Discover Bonny

From the rising tide to the setting sun, journey through ancient Ibani history, listen to captivating tales of kings, warriors, and sea spirits, and walk paths shaped by centuries of trade and tradition. Let the Island unfold its secrets as you explore its serene beaches, lush nature reserves and iconic landmarks.

This unprecedented triple-access unlocks new opportunities in tourism, logistics, hospitality, and global investment. It opens new doors to tourists and adventure seekers looking for a serene Christmas getaway from the hectic city lifestyle for a short period. Explore the coast with family and friends as part of a guided tour through some of Bonny’s historic attractions.

Tourist Attractions on Bonny Island

Finima Nature Park

Finima Nature Park is a protected rainforest reserve that showcases Bonny Island’s rich ecological heritage. It stands as one of Nigeria’s most important conservation areas, preserving diverse unique flora and fauna in their natural habitat.

The park features nature trails that guide tourists through dense mangroves, freshwater swamps, and tropical forest ecosystems. These trails offer immersive experiences for nature lovers, researchers, and eco-tourists alike.

Wildlife sightings are a major highlight, with opportunities to observe rare monkeys, antelope species, reptiles, and a really impressive variety of birdlife. Finima Nature Park is also home to a few pygmy hippos, a species that has been classified as endangered by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

Guided eco-tours provide educational insights into conservation efforts, biodiversity protection, and the cultural importance of the land to the indigenous people of Bonny.

Finima Nature Park positions Bonny Island as a leading eco-tourism destination, blending environmental stewardship with sustainable tourism development.

Bonny Kingdom Palace & Ikuba Square

The Bonny Kingdom Palace stands as the seat of royal authority, representing centuries of governance and tradition. It is the symbolic heart of the Bonny Kingdom. The palace complex reflects the history of kingship, diplomacy, and leadership that shaped Bonny’s role in regional and international trade. The current King, His Majesty,

Adjacent to it, Ikuba Square serves as a central gathering space for ceremonies, festivals, and important communal events. It has witnessed historic moments, royal processions, and cultural performances that continue to reinforce communal bonds.

Bonny Kingdom War Canoe Houses (Boat Regatta)

The War Canoe Houses are the foundation of Bonny’s traditional social and political structure. Each of the 34 houses represents a lineage with its own history and identity. These houses trace their origins to Bonny’s warrior and trading past, when maritime strength and unity defined survival and influence.

Still active today, the War Canoe Houses serve as custodians of customs, rituals, and oral history passed down through generations. They play key roles during festivals, chieftaincy rites, and community decision-making processes.

Visiting the War Canoe Houses offers a rare opportunity to experience living history.

NLNG Golf Course (RA)

The NLNG Golf Course is a world-class recreational golf facility set within Bonny’s industrial-residential zone. It blends leisure and sports with global corporate culture.

Designed to international standards, the course attracts executives, diplomats, and visitors seeking premium recreational experiences. Its manicured greens contrast beautifully with the surrounding natural environment, offering a tranquil escape from daily routines.

The course reinforces Bonny’s image as a destination capable of hosting global business and leisure activities.

Bonny Consulate Building

The Bonny Consulate Building stands as a powerful reminder of Bonny Island’s early international engagement and diplomatic relevance. It reflects a period when Bonny was a key contact point between local authority and foreign governments.

Historically, the building symbolized formal relationships with European powers during the era of global trade and diplomacy. It served as a space where commercial interests, treaties, and political dialogue intersected.

The structure highlights Bonny’s role as a respected kingdom that navigated international relations with strategic foresight. Through diplomacy, Bonny maintained influence in regional and trans-Atlantic affairs.

Today, the building remains a tangible link to Bonny’s global past, offering insight into the island’s sophisticated political and economic history.

For tourists, the Bonny Consulate Building represents a chapter of international connection that shaped Bonny’s emergence as a globally recognized trading and cultural hub.

Finima Lighthouse Beach

Finima Lighthouse Beach combines coastal beauty with maritime history, creating a unique destination for exploration and reflection. The beach lies in close proximity to the historic Finima Lighthouse, enhancing its cultural significance.

Its open shoreline and gentle waves invite visitors to experience the Atlantic from a scenic vantage point. The beach is ideal for leisurely walks, photography, and quiet, peaceful moments by the sea.

From the beach, panoramic ocean views stretch endlessly, offering dramatic sunsets and a strong connection to Bonny’s seafaring heritage.

It reminds visitors of Bonny’s long-standing role in coastal navigation.

Finima Lighthouse Beach captures the harmony between natural beauty and maritime legacy, making it a memorable stop along Bonny’s coastline.

Finima Airstrip

Finima Airport provides direct air access to Bonny Island, supporting corporate, charter, and special-purpose flights. It plays a critical role in connectivity, primarily serving the energy sector, government officials, tourists and high-level business visitors, ensuring efficient movement in and out of the island.

The facility supports time-sensitive flight operations and strengthens Bonny’s role as a strategic economic hub. Its presence represents infrastructure-driven growth and global accessibility as it significantly enhances Bonny’s attractiveness to investors and international partners.

St. Stephen’s Anglican Church

St. Stephen’s Anglican Church is one of the earliest Christian landmarks in the region. It marks the beginning of organized Christianity in Bonny.

It offers tourists a spiritual and historical connection to Bonny’s global past. Its architecture and records preserve stories of faith, education, and cultural transformation.

