# Lekki Conservation Centre

Lekki Conservation Centre in Nigeria is a nature reserve in Lagos, one of the most visited tourist attractions in Nigeria. It features a 401-metre-long canopy walkway, the longest in Africa. It includes a picnic haven, sports courts and other facilities to entertain visitors when not on the walks.

## Understand

Lekki Conservation Centre (LCC) was established in 1990 by the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF). Since then, the Conservation Centre has grown to become one of Africa's prominent and most-diverse urban Nature Parks as a result of its richness in high species.
The Lekki Conservation Centre is located in the coastal region measuring an approximate land area of 78 hectares, expanding from kilometre 19 along the Lagos–Epe Expressway and terminating at a very close distance to the Atlantic Ocean near Okun Ibeju Village, Eti-Osa Local Government Area in the Eastern district of Lagos State. The conservation centre is run and managed by the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF).
The aim for the establishment of this conservation centre is to set aside a natural habitat for plants, and animals as urbanization has led to the intrusion of areas originally meant for these plants and animals.
The conservation centre has been widely complimented as an image of nature conservation and pearl of ecotourism. Lekki Conservation Centre portrays the flagship project of Nigerian Conservation Foundation for the preservation of the unique biodiversity, natural, scenic, scientific and recreational values of the coastal surroundings of the south-western part of Nigeria. Thus it is one of the best urban parks to satisfy visitors’ curiosity about nature.
Lekki Conservation Centre is the only actively protected area in Lagos State and one of the very few vibrant tourist destinations of repute of the state. It has therefore been recognized as one of the outstanding locations and Monuments of special interest and distinguished relevance by the Lagos State Government under the listed sites for the preservation, protection and restoration of historical properties and cultural heritage in Lagos State and for related objectives.
Being a Nature Resource Centre, the Lekki Conservation Centre is a model for promotion of environmental studies and public consciousness and comprehension of the natural world because of the rapidly increasing danger to the natural ecosystem, the necessity to curb the increasing loss of the natural environment and the associated possible drastic repercussion for the world as well as the interest for the future conduct, welfare, bliss and survival of humanity in the globe.
Through the Lekki Conservation Centre, Nigerian Conservation Foundation intends to showcase that wildlife is integral to the ecosystems on which people rely for their survival and that we can ensure that the world's wildlife has the space and resources it needs to thrive in harmony with human beings.
The conservation and relaxation centre is a scenic area that offers a tranquil escape from every day life in the busy city of Lagos where it is located.
As a nature reserve visitor or tourist, it is advised to wear light clothes. A long sleeve will be best due to the ubiquitousness of mosquitoes and other insects during wall on either the bridge or straight to the garden in Lekki Conservation Centre.
* Lekki Conservation Centre website

## Get in

Because the Lekki Conservation Centre is situated along the Lekki–Epe Expressway, which is opposite Chevron Estate, intending visitors and tourists to the nature park can get a taxi straight to chevron bus stop from any part of Lagos and take a short walk to the nature park. The Nature Park is situated immediately after Chevron, before the 2nd Lekki Toll Gate hand.
Alternatively, visitors can get to Lekki conservation centre by making use of an intrastate city bus en route to Obalende or CMS, then board another bus heading to Lekki/Ajah and alight at Chevron Bus Stop. From this bus stop, they can then trek to the Conservation Center nature park which just a short distance away.
It is recommended to go early in the day to be able to fully explore and enjoy all the beauty of the conservation centre.
The most appropriate time to visit the conservation centre is during the dry season, which is from the month of October to March. This period is the best time to visit the nature park. Within this time, visitors and tourists are sure to enjoy the best of nature during their visit.

## Fees and permits

Lekki Conservation Centre is open M 1-4PM, Tu-Su 10AM-4PM (as of Aug 2024).
Tickets are advised to booked before coming; where you will select the visitation time and this can take place on the official website of Nigerian Conservation Centre (NCF), on the LCC Website, and it has range for entrance fees.

## Get around

The walkway to the garden takes about 15 minutes from the entrance.

## See

Visitors and tourist to the nature park will get to view wildlife ranging from monkeys, to the beautiful peacocks, crocodiles, snakes and other wild animals. In addition, they will find different specie of plants as well. With only #1,000 visitors can wander and explore the Lekki Conservation Centre seamlessly.
Some features of Lekki Conservation Centre:
* The 2-km board offers excellent nature walks and bird watching opportunities
* Family park: A picnic haven and offers nature walks, picnic & sporting installation
* Tree house
* Nature station
* Bird hide
* Swamp look-out station
* Rotunda/round house
* 96-seater gazebos
* 6- and 8-seater family huts
* Beach volley courts & spectators’ pavilion
* Koi & Tilapia ponds
The surrounding is serene and secure.

## Do

There are a lot of things visitors or tourists can do in Lekki Conservation Park. Some of them include:
* Have a picnic or enjoy a lone time. The sheds in the conservation centre, made of raffia, are serene places to unwind, rejuvenate, and recover one's potentials. At these eight sheds, visitors can have a picnic or a lone time with their partner or friends. Also, under these sheds, visitors will not miss the warmth of the breeze of the vicinity.
* The Lekki Conservation Centre is the place to see renowned the famous 95-year-old giant tortoise. The turtle roams freely and leisurely in its space at a very slow pace. This makes it possible for visitors and tourists to take pictures with it. Visitors and tourists will feel the strong and powerful shell of the tortoise – if they are lucky enough that it comes out during the time of your visit. It is a pleasant sight.
* There is a chessboard patterned on a floor with 16 big pieces. Whether the visitor can play chess is not really important, as the board there just for the fun of it. That makes it an exciting experience also. Anybody that checkmates is a real winner but it is gentlemanly for the men to allow your ladies to win the chess game.
* Other floor games include ludo, snake and ladder, draught and street tennis.
* Jungle gym facilities like zip lines, monkey bars and the rest.
The main attraction is the 401 m (1,316 ft) long and 22 m (72 ft) feet high canopy walkway, which is referred to as the longest canopy walkway in Africa. The Canopy Walkway was launched in 2015 by a group of Nigerians supervised by two Canadians. The walkway is a quite intriguing climb. People who are acrophobic are advised not to climb the bridge.
The canopy walkway is an engineering construction with an amazing suspended swinging bridge walkway through the mosaic of different types of vegetation distinguishing the Conservation Centre Nature Park. It also has the entrance and exit gates linking towers giving visitors an opportunity to explore the Conservation Centre and get a bird's eye or panoramic picture of the Nature Park's diverse types of unique wildlife.

## Eat and drink

At the garden, about 15 minutes away from the ticketing and departure stand. Different kind of food and drinks are sold there. Roasted meat and chicken, soft drinks, energy drinks, coconut and lot more are being sold at the garden.
Besides, people who want to have a get-together or picnics also make use of the garden, they are allowed to being in their own food and drinks.

## Stay safe

COVID-19 protocols are observed. The use of nosemask is compulsory at the entrance till one reaches the garden.
The 401-metre-long canopy walkway is a quite enthralling climb and is 100% safe and as a precaution, individuals climbing the canopy walkway don't have look down to avoid depth phobia.
In the event where visitors or tourists visit the Lekki Conservation Centre during the rainy season, they should endeavor to have foot-wears ideal for rainy season for their safety.