Landslip Causes Nigeria’s Leading Tourist Destination
OpenLife Nigeria reports that Nigeria’s leading tourist destination, Obudu Ranch Resort, has been cut off for accessibility by tourists as a result of landslip.
According to reports, a A section of the road leading to the Obudu Ranch Resort in northern Cross River State has been cut off following a mudslide triggered by torrential rainfall in the area.
The collapse occurred when part of a hillside gave way and crashed onto the road connecting the resort base to the mountaintop facility, disrupting movement between both locations.
Information has it that the mudslide deposited large rocks, trees and mud across the road, making it impassable for vehicles traveling to and from the resort.
A resident, who identified himself as Bright, said villagers had been working to clear debris from the affected section but lacked the equipment needed to remove the larger rocks.
“Villagers have been trying to clear the trees and mud from the road, but some of the rocks require construction equipment to remove them and reopen access to the resort,” he said.
The Obudu Ranch Resort is one of Nigeria’s leading tourist destinations and attracts visitors from across the country and beyond.
The Obudu Resort is a stunning, high-altitude highland retreat in Cross River State, Nigeria. Sitting at over 1,500 meters above sea level on the Sankwala Mountains, it is famous for its crisp, cool climate and sweeping natural scenery.
It offers a thrilling canopy walkway suspended high above the forest floor with serene hiking spot that provides panoramic, cloud-level views of the plateau.
It is also a great spot for cooling off and exploring nature with a 4-kilometer cable car system that transports guests from the tropical base to the cool mountain summit.
To access the resort requires about a 5–7 hour drive from Calabar, followed by a winding 25-minute ascent up the mountain’s steep, 11-kilometer, twisting road.
It boasts of accommodations range from standard rooms to mountain villas. The resort also features a gym, a 9-hole golf course, and a restaurant.
Former Governor Donald Duke spent approximately $100 million upgrading the Obudu Mountain Resort during his tenure in Cross River State from 1999 to 2007.
The funds were used to transform the ranch into a world-class tourist destination by adding mountain villas, a water park, and the famous cable car system.
Historically, the Obudu Mountain Resort was discovered in 1949 by a Scottish rancher and veterinary surgeon, Dr. M. McCaughley.
He first sighted the plateau from a helicopter while working for the Eastern Region government.
Development of the site started in January 1951, spearheaded by Dr. McCaughley alongside Scottish rancher Hugh Jones. The government of the Eastern Region formally signed an agreement with local landlords in September 1950 to establish the animal husbandry project.
However, during the administration of Dr. Michael Okpara, then Premier of the Eastern Region in the early 60s, he expanded the ranch by building access roads, chalets, and a golf course, officially opening it to tourists.
Donald Duke’d administration completely revitalized and upgraded the ranch, turning it into an international luxury resort.
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