Travel Tips
The more you know about traveling to Idanre, the more you’ll be prepared to enjoy your visit when you arrive. Idanre is located approximately 28 kilometres from Akure, the capital city of Ondo State, in the south western part of Nigeria. Its geographical coordinates are as follows:
Geographical coordinates in decimal degrees:
Latitude: 6.717
Longitude: 5.100
Geographical coordinates in degrees, minutes, seconds:
Latitude: 6 43′ 00”
Longitude: 5 06′ 00”
Generally, sunrise is around 6:30 AM and sunset is around 6:30 PM
Idanre enjoys beautiful tropical weather and two main weather seasons, about which you can find out more here.
Tour Guides
There is no official tour guide body in Idanre. However, there are some indigenes who provide tour guide services, with an excellent knowledge of the historical sites and a passion for sharing their knowledge with visitors.
Also, when you visit Idanre Hills, there are government employed tour guides available at the Idanre Hills Resort Centre who will be able to share about the rich history of Idanre and the sites found along the tourist trail to the top of Oke-Idanre.
Banking
Opening times vary between the various banks. You can generally find them open on Monday to Friday from 8:00AM to 4.00PM. Some banks are open on Saturday, usually between 10:00 AM. and 3:00 PM
Visit the page on Idanre banks for available Information about the individual banking establishments. In Odode and Owena, there are some ATM machines, which can be found in major banks.
- Valid Passport with Visa. (must have at least 6 months validity beyond the return date of your trip). Have your Proof of Citizenship if you are from a country whose citizens do not require passport or visa entry to Nigeria.
- Water Bottle. Ensure you carry sufficient bottled water (produced by a reputable manufacturer) to keep you well hydrated, especially when you are outdoors visiting the tourist sites. It is not advisable for visitors to drink water sold in sachets or bottled water from unrecognised brands.
- Alarm Clock
- Power Plug Adapter
- Small backpack / bag
- Bandanas, scarves or hat to protect you against the hot sun.
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses
- Anti-Malaria medication (check with your doctor regarding any allergies)
- Your personal Medical Prescriptions e.g. Allergy Medicine
- Earplugs for light sleepers
- Toiletries (unscented recommended as the scented ones might attract tropical insects if you are hiking in the forest)
- Insect repellent (with DEET) – please obtain advice from your medical doctor
- Small flashlight (power outages sometimes occur)
- Appropriate walking shoes (closed-toe for tourist hiking / regular shoes and sandals for other occasions).
- Appropriate clothing for the weather corresponding to the season
- Camera & charger / batteries to capture your delightful moments, of which there are likely to be many
- Health and Travel insurance documents
Seasonal Clothing
Casual summer wear can be worn during the day at any time of the year. Do however take note of some variations below with respect to the different weather seasons in Idanre (and South Western Nigeria generally).
Dry Season (November – February / March)
- Footwear for hot, tropical weather.
- Clothing for hot weather. Temperatures in the day can be as high as 38 degrees Celsius (100.4 degrees Fahrenheit), dropping to about 12 degrees Celsius (54 degrees Fahrenheit) at night. Dress in layers.
Wet Season (February / March – October)
- Raincoat
- Appropriate footwear to handle wet and muddy roads.
- Clothing for hot, wet weather. Temperatures can reach as high as 37 degrees Celsius (98.6 degrees Fahrenheit) during the day and about 23 degrees Celsius (73.4 degrees Fahrenheit) during the night.
Communications
Visitors and business travellers will find that telecommunications in Idanre is generally stable and you are able to obtain mobile phone reception most of the time.
Occasionally however and dependent on the location, there may be temporary reception issues. The digital switching system allows direct dialling to many countries around the world.
You can save money on long distance calls by purchasing local phone cards (charge cards). These generally have better rates than using your country’s international roaming option on your normal service carrier.
Currency
The currency used in Nigeria is the Naira (symbol: ₦), which has a floating exchange rate against the U.S. dollar, British pound, Australian dollar and other international currencies.
Credit and Debit cards are not accepted for payment of goods in most shops in Idanre although they may be accepted in some of the major stores in the larger cities close to Idanre such as Akure (28 Kilometres from Idanre).
It is therefore recommended that you hold sufficient cash for your needs.
There are Bureaux de Change (currency exchange centres) in cities close to Idanre such as Akure and Ondo where you can convert your foreign currency to the Naira.
Driving
Please drive on the right-hand side of the road and be very careful on the roundabouts. International visitors are allowed to use their foreign licences for three months along with their international licence for a period of one year. During this time, you are expected to apply for a Nigerian driver’s licence.
