Horses, colour and centuries of pageantry — a festival worth flying north for.
Few spectacles in West Africa match the Durbar. Marking the great Islamic festivals, the old city of Kano erupts into colour as horsemen in flowing robes and elaborate regalia parade before the Emir in a display of loyalty, artistry and centuries-old pageantry.
The sound reaches you first — hundreds of hooves, drums and praise-singers — before waves of riders sweep past in formation. It is history you can feel, and a reason to fly north all on its own.
Time your visit around the festival, book early, and give yourself a day either side to wander the ancient walls, the dye pits and the markets that made Kano a crossroads of the Sahel.
Make the trip
Real routes, sample fares, and a boarding pass on your phone.
