Christmas And Road Trips

Growing up in an African home, one of the things we learn as soon as we we’re old enough to hit the road is “Avoid Traveling As Much As You Can During The Ember Months”! 

I dare not mention to my mother I’m going to be on the road at any point between December 22nd – January 3rd except of course I’m headed to the airport to catch a plane to the Bahamas; even then she’d ask why I didn’t make the trip earlier.

Traveling during this period within Nigeria can be tricky, and if you’re inadequately prepared for your trip….. things could go awry…between the pot-hole ridden roads and impatient border-line insane drivers, road travel in Nigeria can crack even the most resilient.

I’m going to be sharing some tips on what has worked for me, and some of the places I’ve been to that I found absolutely fun. You don’t have to spend your Christmas indoors, you do that every other day.

1. ALWAYS CHECK THE CAR.

Before you embark on any road trip, The first thing you want to do is check your car. Do a routine check and make sure everything is in order. You don’t want your car to start overheating, or having to worry about if your brake is still as effective.

Also you want to ensure that your papers are complete, and you have a means of identification with you. Especially your drivers license.

2. MAP YOUR ROUTE.

Before you get on the road with everybody in the car, you should have an idea of how long your trip should take, what the best and fastest routes are, what the roads are like, if there are eateries on the way, petrol stations. (except you’re super adventurous and you don’t mind dragging your car out of a super-huge ditch)

3. PACK FOR TWO.

So you’ve picked out your destination, everything is in order and its time to pack so you take 3 t-shirts, one sweater and one pair of slacks since you’re only gone for 3 days. No! No!! terrible idea. Always pack an extra set of everything. Better safe than sorry yes, Even if you don’t need it someone else might.

4. FOOD AND WATER

Dehydration is not a joke and these months are dry months. Fill a cooler with water to last you the day. Refreshments are essential, just incase the eateries on your way decide to take the day off, you don’t starve to death.

5. PAINKILLERS AND OTHER ESSENTIALS 

I like to travel with painkillers; sometimes I need a tab or two after all the ‘get out of my lane’ and ‘can you drive like you went to a driving school’ noise I’d have made on the road before getting to my destination. It is absolutely no fun touring with a headache.

I pack pills for food poisoning (you never know ), mosquito repellent creams, allergy pills and sanitizers. Never forget the sanitizers.

6. MUSIC, GAMES, POWERBANK!

Everyone is usually pumped at the beginning of the trip, but your eyes get tired of the endless stretch of lush green vegetation and you need something to engage yourself. You can go along with a pack of cards, or even play those ‘name name name’ games you don’t need anything for.

Also, never forget the power bank! You don’t want your phone going off on you when it’s time to take pictures or hook up with the rest of the crew.

Okay! Now that I’ve shared a few tips on how I safely arrive at my destination, Here’s are some places  I’ve been to and can recommend.

La Campagne Tropicana.

La Campagne Tropicana is a private 60-acre beach resort in Lekki free trade zone, Lagos. This resort is recognized as one of the best beach resorts in Nigeria. I especially like the way they infuse an African taste into everything, from the chalets, to the hospitality.

The drive there from VI was pretty smooth, we spent about 2 hours on the road and the roads are good enough.

Also there are a lot of water games there, I especially enjoyed kayaking. The kayaks are safe, and there are lifeguards on standby.

The food is quite nice, but you might want to go along with your own drinks and some extra edibles too.

If you need a get away to a relatively quiet beach with the Hawaii feel to it then this is the beach for you.

Olumo Rock

Olumo rock, one of the most popular tourist destinations in Nigeria, West Africa, sits in the ancient city centre of Abeokuta – a name which means “Under the rock”.

It was used as a fortress by the Egba people in the early 19th century. Olumo Rock is about 1hour 30 minutes away from Lagos, and the roads are fair.

At Olumo Rock, you would be treated to attractions like natural tunnels, unusual trees, natural cantilevers, gardens on the rock, broken pathways, monuments of the belief system of the rock’s primeval settlers, three escalators at the characteristic height of the rock as well as an aerial and atmospheric view of the antique city of Abeokuta, from the apex of the rock.

There are man made stairs carved into the rock, making the climb fairly easy even for the ‘not-very-fit’ but there is also an elevator, in the event that you want to take the easy way up to the apex of the rock, however it comes at a cost.

If you love a bit of adventure like me, and you don’t mind climbing then this should be top of your list.

Idanre Hills.

Estimated to be over 800 years, they are located in the ancient town of Idanre, Ondo State, about 5 hours away from Lagos state. There are six hundred and sixty seven (667) steps on the way and by the time i got halfway i felt like i had run a mile and half.  Some of the hills you’ll see are:

(The Agbagba Hill). Amongst the hills, one stands out which is the Agbagba Hill. This hill became popular because of Agboogun, mysterious footprints that are found on it. Tourists are allowed to put their feet into the footprints. Surprisingly and mysteriously, the footprints contract and expand to accommodate all feet put into them. It is believed that anybody whose feet do not exactly fit into the footprints is considered to be a witch or a wizard.

-The Carter Hill: This hill was named after a former colonial Governor who signed a peace treaty with the Oba (king) of Idanre dated back in 1891.

-The Ajimoba Hill: This hill was named after a dedicated King’s gateman.

-The Ilesun Hill: This is named after a great warrior who killed his daughter in fulfillment of his vow to sacrifice the first living thing that would come his way if he should win the war he went into. The girl was buried at the base of the Ilesun Hill. Annual commemoration ceremony is observed on the hill by children of her age.

The Arun River: It is a small river found on the hill. A swim in the middle of the river gives a mysterious frightening and bustling experience. Arun is a crystal clear river where crabs and some other aquatic creatures are found.

Cultural features: gods, goddesses and traditional arts are present on the hills.

There are quite a number of mysterious stories surrounding this hills, i remember our tour guide saying that if you put your ears to the hills in the evenings you’ll hear voices from inside it. DON’T ASK, I DIDN’T EVEN MOVE TOO CLOSE, LOL.

I’m thinking of revisiting myself, i had a swell time.