Makoko tour Lagos: Guided canoe with community leader

Glide through Makoko's waterways and hear from someone who lives there

A three-hour guided canoe tour through the floating community of Makoko in Lagos, led by RESPECT, a lifelong resident and son of the traditional chief. The tour includes private transportation, bottled water and soda, entrance fees, and an air-conditioned vehicle for pickup and return. Photography is permitted throughout.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Makoko Floating Slum by Canoe

• Guided canoe tour through Makoko
• Hear stories from community leader
• Learn about local culture and traditions
• Discover community support initiatives
• Take photographs and film respectfully

The experience

What sets this tour apart is who leads it. RESPECT grew up on these waterways and still lives in Makoko, so the stories and insights come from genuine experience, not a script. You travel by canoe through the floating settlement, moving at the pace of the water and the community itself. Along the way, RESPECT shares firsthand accounts of daily life, cultural traditions, and the resilience of people who have built a functioning society on water, and he talks about the local initiatives working to support the community.

The three hours include pickup in an air-conditioned vehicle, the canoe journey itself, and return transport to your hotel or meeting point. You get bottled water and soda during the tour, and entrance fees are covered. RESPECT speaks fluent English and has spent his life here, so the conversations go deeper than surface-level facts. He answers questions honestly and engages in real dialogue about what life in Makoko actually looks like. Photography and filming are welcome, so you can document what you see.

This is a small-group experience. You're not part of a crowd of thirty people. The tour is wheelchair accessible, and infants can travel in a pram or stroller, or sit on an adult's lap. It's designed for all fitness levels, since the canoe does the moving and you're sitting the whole time.

What’s included

• Private transportation with pickup and return.
• canoe journey through Makoko.
• bottled water and soda.
• entrance fees and government fees.
• air-conditioned vehicle.
• photography permitted.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

AgesAdult (18 to 65 years) · Senior (66 to 80 years) · Youth (13 to 17 years) · Child (2 to 12 years) · Infant (under 2): free

GroupPrivate

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 9 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 5 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by RESPECT

Is this one for you?Book this if you want a small group and a guide who actually lives in the community: RESPECT's perspective is the whole point, and it's the opposite of a standard tour narrated by someone passing through.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (13 to 17 years); Child (2 to 12 years); Infant (under 2): free.

What exactly is Makoko and why is it called a floating slum?

Makoko is a water-based community in Lagos where thousands of people live on structures built over the lagoon. It's often labeled a slum in headlines, but the tour reframes it as a living, functioning neighborhood with its own culture, economy, and social systems: built on water by people who have adapted to that life for generations.

Will I be safe on the canoe, and what if I can't swim?

The canoe experience is designed for all fitness levels and you remain seated throughout. The tour is described as safe and culturally sensitive. RESPECT has lived on these waterways his whole life and knows them intimately. You don't need to swim. The canoe is your transport.

How much time do I actually spend on the water versus traveling to and from Makoko?

The tour is three hours total, including pickup and return transport in the air-conditioned vehicle. The bulk of that time is spent on the canoe moving through the community and hearing stories from RESPECT.

Can I take photos or video during the tour?

Yes, photography and filming are permitted throughout the tour, so you can document the waterways, the structures, and the community as you move through.

What's included in the price, and what do I need to bring?

The tour includes private transportation to and from your location, the canoe journey, entrance fees, government fees, bottled water, and soda. Bring sun protection and wear clothes you don't mind getting splashed in. The canoe moves through water and the weather in Lagos is warm and humid.