Pedestrians must remember to first look left then right, then left again before crossing streets.
It is the law that all drivers and their passengers wear seat belts while riding in a vehicle. Further information on driving in Idanre can be found at the Nigerian Highway Code website.
Shopping
Due to the currency exchange rate, many international tourists can enjoy excellent bargains on many items such as mobile phones, cameras, other electrical appliances, local fabrics and local crafts.
Be prepared to enjoy the game of haggling with store traders as the original prices you are quoted as a tourist is not usually the fair price. It is the starting point of negotiations ?.
Electricity
Electricity sockets in Nigeria operate on a standard voltage of 230 V and frequency of 50 Hz. If the standard voltage in your country is between 220V – 240 V (e.g. in the UK, Europe, Australia and most of Asia and Africa), you can use your electric appliances in Nigeria.
If the standard voltage in your country is in the range of 100V – 127V (e.g. in the USA, Canada and many South American countries), you need a voltage converter to use your appliance in Nigeria.
Two associated plug types are used in Nigeria; types D and G. Plug type D has three round pins in a triangular pattern whilst plug type G has three rectangular pins in a triangular pattern. Ensure you have the right adapter to be able to use your appliance.
Getting Around
MiniBuses
A basic public transportation service is available within the main township centres in Idanre. These are run by private operators using minibuses (called Danfo).
Okada
Most indigenes get around using motorbike riders (called Okada). Rates vary depending on the route and it is recommended that you have enough small denomination local currency on you for your trips.
Health and Security
A Yellow Fever vaccination certificate must be presented on arrival at the International points of entry to Nigeria by all travellers who are 12 months of age and older.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends vaccination against yellow fever for all international travellers more than nine months of age going to Nigeria.
The WHO also recommends that you should have had the following vaccinations before travelling to Nigeria: hepatitis A, hepatitis B, typhoid, cholera, rabies, meningitis, polio, measles, mumps and rubella (MMR), Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis), chickenpox, shingles, pneumonia and influenza.
Medical facilities are not as well developed as you would find in the north American or western European nations so do take care to avoid undue health risks. A list of medical establishments in Idanre is available here.
Idanre is generally a secure place for tourists and the crime rate is relatively low. However, late night travel is inadvisable due to the possible risk of armed robberies.
Like you would in your own country, visitors are encouraged to maintain full awareness of your environment, especially in busy public places.
Pets
As an international traveller, you can bring your pet with you to Idanre and will be required to meet the following requirements in order to do so.
Your pet must be vaccinated for rabies and be blood titre tested.
Your pet must have a rabies titre test administered after their primary rabies vaccination no sooner than 30 days nor more than 12 months prior to entering Nigeria.
You will need to obtain an official Import Permit and Rabies certificate to be presented at your port of entry.
Treatment for internal and external parasites is recommended prior to entering Nigeria as your pet may be quarantined if physical examination indicates any ailments.
It is advisable to carry some form of identification proving ownership of your pet.
If your pet is not a dog or cat, it is highly recommended you ascertain that it is not protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
You will be required to apply for additional permits if it is a protected species.
Time Zone
Idanre is on Nigeria Standard Time within the West Africa Time Zone.
It is One hour ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT+1).
Tipping
There are no definitive rules for giving tips, but they are greatly welcomed at places where service workers earn very low incomes or commissions.
Particularly in nations where the economy is not very strong, tips from tourists can make a significant difference in the lives of the local community service providers.
Tipping in Idanre should be treated just like the country where you come from, and according to the quality of service you receive.
Tipping etiquette experts recommend that you give tips in the currency of the nation you are visiting, in this case, the Naira.
According to the author of the book “Everyday Etiquette,” etiquette expert, Patricia Rossi of Tampa, Florida, “the people who are servicing us are making our lives happier and better,” and “tipping is a small way to honour people right back.”
The Best Time to Visit
You are likely to enjoy your trip to Idanre whenever time of the year you visit, provided you have planned properly for the trip and there is a wealth of information on Idanreland.com and some other websites to help with this.
However, due to difficulties that may arise due to the torrential rainfalls during the wet season, it is highly recommended you travel to Nigeria during the dry season, particularly between October and January when the temperatures are generally lowest. Although this might coincide with the harmattan winds, the effect in Idanre and other South Western parts of Nigeria is relatively mild.
We look forward to welcoming you to Idanre, the City that Rocks!