Asaba, Oshimili South
The story of the house
The Royal Niger Company was the British trading company that ran trade on the lower Niger in the late 1800s. When it chose Asaba as its headquarters in 1886, it put up this house and named it after Mungo Park, the explorer who charted much of the Niger before he died on the river at Bussa in 1806. Park himself never came to Asaba.
Over the following century the building was used as offices and public buildings by local and state government before it became a national monument. It now stands in the grounds of the National Museum, Asaba, beside the Chike Edozien Hall.
What you'll see
The house itself, with its deep timber balconies, a bronze bust of Mungo Park out front, and the museum's collection of relics and artefacts from Asaba's past. An art gallery is attached to the museum.
Before you go
Opening hours and entry fees aren't published online, so check before you travel. Press reports have raised concerns about the building's upkeep, and some rooms may be closed. Ask in the Discover Delta community on WhatsApp for word from people who have been recently.
Good to know
Who was Mungo Park?
A Scottish explorer who charted much of the River Niger's course. He died on the river at Bussa in 1806, and the house in Asaba was named after him 80 years later.
Can you visit Mungo Park House?
Yes. It is part of the National Museum, Asaba, and visitors can tour it. Opening hours aren't published, so check before you go.
Related
Sources
- The Mungo Park Building in Asaba (University of Delta journal paper)
- Lost opportunity, as Mungo Park House, Asaba decays into oblivion (Daily Trust)
- Mungo Park House, Asaba (Nigerian Cultural Heritage archive)
- Mungo Park House (hotels.ng)
- Mungo Park House (Visit Nigeria Now)
Last checked 10 September 2026. Spotted something out of date? Tell us on WhatsApp.
