Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State in north-eastern Nigeria, has been boycotted by a number of visitors for a couple of years as the area is considered a red zone.

With Easter weekend slated for Friday, March 25th to Monday, March 28th 2016, Jovago.com, Africa’s No.1 online hotel booking site has some ‘egg’cellent holiday ideas that will keep visitors as well as locals in Maiduguri smiling ear to ear.



Film Marathon

The perfect thing about running a film marathon is that you do not have to go to a cinema. Dig out all you favorite movies, then invite some friends over so you can spend time watching them back to back. The film marathon could stretch for as long as two days, you just need to make sure you have your steady power supply, food in your fridge and soft pillows to make yourself a comfortable spot. This activity is safe for people who are not keen on exploring the city or just going outside based on the fear of terrorists.



Food banquet

Food is essential to any holiday and what better way to make the most of your Easter by having a food banquet. For most Christians who are observing the lent, the fasting period ends with the holiday and so they have the chance to pamper their taste buds and fill their stomach with all it missed out on during the fasting period. You could cook up a platter and invite friends or you can make it a solo party; the idea is to cook a large variety of food and eat till you drop. Alternatively, you can treat yourself to a buffet at one of the classy restaurants around town- this activity will be best enjoyed by a foodie.



Football match

Maiduguri is home to the El-Kanemi Warriors (a popular football team) and has an active local football league. While the players were advised to dump their El Kanemi stadium in 2014 for fear of insurgents, the team has recently returned and there will be most likely be matches slated for the holiday period. If you are a football fan, a good way to make your Easter exciting would be to attend one of these matches and get your adrenaline pumping.



Picnic at the Kyarimi Park

Originally established in 1970 as a forest reserve, before becoming a large wildlife sanctuary and a botanical park, the Sanda Kyarimi Park is one place still provides residents with some semblance of leisure despite the insurrections in the locale. The oldest and largest zoo in Nigeria, it attracts thousands of visitors per year, but continues to be a sanctuary for people who want to relieve themselves of the day’s stress in the city. Spend a couple of hours off your Easter holiday visiting this location. You could certainly carry your food basket and a mat for picnic or you could decide to tour the park and visit other nearby picnic zones such as Alo Lake and Zambiza game reserve.