Port Harcourt: 10 Things You'll Notice Once There
Port Harcourt the capital city of Rivers State, as well as the largest city in Rivers State, was founded by Lord Fredrick Lugard in 1912. As a Port for the exportation of coal to Enugu. Called the Garden City, It is regarded as the 3rd most developed city in Nigeria, after Lagos and Abuja. It is also the oil hub of Nigeria. Port Harcourt lies along the Bonny River and is located in the Niger Delta.
Once you get to Port Harcourt, there are a few things that will stand out to you. Just in case you are worried you and don't know what to expect? Here's a list to help you with all the unexpected surprises.
1. Port Harcourt is a City of Big Things
Port Harcourt is highly populated, as it is the only major city in the state. From an area of 15.54 km2 in 1914, Port Harcourt was expanded to cover an area of 360 km2 in the 1980s. As at 2016, it had an estimated population of 1,865,000 inhabitants from 1,382,592 as of 2006, with a land mass of 369km2. Port Harcourt is a major industrial center, as it has a large number of multinational firms as well as other industrial concerns, particularly business related to the petroleum industry. There are also a good number of notable markets in Port Harcourt like Oil Mill Market, Rumuokoro Market, Navy Market, koku Spare Parts Market, Garri Market etc. Port Harcourt also boast of eye-catching tourist centers such as Port Harcourt Zoo, Tourist Beach, Isaac Boro Park, Garden City Amusement Park, Port Harcourt pleasure Park, and Cultural Centre.2. Port Harcourt is a Food Metropolis
There are several food options available, both local and intercontinental. One interesting food popularly eaten by the inhabitants of the city is Bole (Roasted Plantain) and Roasted Fish. If you happen to travel to Port Harcourt, you definitely do not want to miss this awesome lip-smacking combination. Also, Ugwa, Nkwobi, and Abacha (also known as African Salad) are other local delicacies you don?t want to miss. In the event that the local dishes are not your preference, visit places like Bole King, Kilimanjaro Restaurant, Jenivik, Genesis Pizza, Domino Pizza, Spice Route, Kode 9, Asia Town, and Cubana Lounge, to get delicately prepared intercontinental dishes.3. Prepare for all the Festivals and Celebrations
In a bid to preserve and depict culture, the people of Port Harcourt engage in different festivals. Some of the festivals are:- ION International Film Festival: It holds every December, and is aimed at promoting independent films, music videos, animation, documentaries and movie trailers. The festival runs for 4 days. It is usually a blast.
- Port Harcourt Int?l Food Festival: The festival is geared towards celebrating and promoting different food cultures. Part of the activities for this festival is the Bole food fair, where different dishes ranging from Bole to continental dishes would be available for an eating contest.
- The Port Harcourt Book Festival (Garden City Festival) is a festival that holds in the month of September. This festival takes place to celebrate literature and arts, heighten literacy awareness in the city, and boost tourism in Port Harcourt.
- Music Festival: This festival is part of the activities that make the annual CARNIRIV (Rivers State Carnival). Its aim is to give indigenous upcoming artists and entertainers a platform to showcase their talents.
- Nwaotam Festival: This festival is celebrated annually, on the 25th of December. The purpose of the festival is to usher in the new year and ward off the evils of the passing year. It is believed that this festival helps to ensure that the new year brings good things.
4. How Can I Get To Port Harcourt?
Being a very popular city in Nigeria, Port Harcourt experiences a consistent influx of visitors all year round. There are various travel options that visitors traveling to Port Harcourt from any part of Nigeria can take. Visitors can take flights to Port Harcourt, use the roads networks or just take the train.Flights To Port Harcourt City
Port Harcourt has a local and an international airport, and it hosts several airlines coming from the several other airports within and outside the country. Airlines such as Air Peace, Arik Air, Dana Air, Medview, Ethiopian Airlines, Aero Contractors, Air France and Lufthansa, fly to and from Port Harcourt?s airport. The cost depends on the region of the country one is flying from, the time of booking and the period of the year.Road Trips To The City
Going to Port Harcourt by road is still the most widely used option, and it is still way cheaper than taking flights. Several road transport companies provide travel services from various locations around the country to Port Harcourt. Some popular and widely patronized travel companies include:- ABC Transport Plc.
- God is Good Motors
- Chisco Transport
- The Young Shall Grow Motors
- Ifesinachi Transport
- Cross Country
- GUO Transport The cost definitely depends on the region of the country one is traveling from. Average cost to travel from the Eastern Region of Nigeria to Port Harcourt is NGN 2,800. The average cost of traveling to Port Harcourt from the Western Region of Nigeria is NGN 7,000. The average cost of traveling to Port Harcourt from the Northern Region of Nigeria is NGN 6,500.
5. Getting Around the Port Harcourt Way
Moving around in Port Harcourt is not much of a problem, as there are several cost-effective transport options available. These include commuter buses, taxis, and tricycles (Keke). Port Harcourt is a highly populated city, and so there are tendencies for thefts and the likes to occur. It is however important for visitors to take note of the following;- Avoid late night trips, especially when alone.
- Stay in a good and properly secured Port Harcourt hotel.
- Ask questions to sane people in the event of any difficulties.
- Depart gatherings when strange behaviors are noticed.
6. Things To Do In Port Harcourt
Wondering how people spend their leisure time in Port Harcourt? Here are the 6 most popular leisure activities of Port Harcourt locals- Take a trip to the Port Harcourt Tourist Beach: Apart from the little token paid if you need to park your car, every other thing is free. It?s free to watch the wind blow the waves, watch the sunset, sit and meditate as well as enjoy the cool breeze and the feel of the beach sand beneath your feet.
- Taste Bole King?s locally prepared, mouth-watering Bole and roast fish, and live forever.
- Visit the Port Harcourt Cultural Center, and see a play.
- Visit the Garden City Zoo, and take cool pictures.
- If you are a sporty person, then pay a visit to the PH Club Golf House. It would be beyond recreational for you.
- If you are a night crawler who loves to dance and wine, then a visit to places like D2D Night Club, Blinx lounge, Ediz place, Dan Esther, and The Hub, Casablanca or D Office Karaoke Bar, would make your night a memorable one
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