However, certain travel strategies can turn your trip into a disappointing experience, especially if you are a first time visitor.
Here are common mistakes that travellers make when visiting Calabar.
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1. Littering
Calabar is a clean city, littering is not acceptable around the metropolis. So, do not throw food wrappers, empty plastic cans or cigarette butts onto the streets as you can get a fine for it.
2. Don't be culturally insensitive
Calabar has a unique language that influences their English pronunciations. It is important to understand the culture and the surrounding when visiting. Having an unbiased mind will help you blend better, absorb the culture in a more interactive way and avoid insulting them unintentionally.
3. Avoid straying
You may want to stick to the tourist sites that you have read about and researched on when visiting for the first time. However, restricting yourself to the tourist trails will deny you the opportunity to create your own unique experiences. Often times the best experiences and the biggest opportunities are found off the beaten path.
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4. Don't go there in peak season
Visitors usually arrive Calabar from November through January for the famous Calabar Carnival. This may not be the best time to visit for a unique and enjoyable experience.
Work towards arriving during off-peak season as you will escape long lines at the leading museums and tourist attractions plus getting tables in restaurants or rooms at hotels will be easier.
5. Ask more than one person for directions
If you are confused with your directions and need to get help from a local, rather than sticking to information given by one person, you might want to ask almost everyone you come across. If the person hesitates or appears to not be certain of their answer, seek additional elsewhere.