Port Harcourt, locally "Iguocha" is located in the South-Southern part of Nigeria and serves as the capital of Rivers State. Lying along the Bonny River, it is the largest city in the Niger Delta State. The Governor-General of Nigeria, Frederick Lugard established Port Harcourt in 1912 as a port for the exportation of coal from Enugu. The new city was originally inhabited by the Ikwerre and Ijaw people.?Frederick Lugard on August 1913 renamed the newly established Port-town after the secretary of state for the Colonies, Lewis, Viscount Harcourt.
Port Harcourt became the centre of Nigeria's economy when crude oil was discovered in Oloibiri in 1956. ?The discovery of oil in the city led to the stratospheric modernization and urbanisation. The rapid growth of the city has been attributed to its position as the commercial nerve and industrial city of the old Eastern region.
Port Harcourt is an important Nigerian industrial centre, as it houses a large number of multinational firms as well as other industrial establishments.
Port Harcourt boasts eye-catching tourist centres such as the Port Harcourt Zoo, Cultural Centre, Tourist Beach, Rivers State Museum, Isaac Boro Park, Garden City Amusement Park, Port Harcourt Pleasure Park and Cultural Centre.
Port Harcourt City celebrates culture and traditions regularly,?hence the high number of festivals celebrated by the people. The Nwaotam Festival is celebrated annually on 25 December to usher in the new year. Other festivals are the International Film Festival; Port Harcourt International Food Festival; The Port Harcourt Book Festival; and the Rivers State Carnival also called?
CARNIRIV.
Best Time to Book Flights to Port Harcourt
Airlines operate regular?domestic flights to Port Harcourt especially from Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos and Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport in Abuja. Oil workers and expatriates book regular flights to the city. Visitors and tourists to the city should?make early reservations to enjoy the best rates and fare.
Peak Season
December to January have the lowest amount of rainfall, hence referred to as the dry season in Port Harcourt. The 2 months is the peak season for visiting the oil-rich Port Harcourt city is this time after the rains have subsided.??Outdoor activities are performed especially during the dry season. Festivals also hold during this period, especially the Nwaotam festival, Christmas and New Year celebrations.
Off Peak Season
Port Harcourt experiences 10 months of continuous rainfall from February to November. It is very wet at this time and rain is a daily occurrence. Tourism is at the lowest during the wet season as moving around is hampered by the rains. Visiting the Parks and Zoo is almost impossible.
Best Time to Visit Port Harcourt
Although, an industrial centre with a large number of oil workers, Port Harcourt is best visited during the 2 months of dry season, January and December. Colourful outdoor activities are celebrated during this season, festivals are held by the locals and tourists enjoy visiting the interesting places in the City.
If you do visit during the 10 months of the rainy season, prepare for regular daily rainfall, cold and high humidity.
Getting Around Port Harcourt
Port Harcourt is a typical metropolis, thus there are several transport options around the city. Taxis, bikes and buses are most common.
Bus Rapid Transit
The newly introduced Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) is a cheap transport option but only plies important routes. Watch out for one to convey you to your destination.
Motorcycles or bikes
They only ply short distances. It costs between N100 and N200 for a trip.
Taxis
Also available to commute passengers to a destination of choice. You can either hire a taxi or join a shared taxi. The registered intra-city taxis are painted in navy blue and white stripes and charge N500 per drop for a short distance and N700 for a longer ride. A full day trip may be as high as N10000. Whatever your decision is, be sure to negotiate a price before boarding the taxi.
Car Rental
Best for safety and reliability. Rental agencies in Port Harcourt include the Europcar, Avis Car Hire and Hertz.
Ferry services
Water transportation by boats and canoes only serve the locals who are commuting between the creeks and hinterlands.
Cruise to nearby towns from the city of Port Harcourt. The Port Harcourt-Bakana,?Port Harcourt to Bonny, Port Harcourt to Buguma and Port Harcourt to Okirika cruise are some popular destinations for the ferries.
Security Tips/Advice
- English is the official language, while Pidgin English is the unofficial language. Go to the market and make your negotiations in Pidgin English. You will get a better price.
- Kidnapping is an occasional occurrence. Stay away from the outer fringes of the city.
- Do not walk alone at night.
- Avoid using lone ATMS especially at night.
- Avoid crowd troubles and confrontations.
- Arrange for your car hire services with registered car rental services or request for car shuttle services from your hotel.
- Do not wear flashy jewelry or flaunt your belongings.
- Keep your wallet out of sight especially in crowded places like the market.
- You can tip security personnel and hospitality workers for services rendered.
Port Harcourt International Airport
Port Harcourt International Airport (IATA: PHC; ICAO: DNPO) is located in Omagwa, in Port Harcourt. It has one terminal with different facilities for domestic and international flights. It is Nigeria's 3rd busiest airport serving more than 1 million passengers yearly. Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria administers the airport.
Port Harcourt International Airport was closed for runway repairs and fence building on August 18th, 2006. The airport was reopened for operations in December 2007.
