Sokoto City Overview
Sokoto city is the capital of Sokoto State located at the extreme end of North West Nigeria.?Sokoto was derived from the local name Sakkwato. It is the seat of the Sokoto Caliphate and is a predominantly Muslim city and the most important seat of Islamic learning in Nigeria.?The Sultan of Sokoto is the head of the Northern Caliphate and the spiritual leader of Nigerian Muslims. Shehu Usmanu Dan Fodiyo was founded as a ribat (military camp or frontier) in 1809 before it later became the capital of the caliphate after Shehu's death.
Sokoto is richly blessed in tourist attractions as it possesses several historical sites such as Makera Assada and Kofar Rini?popular for blacksmithing, Sultan of Sokoto?s Palace,?Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Giginya Battlefield Square, Waziri Junaidu History and Culture Museum, City Gates of Sokoto, Goronyo Dam, Heritage and Sokoto Museum, and Shehu Usman Dan Fodio's Mosque and Tomb.
Durbar Festival?where?Horses and Camels are heavily decorated and paraded to the delight of visitors and locals is celebrated usually to coincide with the two major Muslim festivals, i.e the Eid il Fitri and Eid il Kabir. The
Argungu Fishing Festival is a hand fishing competition held annually on the River Sokoto. The festival includes traditional water sports, wild duck catching, swimming, diving, wrestling contest, arts and craft exhibition, agricultural shows and traditional music and entertainment.
Best Time to Book Flights to Sokoto
Passengers typically pay more for flights booked close to the celebration of the two Muslim Festivals (Eid-il-Fitri and Eid-il-Kabir) and the Argungu Fishing Festival which draws tourists from within and outside Nigeria.
Peak Season: The rainy season from June to October is the best time to visit Sokoto as the temperature is better suited for tourism. Moreover, the popular Argungu Festival held on the Sokoto River takes place at the beginning of the rainy season.?The two Muslim Festivals also draw large visitors to Sokoto as they celebrate the festivals in a grand style. Ticket costs, hotel rates and tourism typically spike during this period as locals and visitors troop into Sokoto to witness the 4 days fishing competition.
Off Peak Season:?The dry season is typically hotter in Sokoto. It runs from February to April with temperature crossing the 38?C mark. The high temperature during the day makes tourism difficult. Passengers can take advantage of this season to get the cheapest flight rates.
Best Time to Visit Sokoto
Sokoto experiences a dry Sahel Savannah type of climate with daytime temperatures exceeding 35?C making it one of the hottest cities in the world. It typically experiences 3 seasons: The rainy season from June to October, the dry season from November till May separated by the dry, cold Harmattan season which occurs from October to February.
The rainy season is the best time to visit Sokoto as the daily showers make the dryness and heat bearable. Tourists to the various sites can also move around and cope better with the scorching sun.
Getting Around Sokoto
Walking over short distances to the market and the neighbourhood is quite common as Sokoto lacks a functioning public transport system.
Bikes and taxis are the major means of transportation in Sokoto. Negotiate a good fare with the bike riders and taxi drivers before boarding. There are also a few number of tricycles to commute passengers over short distances.
Buses are very infrequent and are only used for transport between towns in the state.
Safety Tips/Advice
Avoid isolated or overly 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 safe at all times. Do not walk alone at night, if you must.
Respect the culture and religion hence do not speak provocative words or perform disrespectful actions.
Sadiq Abubakar III International Airport
Sokoto Airport (IATA: SKO; ICAO: DNSO) is also known as Sadiq Abubakar III International Airport or Sultan Saddik Abubakar Airport. It is the airport that serves Sokoto City, the capital of Sokoto State in Northwestern Nigeria. The airport is named after the 17th Sultan of Sokoto who reigned from 1938 to 1988. Daily flights are operated from Sokoto Airport to domestic destinations but it is mostly utilised during Hajj and Umrah operations.
Arik Air and Aero Airline operate daily flights to Sokoto while Med-View Airlines operate international flights to Jeddah during Hajj and Umrah.
Staying in Sokoto
Hotels.ng offers online hotel booking service to travellers, visitors and tourists to Sokoto. There are budget hotels and luxury hotels offering accommodation in Sokoto. Arrivals can simply book online using Hotels.ng to get the best and cheapest rates.
Giginya Coral Hotel is beside the Shehu Shagari Secretariat and it's just 1.2 km from the Sokoto Airport. The hotel offers excellent accommodation and recreational facilities.
Grand Ibro Hotel is situated at 44, Abdullahi Fodio Road, Sokoto. It is ideal for business meetings and leisure travel. Grand Ibro Hotel is a 50-minute drive from the Sokoto Airport.
Dankani Guest Palace Hotel is located at 1A Kalambaina Road, Sokoto. The hotel has every facility to satisfy accommodation needs of leisure and business travellers.
Shukura Coral Hotel is located at 10 Kano Road, Magagin Gari, Sokoto. It is 3.3km from the Race Course.
Sokoto Guest Inn is located less than an hour drive from the Sokoto Airport. The hotel offers great service in a convenient location.
Regent Executive Lodge is an affordable hotel located along Kano Road, Sokoto. It is close to the City centre.
Accommodation per night starts from N2500 in budget hotels, while per night stay in luxury hotels start from N10000. Check the best rates online with Hotels.ng.
How to Budget a Trip to Sokoto
The dryness and hot temperature results in a limited variety of cuisines and dishes. The Young Shall Grow Bus Terminal serves good Nigerian food at a cheap price. The Middle Eastern restaurant called "Double 7" also serves a?nice meal. Expect to pay at least N500 per meal.
| Items |
Price (N) |
| Meal, Inexpensive restaurant |
500 |
| Meal for 2 at fast food restaurant |
2400 |
| Beer |
350 |
| Bread |
400 |
| Toothpaste |
300 |
| 1 dozen egg |
550 |
| Suya and Fura de nono |
500 |
| 1 kg of Tomatoes |
310 |
| 1 kg of potatoes |
450 |
| 1 pair of jeans |
2500 |
Flights from Sokoto to Other Local Cities
Arik Air and Aero Airline operate daily domestic flights to Sokoto's?Sadiq Abubakar III International Airport. These airlines operate various flight schedules such as?the Abuja to Sokoto, Lagos to Sokoto, Enugu to Sokoto and Kaduna to Sokoto.
International Flights to Sokoto
Med-View Airlines operate International flights from Sokoto Airport for Muslim Pilgrims for Hajj and Umrah operations.
Other International flights take place at Abuja's Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport and Murtala Muhammed International Airport. Passengers can board a flight to Lagos or Abuja to board flights via Turkish Airlines, Emirates Airlines, Ethiopian Airlines, Lufthansa, Africa World Airlines, Delta Airlines, and Etihad Airlines.
International flights depart to Amsterdam, London, New York, Hong Kong, Accra, Algiers, Johannesburg, and Qatar, Dubai, Munich and Cairo.
International flights depart to Amsterdam, Hong Kong, Accra, Algiers, Johannesburg, and Qatar, Dubai, Munich and Cairo.
Airport Tips at?Sadiq Abubakar III International Airport
Be security conscious with your luggage.
There is a restaurant in the airport.
Airport taxis are available outside the airport. Negotiate a good fare with a taxi for a drop or join a shared taxi.
Use the bank for money transactions and currency exchange.
Do not carry alcohol or smoke in the airport.
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