Karu is a local government area in Nasarawa State in the north-central part of Nigeria. Its headquarters are in New Karu. It is a city under Nasarawa State and it is very close to the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria, in fact some people mistake Karu to be in Abuja because of its proximity to Abuja, however, Karu is in Nasarawa State.

Understand

The city is mostly dominated by the civil servants in the state, for whom the district was built, however, Karu has evolved and grown in population now. According to the 2006 population census conducted in Nigeria, Karu recorded well over 205,000 population count.

Get in

Although new Karu (or even Nasarawa state) as a whole does not have an Airport, there are several airports that are within a few kilometers through which one can get into the city. Some are:

• Makurdi Airport (ABV ^IATA), Off Gboko Road, 970101, Makurdi, ☏ +234 806 535 5583. You can fly in from most states in the country.  

The fastest way to get into new Karu is when you travel through the Makurdi airport, a popular airport in Makurdi, Benue State. It is the closest airport to new Karu, as it is about 87 km away from Karu. Once you alight at Makurdi Airport, you just need to board a bus or cab journeying towards the new Karu area, which is 87 km away.

• 1 Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport (ABV ^IATA). International flights are offered by several airlines, notably, Lufthansa, KLM, and British Airways. If arriving from the US, Delta Air Lines has a direct flight from New York JFK. Many visitors fly through connecting flights from Lagos.  

The airport is approximately about 150 km away from new Karu in Nasarawa State, a tourist could get into new Karu, by first getting to this airport, thereafter board a bus or a cab traveling to new Karu, which is about 150 km long and the bus can take you into new Karu.

By bus

There are various luxurious buses you can take to new Karu, Nasarawa State. Some of the popular ones are

• Cross Country Limited, 18 Makurdi Road, Opp. Magoda Petrol Station, Lafia, ☏ +234 802 844 7950. (updated Dec 2021)
• ABC Transport, 60 Jos Road, Akwanga, ☏ +234 8061602875. (updated Dec 2021)
• Elsoag Business Resort, 19 Jos Road, Lafia, Nasarawa Nigeria. (updated Dec 2021)

Get around

The best way to get around in old Karu is through Bus or Cab. There is the availability of buses and cabs to take you around in Karu and also motor.

See

• 1 Karu waterfall, New Karu. Water park in Karu LGA. A very good place to chill, keep calm and appreciate nature. 
• Somewhere Else Resort, Street, karu Site, No. 11 Glass House, Hill Crescent, Off Las Vegas Cresent, Karu. Tourist attraction in Karu LGA 
• Nyanya Waterfall, 900101, New Karu. Tourist attraction in Karu LGA 

Do

There are a couple of things to do in Karu.

• Tinmahill Garden, 2JH5+MM6, Mararaba 961105, New Karu. A nice garden every tourist should visit and play all the games, even chill and organize a small get together with friends and family. 
• Eco-Farms Tourist Centre, FineGold Avenue, Off Papalada Road Karu. A tourist center you should visit to check the environment and resource. 

Buy

• Karu Market, Community Market, Karu 900101, New Karu. A general market in Karu. 
• 1 Old Karu Market, Nyanya-Karshi Road, Karu 900101. A general market in Karu. 
• Mararaba Market, Abuja-Keffi Rd, 961105, New Karu, ☏ +234 803 230 5520. Another general market in Karu. 
• Kama Supermarket, Suite 8, Mazfallah Shopping Complex, Karu, ☏ +234 704 133 3526. A supermarket 
• Ford Mart, George Akume road, Karu 900101, New Karu. A grocery store. 

Eat

• Mama Suliyat Restaurant, Nyanya - Karu Road by C.B.N Junction Karu, Karu. A restaurant for all your local and continental dishes. 
• Zatuk Restaurants, Suite 31, Blessed Plaza, Karu. A restaurant for all your local and continental dishes. 
• Lucio Kitchen, Shop No 46 FHA Cornershop, Karu. A restaurant for all your local and continental dishes. 

Drink

There are a lot of places to drink in Karu, in fact even in most places to eat, you can additionally find drinking services been offered.

• Bsc Lounge Karu, Karu 900101, New Karu. A bar to drink 
• 4:40 garden bar and kitchen, Nyanya-Karshi Road, 900101, New Karu. Offers both drinking and eating services. 

Sleep

• Sa-Abhi International Hotel, Behind international market, New Karu, ☏ +234 703 026 2583. Hotel to sleep. ₦5,400. 
• Boundary Plaza Hotel Ltd, Off Boundary Rd, behind Dunamis Church, Nyanya 900101, New Karu. 
• 1 Frankville Hotel, Karu, Fepa Quarters, Karu, 900110. ₦8,500. 
• Frantina Exclusive Hotel, 15 Brigadier General Amuche Crescent, One Main Village, Koroduma, Karu. (updated Dec 2021)

Connect

All major mobile phone service networks are available in Karu but with varying degrees of reliability and usability. It is usual to occasionally experience network outages for all or some of the mobile phone service providers. Such a situation is particularly common in some remote areas of the city. And it is also common for different networks to be more stable and reliable in different locations of the city at different times.

if you are planning a visit to this city, you should consider having multiple SIM cards preferably for all the mobile service providers, since you can't tell which will be more stable and reliable at a time in your location during your visit. And if you will risk not having any of them, you might be better off not risking the MTN network, because, from indications, it seems to perform well than the others, though its rates may be high and its offers and services might be stringent, you are less likely to be concerned of erratic voice and data connection compared to others. The various broadband cellular network available include 2G, 3G, and 4G networks. And unlike many other cities in the country, there is wider coverage of the 4G network in most locations in the city.

Of the service providers is Glo (or Globacom), which boasts of fast network speed for internet browsing activities, but that might not be enjoyable in some locations in Abuja. Airtel is fairly satisfactory for all you might need to connect to the world, including rates and network stability. And 9mobile usually also performs well in internet browsing speed but not without locational limitations.