Airlines operating domestic and international flights from Port Harcourt International Airport are; Aero Contractors, Air France, Air Peace, Arik Air, Cronos Airlines, Dana Air, Discovery Air, First Nation Airways, Lufthansa and Med-View Airline.
Some Airlines such as Air France Cargo, AV Cargo Aviation, Cargolux Airlines, and Nordic Global Airlines also operate cargo services from the airport.
The airport is located 32km from the city centre. There are taxis and rental cars available at the airport to commute passengers to Port Harcourt.
Moving from Port Harcourt International Airport to Port Harcourt
Port Harcourt International Airport located at Omaguwa is just 32km away from Port Harcourt. It takes about 40 minutes to drive to the city centre.
Passengers can also request from hotels near the airport for car-hire services and cab service for tourists.
Taxis are parked outside the airport terminal to provide shuttle services to the city. The airport taxis charge around N2500 per trip into the city. The taxi fares are negotiable, so make sure you haggle for a good price before boarding the taxi.
Staying in Port Harcourt
Hotels.ng offers cheap hotel booking in Port Harcourt City. There are several luxury and budget hotels visitors and tourists to the beautiful city of Port Harcourt City can book from Hotels.ng.
Denami Suites and Luxury Apartments?
Situated at 14 Eze Apara Close, Off NTA/ Apara Link Road, Rumuigbo New Layout Port Harcourt. The hotel has an array of suites and rooms are beautifully designed to meet your relaxation needs.
Garden City Marriott Hotel
Located in 39 Tombia Street by Le Meridien Road, GRA, Port Harcourt. The hotel is very appropriate for business?travellers.?The hotel features restaurants and rooms fitted with air-conditioners, wardrobes, and telephone.
Dmatel Hotel and Resort
Located at 91, Stadium Road, Rumuomasi, Port Harcourt, Rivers State. It is a top destination for comfort seekers. All rooms in Dmatel Hotel and Resort PH are fully air-conditioned and exquisitely furnished.
Base Hotels
located at No 33, NTA road, Mgbuoba, Rumuokwuta, Port Harcourt.?Base Hotels offers guests excellent hotel services and amenities including adequate parking, stable power supply, guaranteed security, restaurant?and outdoor bar.
Novotel Port Harcourt
Situated at 3 Stadium Road, Rumuomasi, Port Harcourt. It is strategically positioned for the convenience of business and leisure travellers. The hotel is a 20-minute drive from Port Harcourt International Airport.
Hotel Presidential
It is less than an hour drive from the Port Harcourt International Airport. It is centrally placed in the business districts and the main shopping areas of the city, making it an ideal hotel choice for leisure and business travellers.
Somitel Hotels and Resorts
Situated at Campbell Avenue off Peter Odili road, Trans-Amadi in Port Harcourt. It's just a 40-minute drive from the Port Harcourt International Airport. The rooms are tastefully furnished for leisure travellers.
Golden Tulip Port Harcourt Hotel
Located at no 1C Evo Crescent, GRA Phase 2, Port Harcourt. This Hotel is close to several city landmarks and important institutions.
Remember to check out Hotels.ng for the best online hotel reservation service for business and leisure travellers in Port Harcourt.
How to Budget a Trip to Port Harcourt
The cost of living is high in Port Harcourt because of a large number of oil workers living in the city.
Plenty of good food can be found at bargain prices of N1000 to N3000 especially on the outskirts of the City. Open food stalls sell a variety of food at reasonable prices. Restaurants closer to the city centre are more expensive as it may cost a fortune to eat good meals.
Accommodation in Port Harcourt for leisure and budget travellers range from luxurious hotels to budget hotels. Luxury hotels such as Novotel costs as much as N58000 per night while budget hotels range from N10000 to N15000 per night.
| Items |
Price (N) |
| Meal, Inexpensive restaurant |
1500 |
| Meal for 2 at upscale restaurant |
3000 |
| Dinner for 2 |
5000 |
| Beer |
500 |
| Bread |
300 |
| 1 pair of jeans |
7700 |
| Toothpaste |
300 |
| 1 dozen egg |
550 |
| 1 bottle of red wine |
2500 |
Flights from Port Harcourt International Airport to Local Cities
Airlines operating scheduled domestic flights to Lagos, Uyo and Abuja are Aero Contractors, Air Peace, Arik Air, Dana Air, Discovery Air, First Nation Airways, and Med-View Airline.?The airlines operate the flights from?Port Harcourt International Airport to Abuja's Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport and Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.
International Flights to Port Harcourt
Lufthansa, Cronos Airlines, Air France, Arik Air operate international flights to Port Harcourt from Malabo, Paris, Frankfurt and Libreville.
Cargo services are also operated to Port Harcourt International Airport from international destinations like Liege, Paris, Luxembourg, and Ostend.
Airport Tips at Port Harcourt International Airport
- Watch out for your baggage at the airport. Be security conscious regarding your luggage especially.
- There is a restaurant in the airport.
- Short-term parking is available at the airport.
- Airport taxis are available outside the airport. Negotiate a good fare with a taxi for a drop or join a shared taxi.
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