Getting to Badagry
Badagry sits 80km west of Lekki, past Lagos Island and Mile 2. Traffic makes this a full day: leave Lekki by 6am, expect 2-3 hours out via Third Mainland Bridge and the Badagry Expressway. Hire a car and driver for $100-$130 for the day; do not attempt public buses if you value your time. Bring water, snacks and small notes for museum guides who work on tips.
What to see
Start at the Mobee Family Slave Relics Museum ($3 entry) for chains, shackles and the family archive. Walk to the First Storey Building in Nigeria, built in 1845 by missionaries, and the Agia Tree site where Christianity was first preached in the country. In the afternoon, take a boat across Badagry Creek to the Point of No Return: a 2km sand path where captives walked to the waiting ships. Boat and beach are around $15 per person.
Lunch on grilled fish and pepper soup at a Marina Road buka for $6. Head back to Lekki by 4pm to arrive before dark.
Good to know
Is Badagry worth the drive?+
Yes if you care about African history. The museums are small and low-budget but the sites are the real thing.
Can I do Badagry as a half day?+
No. Between Lagos traffic and the boat to the Point of No Return, plan on 10 hours door to door.
Is there a guide at the sites?+
Yes, informal guides work each museum for tips of $5-$10. They are knowledgeable; take one.
Any restaurants worth stopping at?+
Whispering Palms Resort on the Badagry lagoon does a solid lunch for around $15 and has a swimming pool if you want to break up the day.