Yola City Overview
Yola is the capital city of Adamawa State in Northeastern Nigeria. Yola was established in 1841 by Modibbo Adama until the British took over the town in 1901. Yola, located on the Benue River is split into two parts. The old town is the traditional city while the new city is the administrative and commercial centre. Yola was the first town to have an airport and electricity in Nigeria.
There are several tourist attractions in the City. The Mandara Mountains is located to the North, while the Shebsi Mountains is in the South. Yola provides access to several tourist attractions including the Gashaka Gumpti Nature Reserve the Ngel Nyaki Montane Forest Reserve, the Mambilla Plateau, the Sukur UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Yadin Waterfalls, the Kiri Dam on the Gongola River, and the Waza National Park. Other tourist attractions in Yola are the Three Sister Hills, the Lamido's Palace, and the Durbar Festival.
The Kwete Cultural Festival is the most popular festival in Yola. The people of Bachama Kingdom uses the festival to pray for a bountiful harvest. Wrestling, traditional dances, and rich cultural attires are on display during the festival. Like all other cities in the Northern Nigeria, the Durbar Festival is also popularly celebrated in Yola. The Yinagu Fishing Festival hold from March till May every year.
Best Time to Book Flights to Yola
Flights are more expensive during major festivals celebrated by the locals including the Sallah and Christmas festivals.
Peak Season
The rainy season from April?to October is the best time for visitors to tour the city's most popular tourist attractions. Also, the Eid il Fitri and Eid il Kabir celebrations are heavily celebrated by the locals. Although there are downpours during this season, it only serves to reduce the high temperature.
Off-Peak Season
The dry season lasts from?November until March.
Best Time to Visit Yola
Yola is surrounded by Mountains hence its beautiful scenery.? It has?an average daily temperature of 37?C. It experiences 3 seasons like every Northern Nigerian city: The Harmattan season separates the rainy season from April?to October and the dry season from November to March.
The best time to visit Yola is from June to July as the weather conditions is more conducive for outdoor activities.?Tourists to the various sites can also move around and cope better with the scorching sun.
Sunglasses, light coloured clothes, sandals and a vacuum flask to keep your water cold should be packed by the travellers as they are the most appropriate for a visit to Yola.
Getting Around Yola
Walking over short distances to the market and the neighbourhood restaurants is quite common.
Taxis and cabs are the major means of moving from points to points in the city. Transportation through the taxis are relatively cheap and you can negotiate the fares with the drivers.
Safety Tips/Advice
Avoid isolated or crowded areas especially at night.
When visiting crowded places such as the market and the mall, keep your wallet safe.
Do not wear heavy jewelry or flaunt your luxury items especially in open places
Provocative dressing is prohibited especially where there is a large gathering of males.
Avoid religious arguments as it can quickly lead to a religious strife.
Stay in a properly secured Yola hotel.
Ask questions if you encounter any difficulties.
Stay safe at all times. Do not walk alone at night, if you must.
Always carry a form of identification on you.
Respect the culture and religion hence do not speak provocative words or perform disrespectful actions.
Yola ?International Airport
Yola Airport (IATA: YOL, ICAO: DNYO) is the airport serving Yola in Adamawa State. Yola airport was commissioned on October 27th, 1984 but upgraded to an international airport in 2002. The airport is located in Jimeta, 8 km Northwest of Yola. Yola Airport is operated by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria.
Arik Air, Azman Air and Med-View Airline operate domestic flights from Yola Airport.
Moving from Yola International Airport to Yola
There are Taxis around the airport commuting arrivals to Yola. Reach a price agreement with the driver before boarding. Yola is about 15 minutes drive from Yola International Airport.
Staying in?Yola
Hotels.ng offer online hotel booking service to travellers, visitors and tourists to Yola. There are budget hotels and luxury hotels offering accommodation in Yola. Arrivals can simply book online using Hotels.ng to get the best and cheapest accommodation rates.
American University Hotel is located at 228, Modibbo Adama Way, Adamawa, Yola. The luxury hotel offers a superb lodging experience. Yola International Airport is just 22 minutes drive from the hotel.
Yukuben Hotel is located at 32, Phillip Meken Street, Off Barack Masakare, Jimeta, Yola. It offers a budget-friendly lodging. Yola?International Airport is 14 minutes drive from the hotel.
City Green Hotel?offers clean and comfortable accommodations at Tafawa Balewa Road, Karewa, Jimeta. It is 14 minutes drive from the American University of Nigeria.
Budget hotels in Yola include the Madugu Rockview Hotel, Eagles Path Suite, Murivill Hotel, Gongola Summit Suite, and Galaxy Motel Numan. They are all in close proximity to the Yola International Airport.?They offer accommodation per night at prices ranging from N2500 to N10000.
Hotels.ng offer the best accommodation rates in Yola.
How to Budget a Trip to Yola
Food choice in Yola is quite limited but the Pool Bar Restaurant near Jimeta serves some choice dish. ?Suya and Fura de Nunu is a common local delicacy in Yola, visitors should have a taste.
| Items |
Price (N) |
| Meal, Inexpensive restaurant |
500 |
| Meal for 2 at fast food restaurant |
2200 |
| Bread |
400 |
| Toothpaste |
300 |
| Suya and Fura de nono |
500 |
| 1 kg of Tomatoes |
310 |
| 1 kg of potatoes |
450 |
Flights from Yola?to Other Local Cities
Med-View Airlines, Arik Air and Azman Airlines operate scheduled domestic flights to Yola International Airport. The airlines operate various domestic flights from Yola to Maiduguri, Yola to Abuja, Yola to Lagos, Yola to Kano, and Yola to Kaduna.
International Flights to Yola
There are no inbound or outbound international flights from Yola?International Airport. Airlines like Emirates Airline, Turkish Airlines, Emirates Airlines, Ethiopian Airlines, Lufthansa, Africa World Airlines, Delta Airlines, and Etihad Airlines operate international flights from Abuja?s Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport and Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.?These airlines operate international flights to Amsterdam, Hong Kong, Accra, Algiers, Ethiopia, Nairobi, Johannesburg, and Qatar, Dubai, Munich and Cairo.
Passengers can board a connecting local flight to Abuja or Lagos from Yola International Airport.
Airport Tips at Yola International Airport
Do not board a taxi if you are unsure of your destination.
It is safer to ask the hotel to provide airport pickup services.
Keep your baggage safe. Ensure your belongings are not open and easy to sight.
Keep your valid identification on you at all times.
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