Obudu, Paradise at Your Doorstep
Travelogue
By Akin Onipede
Nigerians don't appreciate what they have and some don't know the value of the natural endowment. The reason for the latter can be easily adduced to lack of inadequate information on such endowments which also may have its origin on narrow mindedness and which invariably close their minds from receiving new knowledge about others and their places.
During our days in secondary school in the early 70s, Geography was taught from the western perspective with emphasis on the Geography of North America and Western Europe with passing mention of West Africa and Nigeria. The result was that most students knew little about the geography and resources of Africa in general and Nigeria in particular. It was fashionable then for a Geography student to reel out unaided, the location and tourist values of the Rockies, the Appalachian, the prairies region and the Alps without any knowledge of the location and the inherent abundance of resources and touristic value of Mambilla Plateau, the Obudu mountain range, the fertile expanse of land of the middle belt and the lush tropical forest of Nigeria.
Travelling by road through the length and breath of Nigeria presents a fascinating view and appreciation of our natural endowments. A recent trip by road from Abuja to the Obudu mountain range in northern Cross River State presented such experience. From fertile lowland between Abuja, Nasarawa and Benue State into the forested mountainous region near Obudu on to the summit of the 1,700metre high Obudu Ranch Resort. This unique experience was facilitated courtesy of the workshop tagged "Accessing the capital Market for Tourism Development packaged by the duo of the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) at the Obudu Ranch Resort.
The Obudu Mountain is one of nature's wonders located in Nigeria but only a few people realized this, until Governor Donald Duke of Cross River State began the tourism revolution, chosen the place for a model tourism destination. The range is a spectacle to behold but better appreciated by driving 11 kilometres uphill or by walking on to the summit.
Ascending the hill is not for the feeble minded because those who have phobia for height could be uncomfortable and may likely suffer high blood pressure particularly when the vehicle moves dangerously on the precipice of the cliff along the winding bends which overlook deep gorges and valleys. I was amazed to see heavy-duty construction trucks filled with workmen move merrily up and down the 11 kilometre road without any evidence of fright.
The attractions at the summit include 3 captivating panoramic view of the cropping fall, green grassland, cold and a view environment with sandy condition which appear and disappear without the slightest warning depending on the weather situation. Little wonder a fireplace similar to the ones in European buildings is located at the reception area while each of the 70 rooms is fitted with a heater.
At Obudu Ranch Resort, visitors can escape to the wild and see the Gorilla and monkey camps to experience exceptional game viewing and true wilderness as well as bird watching. Nature walks through the forest and grassland can also be undertaken while a drive through the hills could be a fascinating experience. In fact, there are a variety of places to visit on the ranch.
Managed by a South African company (Protea), the ranch covers a vast area of undulating hills which offers opportunity for would be investors in the development of accommodation and recreational facilities. The opportunities are limitless even for high altitude farming for such produce as honey, lettuce, Irish potato, strawberry and apple.
Workmen are still busy putting new facilities on the hill while plans have reached an advanced stage to provide additional ones. Prominent among new facilities is a cable car project to cover 4.5 kilometres and expected to shorten the arrival time between the base and the summit by half.
At present, the distance by road uphill is 11 kilometres. The Deputy Governor of Cross River State, Elder (Dr.) Walter Eneji, at the opening of the workshop, said the project, which would be completed before the end of the year, would be the second longest in Africa after a similar one in South Africa. "The cable car would enable us see what God has done for us" he enthused.
Eneji also aid the accommodation would be expanded from 80 to 150 rooms with separate presidential retreat facilities already under construction. Women and children are to be provided with Waterpark among others while a conservation centre would also be built.
According to the Deputy Governor, plans have also been concluded for the establishment of a dairy farm on the ranch, raise exotic breeds, which will in turn produce cheese and other dairy products. A meat factory to produce beef and pork is also planned.
Under its community-based initiative to empower the natives, particularly women, local farmers would be encouraged to produce more honey on a commercial scale with proposed establishment of 400 beehives. A South African firm is helping to achieve this goal.
Plans have also been concluded for the generation of electricity around the ranch for communities in the Obudu area. Electricity would be generated from a windmill, instead of gas, coal or hydro.
The Obudu Ranch as an entity is no more a challenge to the owners, Cross River State, since it has already taken a bold step at harnessing the potentials of the range. But it equally poses a serious challenge to other investors, specifically tour operators most of whom have already claimed there are no destinations to package in the country.
By now serious minded tour operators should have visited Obudu Ranch Resort to have a feel of the facilities and condition of the place as a prelude to packaging the destination for both local and foreign leisure seekers.
Ahead of the West Africa Travel Show holding in Accra, Ghana; the World Travel Market in London both holding later in the year; and the International Travel market (ITB) in Berlin holding in the first quarter of next year, Nigerian tour operators should be able to package this destination at these events to the international community.
As one tourism expert submitted during the NTDC/SEC Workshop at Obudu, "most of our tour operators have not been here, how can they package what they have not seen?"
Onipede is Assistant Director, the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC)
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