Our road trip. Obudu Mountain Resort: A Journey of Laughter, Sharing, and Discovery

 

Sometimes, what you need isn’t always what you like maybe that’s why the truth feels bitter.

Anyway, let me take you with me on my recent trip with the Explorers of Adventure to Obudu Mountain Resort.

I had the privilege of joining my crew to explore this magical place once again.

We planned to gather at 6:00 a.m. and hit the road by 6:30 a.m. But “African time” has a mind of its own many have mastered the art subconsciously. I got to our muster point at 6:10 a.m., not too early, not too late. Before that, I had to attend to Moori, my cat (by the way, newsflash: turns out Moori is male, not female, as I once believed, at least that’s what I was told, lesson learnt, just because you were shouldn’t stop you from making a finding).

At the meeting point, I was greeted by a wave of positive energy. Everyone had their own unique vibe: Sir JEM (a.k.a Manager), AbdulBasit: Muhammed, Mustapha, Blazzer, Hercule, Innovative, Man of Faith (MOF), Osas, Success, Chima, Emmanuel a.k.a Selfiey and the radiant ladies, Hajiya Jemila, Kosi, Hajiya Nafisa, and others.

And then, the adventure began. The bus filled with laughter, bottles clinking, music rolling, dancing, and stories weaving their way into the journey. It was the kind of road trip where the destination is beautiful, but the ride is already a memory.

The journey began with the car bursting with laughter, banter, food, drinks, dancing and music. But the one thing that stood out to me the most was the spirit of sharing. Everyone in that bus was ready to give snacks, drinks, or even just good vibes. The love was flowing freely.

What amazed me was that many of us had never met before. Some faces were new, yet it felt like we’d known each other for years. Different tribes, different religions, different backgrounds all packed in one moving bus, vibing together like family. That’s the kind of magic you can’t plan for, it just happens.

The Cashew Nut Moment

Before I forget on our way close to Makurdi, at the terminal point inside Nasarawa, something small but unforgettable happened. Chima bought cashew nuts. Since we were a seat apart, I didn’t notice. The seller came over, and to my surprise, she dropped the cashew on my leg.

I looked at her and said, “But I didn’t pay for it.” The car was already moving, so I couldn’t even hear her clearly. Out of fear of taking what I hadn’t paid for, I quickly dropped it. Everyone in the bus looked at me like, why did you drop it?

I explained: I didn’t pay for it, so why should I collect it?

Then I was told Chima had already paid for it. I didn’t know. Honestly, I was scared because I know what it feels like to hustle that hard chasing moving cars, and bus just to make a sale. I didn’t want to carry what I didn’t pay for. I had to apologize, because I truly didn’t know it was already paid for.

That moment stayed with me. It reminded me how important honesty is even in the tiniest things.

 Makurdi Food Basket of the Nation

Our first stop was at Makurdi to stock up on raw food and supplies that would last us for the days we planned to spend at the resort. What was supposed to be a quick stop stretched into almost an hour, because Some beautiful souls volunteered to head into the market and do the buying for us.

The rest of us used that time to explore the town. Makurdi has its own charm calm, vibrant, and overflowing with abundance. They don’t call it the food basket of the nation for nothing. Everywhere you turn, there’s food. From oranges, to tomatoes, sweet potatoes, and yam it’s like the land itself is generous.

Some of us grabbed essentials too tissues, toiletries, and small things we knew we’d need along the way. And then, just like that, it was time to pile back into the bus supplies packed, sprit lifted, and the road is calling us forward.

Hmm, did I tell you guys how Hercule MOF, Innovative, Even Blazzer and Moh gave us a good dancing show. Oh my goodness, every moment in that was bus was memorable.If there was an award for ‘best waist movement in a moving vehicle, they would have swept it

 Obudu Town Refuelling for the Mountain

We hit the road again with fresh energy music blasting, snacks going round, and HHercules is keeping us entertained with his endless blonde banter. Honestly, that guy is a whole drama on his own. The mix-up on the road added to the adventure.

An hour plus later, we arrived in Obudu town. We made a quick stop to grab dinner and fuel up. I went for white rice and stew, a generous fellow paid for me, you will not lack, nagode. Another person chose to swallow. Someone else had white rice again. A few settled for just snacks. We stocked up on bottled water, too, because both our bodies and our car needed the energy for what lay ahead. Filled our camp gas.

Within ten minutes, we were moving again, and thirty minutes later we reached the gate of the ranch. Security checks were done, but the rain kept most of us inside the bus. Some people were pressed, but had to hold it in. Some others just couldn’t anymore you can imagine the chaos.

Our manager handed over his card, and a safety driver was assigned to us. The climb ahead was no joke forty minutes of steep, inclined road. Only experienced drivers could handle it, and our driver gladly handed over the wheel.

The rain meant we couldn’t see much of the beautiful mountain views, but we could feel them. The fog, the sharp chill in the air, the heaviness of the clouds it was as if the mountain wanted us to sense her presence before revealing her beauty.

And in between the chatter, I had something else that kept me company a book. It had been sitting on my shelf for a year, waiting for its time. This road trip was the perfect moment. The title was Taken For Granted by Raheema Odusote, a Nigerian author. A captivating read that pulls me in so deeply, I found myself already 75% through it before we reached the mountain. The words stayed with me as much as the journey itself.

Arrival: Fog, Cold, and Calm

When we finally arrived at the reception, the welcome wasn’t pleasant. The customer service was rough, and honestly, that’s how some businesses lose people. How do you tell a customer to “be guided” after they’ve just explained something about their contact with a staff member? A few of us were irritated, but thankfully the situation was handled, and we moved on to our cabin.

And there, the mountain finally embraced us. Fog rolling in. Fresh, cold air wraps around our lungs. The nervous system softens into calm.

I was still on treatment, but I knew right then that being up here on this mountain was exactly what I needed.

It was a worthy trip.

I’m deeply grateful for the safety, the laughter, the book that found me at the right time, and the wonderful gift of journeys like this.

“Stay tuned for more mountain days…

Photos and video credit go to Osas, and Success thank you guys.