!
Like probably most Europeans, we had associated Nigeria more with the sometimes difficult security situation than with the beauty of the country in the run-up to this trip. That’s why we joined forces with other travelers to form a small tour group for this part of the journey, so we could cross Nigeria together. And to be honest, the first part of our journey through Nigeria from west to east will probably remain a rather negative memory for us—sorry.
That changed abruptly, however, when we reached the highlands in eastern Nigeria. Actually, this part of Nigeria was only included in our itinerary to avoid the potentially dangerous northwest of Cameroon, which foreigners are only allowed to cross with an official military convoy. In fact, the highlands in eastern Nigeria are beautiful! Friendly people, traditional villages, challenging trails even during the dry season, and breathtaking places to stay overnight. This part of our journey was one of the biggest positive surprises we’ll surely never forget!
💡 Did you know that the mountains in the eastern highlands of Nigeria reach heights of over 2,000 meters? And that many traditional ways of life have been preserved thanks to the region’s remoteness?
Best regards
Daniela and Christian
with Cedric, Bastian, and Colin
More about Daniela, Christian & family
