Adamawa is one of those states in the north that’s far from everywhere. From my home state of Kogi state, you’d have to drive about 14 hours to get to Yola. So Adamawa wasn’t a place I was very keen about travelling to. It’s usually better to go to Abuja by road before taking a connecting flight to Yola. But if you’re my age in present-day Nigeria you know that a flight ticket for an emergency trip is not very attainable, especially when you’re within my tax bracket. So I pretended to crave a road trip and off I went.
Adamawa state is one of those states where nothing remarkable enough to get the attention of other Nigerians happens. My home state of Kogi would have been just as docile but Yahaya Bello made sure to always be in the news, and so we too, had to be in the news. I had not much expectations of what to experience in a state best known as Atiku Abubakar’s home state. To my delight, however, Adamawa proved to be a pleasant revelation.
Adamawa State is a state in northeastern Nigeria that is thought to be a strictly religious place devoid of recreational opportunities and has a land mass of crazy topography. However, if you’re an open-minded traveller looking for adventure, leisure, and a multitude of experiences, Adamawa would be just exactly where you want to be.
I had a brief stop by at Jalingo, Taraba state, before taking a four-hour drive to Yola. The rumours are true; the north has the best road network in the country and the trip was absolutely seamless.
Mubarak, who was also my host, gave me a warm welcome. He was really excited about the places he planned to take me after I had taken a shower and relaxed. Yola is a vibrant area, he said. Clubs here open on Monday, but Omo no reason am, you go too chop life for here. I was shocked because I didn’t particularly reconcile Yola as a city with a thriving nightlife. But then a nightclub on Mondays? Even Lagos, the home of all debauchery, had certain boundaries.
I had only visited a couple of clubs in Lokoja before, and since I’d lived in Lagos for the past couple of years my standards were quite high and I wasn’t expecting anything sublime in these Yola “clubs” until I checked myself into one on a Monday evening after spending the day sifting through KPIs and Slack notifications that didn’t particularly enthuse me.
I really wasn’t expecting the vibe check here to be as good as it was in my hometown, but my people, and the experience I had at that club were way beyond my expectations; it seemed like I was at ChibbyVerse or Obi’s house in Lagos. The DJ was sifting through Afropop songs and bop songs, with bodies of sweaty boys and hot girls swaying to the rhythms of the beats. The vibe was fire, and you thought this was another northern conservative state with very little regard for pop culture indulgences.
My next destination was the Gashaka Gumti National Park, spanning Adamawa and Taraba states in northeastern Nigeria, is the country’s largest protected area, covering 6,402 square kilometers. Established in 1991 and designated as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, the park boasts diverse ecosystems, including rainforests, grasslands, and mountain ranges, which support a rich array of flora and fauna.
Despite facing threats such as poaching and illegal logging, efforts to safeguard the park include community engagement and conservation initiatives. Despite its remote location, the park attracts tourists interested in ecotourism and wildlife viewing.
Moreover, Gashaka Gumti serves as a vital research site for scientists studying ecology and biodiversity in West Africa. Environmental education programs aim to raise awareness about conservation among local communities and visitors.
In essence, Gashaka Gumti National Park stands as a testament to Nigeria’s commitment to preserving its natural heritage and promoting sustainable development.
My next destination the following Saturday was Ruwan Zafi, which is also referred to as Lamurde Hot Spring. Although it was pretty difficult to pronounce, but then, who’s counting? Haha. I’ve heard good things about the hot springs in Lamurde LG, Gykan village, and like Ajala the traveler, I swore to not miss out on this amazing experience.
The language barrier made it extremely difficult to contact locals who knew the exact location. Both their English and my Hausa were in terrible shape. I nearly had to use all of Odumeje’s power to win that particular war. Oh! I eventually located a bike man who could understand me, and he drove me to the village of Gyakan.
The hotspring boils like water forgotten on the gas for more than 5 hours. I couldn’t dare walk or stand in it for for more than a few seconds.
The Villagers explained that they don’t know how the mysterious stream came about, it’s always hot year in, year out and the marvel is, even during the rainy season, it still boils. Such a wonder!
It’s so sad that only very few people know about this place, and it still hurts me that I didn’t have plenty of time to explore this wonderful city. I mean, I was there on an official assignment and with limited resources too.
Overall, though, I had a great time during my entire stay in Adamawa, despite not having the luxury of time to complete my itinerary as planned. It still amazes me that I saw such breathtaking scenery in a place that was so abandoned. Because everything was so reasonably priced—including lodging, food, and transportation—Adamawa ought to be your next destination. Don’t, however, go there for just three days like I did.
