1 / 4Zuma Rock
The giant rock on the ₦100 note, just outside Abuja on the Kaduna road.
Madalla, Abuja, Federal Capital Territory
BudgetFree entry
Open 24 hours
Zuma Rock rises about 300 metres above the land around Madalla, in Niger State, right where the Abuja-Kaduna road leaves the FCT, about 40 km from central Abuja. That's why people call it the gateway to Abuja. From some angles you can make out a face in the rock, and it's the view printed on the ₦100 note. The Gbagyi people once used it as a fortress during inter-tribal wars.
Most visitors stop to look and take photos from the roadside, which costs nothing. There's no official trail to the top: the climb takes about five hours and should only be done with a local guide and the community's permission. Go in daylight, in your own car.
What you can do here
Roadside view
Free
Best from the Abuja-Kaduna road; the face shows up best in late afternoon light.
Guided climb
No official trail. Only with a local guide and the community's permission; about 5 hours.
More in Abuja: Viewpoint · Hiking trail
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