The church remains an active place of worship and community gathering and stands as a testament to Bonny Islands transAtlantic missionary history and early religious exchange.

NLNG Jetty & waterfronts

The NLNG Jetty and surrounding waterfronts serve as major marine entry points into Bonny Island. They represent the island’s strategic importance in global maritime and energy logistics.

These waterfronts support high-volume industrial activity while maintaining scenic coastal views that reflect Bonny’s deep relationship with water and trade.

Ships arriving at the jetty illustrate Bonny’s role in international commerce, linking local operations to global markets.

Beyond industry, the waterfronts offer striking visuals of marine life, vessels, and tidal movement, blending function with natural beauty.

Together, the NLNG Jetty and waterfronts stand as gateways to Bonny Island—symbolizing progress, connectivity, and enduring maritime strength.

Bonny Kingdom Free Trade Center

The Bonny Kingdom Free Trade Center is positioned as a catalyst for regional economic growth. It is designed to attract investment and stimulate trade. Its strategic location supports logistics, manufacturing, and export-oriented businesses which aligns with Bonny’s long-standing role in international commerce.

It offers opportunities for public-private partnerships and industrial expansion.

As a future-facing platform, the Free Trade Center signals Bonny’s readiness for sustainable economic transformation.

The Amanyanabo Football Tournament

The Amanyanabo Football Tournament is an annual football competition held on Bonny Island, bringing together some of the island’s most talented teams in a week-long knockout format. Each year, participating teams battle for pride, glory, and the coveted Amanyanabo Trophy.

The 2025 edition of the tournament delivered a thrilling narrative, featuring a repeat of the previous year’s final as Ibani United FC faced off once again against Young Talents FC. Ibani United FC successfully defended their title for a record third consecutive time, overcoming a determined and formidable Young Talents FC side to cement their dominance in the competition’s history.

The Queens Iria Ceremony (19 – 22 December, 2025)

The Iria Ceremony is one of the most culturally significant events in the Bonny Kingdom and broader Ibani cultural sphere. It is a traditional rite of passage marking the transition into full womanhood for females in the community and holds deep social, cultural, and historical importance.

What the Ceremony Celebrates

At its core, the Iria ceremony celebrates womanhood, maturity, dignity, and social recognition within the Ibani people.

Stages of the Ceremony

The Iria festivities are structured around distinct stages, each reflecting a different phase of a woman’s journey:

• Kala-Egerebite – for young girls who have reached the threshold of puberty, usually around ages 12–15.
• Opu-Egerebite – for young women around ages 18–21.
• Bibite – for women aged 40 and above, and widely regarded as the highest and most respected stage.

In modern practice, celebrants often combine stages due to economic and logistical considerations, meaning several age rites may be performed together during one extended celebration.

Ceremonial Customs and Symbolism

Participants and celebrants take part in a range of traditional customs:

• The Fattening Room – a preparatory period where the celebrant is cared for, adorned, and instructed by elder women in cultural values, comportment, and traditional dances.
• Traditional Wrapping and Dress – celebrants wear a variety of richly symbolic garments, each with cultural meaning related to age, maturity, and honor.
• Community Recognition – once the ceremony concludes, the woman is accorded full social rights and privileges and celebrated by family, friends, and cultural custodians.

Cultural Significance Today

While originally a rite tied to marriage readiness and maturity, the Queens Iria ceremony today also serves as:

• A celebration of identity and pride in Ibani heritage.
• A cultural showcase, involving music, dance, and communal participation.
• A marker of social status and respect that strengthens community bonds.

Scheduled Festivities

The Queens Iria Ceremony is expected to include:

• Opening cultural rites and formal presentations by invited dignitaries including the Governor of Rivers State, Gov. Siminalayi Fubara, the Bonny Chiefs Council, Se-Alabo
• Parades, traditional dances, and performances.
• Community celebrations honoring the new Iriabo women.
• A Thanksgiving celebration at the historic St. Stephens Anglican Church.

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The Bonny Island Marathon (20 December, 2025)

The Bonny Kingdom Boat Regatta (26 December, 2025)

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The Bonny Kingdom Boat Regatta, one of the island’s most iconic cultural water events, delivered colour, excitement, and deep-rooted tradition which climaxed with a resounding victory for the Wilcox Chieftaincy House.

Boat regattas have long been a vital part of Bonny’s maritime heritage, reflecting the island’s historic relationship with the sea—once a major centre of trade, navigation, and coastal power. Traditionally, the regatta is not just a competition of speed, but a display of craftsmanship, teamwork, and ancestral pride among the chieftaincy houses.

The 2025 regatta featured elaborately decorated boats, coordinated paddling, and electrifying chants that echoed across the waterways. In a thrilling display of strength and precision, the Wilcox Chieftaincy House emerged victorious, earning widespread applause and reaffirming its legacy within the Bonny Kingdom.

The Discover Bonny Team celebrating with the Wilcox Chieftaincy House, winners of the 2025 Bonny Kingdom Boat Regatta

The event attracted a large number of residents, visitors, and cultural enthusiasts, reinforcing the regatta’s role as both a cultural showcase and a major tourism attraction. As Bonny Island continues to position itself as an eco-cultural and festive destination, the Boat Regatta remains a proud reminder of the island’s enduring traditions and communal spirit.