Samap Travels & Tours

Samap Travels & Tours is a licensed travel and tours agency based in Lagos and a member of the National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies. Like many Nigerian agencies, it handles a wide range of travel services, including flight and hotel bookings, visas, airport transfers and holiday packages for individuals, groups and companies. For visitors to Lagos, its most distinctive offering is a guided tour of Makoko, the waterfront community built on stilts over the Lagos Lagoon.

On the Makoko tour, visitors glide through the community's waterways in a traditional canoe, with guides who live in Makoko explaining its history, the fishing culture on which it depends and how residents cope with the rainy season and rising water. The visit to Makoko itself lasts about two hours, and the full experience is listed at between two and four hours. It is a very different view of Lagos from the towers of Victoria Island and Ikoyi, and seeing the settlement with residents rather than outsiders gives a more respectful and informed perspective.

Makoko is a living community, not a museum, so behave as you would when visiting someone's home. Ask before photographing people, especially children, follow the guide's instructions about where to go and how to sit in the canoe, and avoid treating poverty as a spectacle. If you want to support the community, ask your guide how best to do so.

The tour suits travellers interested in urban life, architecture and social issues, photographers who are willing to work respectfully, and anyone who wants to see how a large part of Lagos lives on the water. It is less suitable for people with limited mobility, as getting in and out of canoes requires some balance. Bring sun protection, water, insect repellent and a waterproof bag for your phone.

The tour is sold through international activity booking platforms, including those linked to major hotel groups, and the meeting point is confirmed after booking. Discuss timings in advance, as tides and weather can affect conditions on the water, and avoid days with heavy rain. The agency can also arrange airport transfers and other travel services if you need them.