Point of No Return, Gberefu
Badagry, Lagos State
The shoreline on Gberefu Island, Badagry, remembered as the last point of departure for people trafficked across the Atlantic.
Kamilu Tope (Wikimedia Commons) · CC BY-SA 4.0
Visiting information
- Address
- Gberefu Island, Badagry, Lagos State
- Opening information
- Opening times are not published by a source we can verify. Confirm locally before visiting.
- Accessibility
- Accessibility information has not been verified for this place.
- Suggested time
- 2–3 hours including the crossing
About this place
Historical accounts describe Badagry as an established trading town from the eighteenth century, where European merchants dealt with local intermediaries. The route from the town's barracoons to the shore at Gberefu is the one commemorated today. Records of individual voyages are held in international slave-trade databases rather than at the site itself.
District profile
Badagry
Badagry is a coastal town west of Lagos with a documented and painful place in the history of the transatlantic slave trade.
Why stay here: Its museums, historic buildings and the route to the shoreline make it the most significant heritage destination in Lagos State.
Atmosphere: Sober, quiet and reflective, best visited with time to read and listen.
About 1.5–3 hours from central Lagos by road; a full-day trip with a driver is the usual approach.
Airport journey
- Arrival airportMurtala Muhammed International Airport (LOS), Ikeja
- Travel time45–90 minutes to Lagos Island and Ikoyi
- Recommended routeAirport Road → Ikorodu Road → Third Mainland Bridge → Ikoyi Link Bridge
- Traffic informationHeaviest 16:00–20:00 on weekdays; a Saturday arrival is noticeably faster.
- Ride hailing optionsUber and Bolt both serve the airport from the designated pickup bay.
- Hotel airport pickupPre-book a hotel car. Meet drivers at the official arrivals kerb, never in the car park.
Nearby attractions
More to explore around Badagry and the wider Lagos State.
- Badagry Heritage Museum BadagryMuseum in the former District Officer's building documenting Badagry's role in the transatlantic slave trade. 1.5–2 hours
National Museum Lagos Lagos IslandNigeria's national museum in Onikan, holding archaeological, ethnographic and modern collections. 1.5–2 hours
Freedom Park Lagos IslandA colonial-era prison site on Broad Street rebuilt as a memorial park and open-air arts venue. 2–3 hours
Cathedral Church of Christ, Marina Lagos IslandAnglican cathedral on the Marina, consecrated in 1946. 1–2 hours
Lekki Conservation Centre LekkiNigerian Conservation Foundation reserve protecting coastal wetland, with a long canopy walkway. A full day or more
Tarkwa Bay Beach Lagos IslandSheltered beach on an island off Lagos harbour, reached only by boat from the mainland or island jetties. Half a day
Lufasi Nature Park Ibeju-LekkiPrivately run conservation park along the Lekki–Epe corridor protecting remnant forest and endangered species. 2–3 hours
Balogun Market Lagos IslandLarge street market on Lagos Island, long associated with textiles and wholesale trade. 1–2 hours
Recommended district
Badagry
Its museums, historic buildings and the route to the shoreline make it the most significant heritage destination in Lagos State.
Plan the rest of your visit
Build an itinerary around this district, or check what Nigeria requires for entry before you travel.
Sources and verification
Status: Reviewed. Last reviewed 2026-08-20.
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