Port Harcourt is the largest city in Rivers State, Nigeria. It is the fifth most populous city in Nigeria after Lagos, Kano, Ibadan and Kaduna. The city of Port Harcourt is located along the Bonny River in the Niger Delta. There are several places to visit and hang out in Port Harcourt for both educational and recreational purposes.
Some of the top places to visit in Port Harcourt are:
1. Port Harcourt Pleasure Park
The Port Harcourt Pleasure Park is a public recreation park located along the major Aba road in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. The park is owned by the Government of Rivers State. The Pleasure Park was opened in May 2017 and was awarded the Best Family Amusement Centre not long after.
The Port Harcourt Pleasure Park offers a healthy playground for children and families. Entry into the park costs N500 naira for adults and N350 naira for children. The Pleasure Park also offers free entry to toddlers below the age of two. Constructed by Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, the park serves as a tourist attraction and revenue generator for the state. The park offers a variety of facilities for all ages including a climbing tower, a mini-golf course, a mini soccer field, FIFA PS4 games, a jogging circuit, fitness equipment, water steps, and 5D and 9D cinemas. You can pay N600 naira to see a movie at the 5D cinema or N1000 naira to see a movie in the 9D cinema. The Port Harcourt Pleasure Park was also a runner-up for Best Tourist Attraction Site in Nigeria.
2. Port Harcourt Zoo
The Port Harcourt Zoo is a state-owned zoological park located in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria. The zoo was founded in 1974 by the former military governor of Rivers State, Alfred Diete-Spiff. The zoo was officially opened for public use in October 1975. Plans to revamp the zoo to meet global standards were announced in June 2012.
The Port Harcourt Zoo is said to be one of the major tourist attractions and conservation centres in Nigeria. The zoo features a wide range of animals, one of the most remarkable being the ostrich. There are also chimpanzees, monkeys, peacocks, gazelles, lions, and even snakes on display at the zoo. Entry into the zoo costs N500 naira for adults and N200 naira for children. The zoo also has a historical centre where two lions: a male and a female were preserved. The two animals were executed by electric shock when they ate a zoo specialist who came in to feed them but neglected to bolt the pen. On Sunday, visitors also have the opportunity to watch the lions devour chunks of meat.
3. Garden City Amusement Park
The Garden City Amusement Park is a recreational park located in Birabi Street, Port Harcourt. It is one of the best recreation centres in Port Harcourt. Entry into the park costs N1,500 naira per individual. The Garden City Amusement Park is fully equipped with amenities to ensure a fun time for children and adults alike. Facilities like the flying chair, lift aircraft, flying car, fiery wheel, bouncing castle, swimming pools, twist tower and table tennis court are available. You can also enjoy outdoor games and have a fantastic time with friends at the Garden City Amusement Park.
4. Isaac Boro Park
The Isaac Boro Garden Park is a public park located in Old GRA, Port Harcourt. The park is named after Isaac Boro, a Nigerian nationalist and one of the pioneers of minority rights activism in Nigeria. The Isaac Boro Park was built in 1970 by the Federal Military Government.
The Isaac Boro Park has become a leading tourist attraction in Nigeria. Entry into the park is free. The park has been used on numerous occasions between 2006 and 2013 to host the annual international trade fair and is still used as the venue for events like Armed Forces Remembrance Day and the National Youth Service sendoff parade ceremonies. The Isaac Boro Park is home to fully equipped baseball and softball courts.
5. Port Harcourt National Museum
The Port Harcourt National Museum is located on Harley Street, Port Harcourt. The museum is a top tourist destination in Nigeria. It is situated in the secretariat complex of the Rivers State Government. Entry into the museum costs N1000 naira per person.
The museum exhibits several artifacts related to various tribes indigenous to Rivers State. Some of the artifacts are bronze, pottery, masks and masquerades. The National Museum, Rivers state is home to a permanent exhibition with the title, “Life in the Niger Delta.” The exhibits were opened to the public in June 2009. The exhibition showcases the socioeconomic aspects of life in the region. The museum also offers guided tours for individuals and groups, an art club for children aged one to sixteen, and a skill acquisition program for tie and dye, soap making and batik.
6. TCK Family Park Rutaland
TCK Family Park is a water park located along Eneka Road, Port Harcourt, Rivers state. TCK Family Park is one of the best amusement parks in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. The park offers a variety of facilities for relaxation. Some of these facilities include a wellness club consisting of a gym and a massage parlour, a water park for activities like water splash and raft races, gaming equipment like flying chairs, play stations and train rides.
7. Tourist Beach
The Port Harcourt Tourist Beach is a white sand urban beach in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. Designed to cater for the recreational needs of tourists and young adults, the Tourist Beach was created in 1988. It is one of the most popular beaches in Port Harcourt. The beach is located along Kolabi Creek, east of the Old Township district. It is one of Port Harcourt’s most established vacation destinations.
8. Bonny Island
Technically, Bonny Island is not located in Port Harcourt, however, it is very close to the city. The Island serves as the seat of a traditional state called the Kingdom of Bonny. Close to the Atlantic ocean, Bonny Island is surrounded on the west and south by beaches. The beautiful beaches attract tourists on sunny days and during festive occasions. Lying along the Bonny River, ships are the major means of transportation into the Bonny Island.
