The Black Heritage - Badagry Tour met lunch

This is a very moving experience if you have slave ancestry or an interest in this period of history. The ride to/from Lagos is long and chaotic, but the multiple stops in Badagry along with the artifacts and history shared were worth it. There were some repeated facts at the various stops so it would benefit from some coordination. Also there were multiple ‘guides’ at each of the stops so plan ahead with small bills for tipping. Also be aware that there is a fairly long walk on a sandy trail as you follow the route the slaves were taken on the way to the ships - a very thought provoking part of the experience but be prepared with the right footwear, sunscreen, etc.

Highly recommended. Bright who was my driver and guide together with two local guides did a great job of introducing the history of Badagry. I learnt a lot. The slave trade ended in the 1880s and after visiting its clear how recent this is. The descendants of Seriki Williams Abass who built and managed the slave trade facilities at Badagry are still living right there. More people should visit Nigeria and more people should visit Badagry. From Victoria Island, the drive there takes around three hours, depending on traffic. The road varies wildly from modern highway to patches of just sand. Badagry is close to the border with Benin and we were stopped by immigration police. Bright had told me to bring a copy of my passport and visa which turned out to be vital. I witnessed a group of smugglers being slapped around by the police. Bright handled the situation expertly and we were able to travel onwards after only a brief stop. We added in a stop to have jollof rice on the way back. Highly recommended! If you’re into coffee you better bring your own. Water and snacks can be bought at the museum.

This tour was great! We learned a lot and our driver (Bright) and guide (Adedemi (sp?)) were both really nice people and did a great job. Very sad history but very important to learn. If you do one thing in Lagos, I think this should be it.

What an incredible solo trip this was! My driver Bright was extremely well informed about Nigeria and he gave me all the tips and historical context about the country on our way to Badagry. When we got there, I got to see the heritage museum, the baracoon and then the point of no return. I mean, there was so much history the entire day. I booked this trip last minute and I’m so glad I did it. It was one of the most impactful moments of my entire Nigeria trip. If you have the time and interest, it’s definitely worth it. Bright picked me up at 8:30am in an air conditioned car, with snacks and we were able to hit just a little bit of traffic on the way back, but I was back home before 4pm. Make sure you have a copy of your passport and visa and walk allll the way to the point of no return, it’s a long humid walk but it’s worth it :). Such a wonderful experience!

The museum tour offered more information than other similar tours that I have been. Being able to follow in the footsteps of our ancestors by taking the boat and walking to the point of no return was impactful and very emotional.

I have been on so many guided tours but this tour was exceptional. The tour operators (Godstime and the driver) had gone out of their way to make the tour as memorable as possible. In most tours, once there is a guide at the museum, the tour operator and driver take a break but here, Godstime and the driver had soent all the time with us - taking out the pictures for us and adding to the explanations. They even accompanied us on the walk at The point of no return. There was no pressure on us. They allowed us all the time that we had needed. With a bad knee, they even helped me to embark and to disembark the boat. Truly caring and hardworking guides.

Guide and driver were friendly and professional. I went on a Sunday, which is apparently the best day traffic-wise. We still hit some traffic but not the whole way. The driver was fast and very skilled. The drive was about 2.5 hours and a lot of the value to me was getting to watch the people, the sights, the roads and the traffic along the way. Good for getting more of Nigeria if you are otherwise stuck in Lagos. It is good to see and experience the sites in Badagry. To be honest there is not a huge amount to see, but the history is serious and important. To get to the Point of No Return you will take a boat and walk about 1KM; it is hot and dusty, but when you realize you are tracing the steps of slaves in chains you will be glad for the freedom you have. You can pay a passing motorcycle to give you a ride if you don't want to walk. If you are a foreigner, make sure to bring your passport. I forgot mine, and as we passed some Nigerian police they saw me, a white woman, in the car and forced us to stop. They gave me a hard time for not having more than a photo of my passport, but eventually let us go. They were after a bribe and only took 2K NGN / about $5USD from us. An interesting experience, and the guide / driver stayed calm and reassuring throughout.

It was a solemn and heartbreaking experience. The tour covered several museums and memorable sites. The walk to the Point of No Return is a must for people of African heritage. I suggest the tour guides provide sand from the beach to memorialize the event- I was too caught up in my emotions to remember this.