I am always looking for new and unique places to visit closer to home in Port Harcourt. The Ethiope River passes through Abraka and in Abraka it is about 30 minutes (by road) from its source in Umuaja. This also means that the river at this point is fairly free from pollution and the water is so clear that you can see the riverbed. This has been blamed for people drowning in the river as they have misjudged the depth before jumping in.
So of course, having seen photos of the river in Abraka, I decided to pay the university town a visit. First things first, the big elephant in the room (yea I know that’s not one but two cliché’s back to back) security. I haven’t spent a night anywhere in Delta state in more than a decade. Family members who stay and have stayed in Delta state sounded a bit concerned when they heard I was visiting Abraka. So maybe they think it is not really safe or that I’m just too soft. Make your pick. While being concerned about security is important, I think it will be hard to visit anywhere in this country if we decide to visit only really safe places. That being said, I’ll stick to areas I’m familiar with for now. Life no get duplicate.
I visited the Abraka Turf and Country Club Resort and also the Umuaja Grove/Shrine that is the source of the River Ethiope. I saw some worshipers at the shrine who came to offer sacrifices to their deity. The Gordon’s Resort Hotel is also another spot to visit as the river runs through it. The trip was fun and short. I’ll probably be making the trip again.
This destination has gives a combined vibe of Obudu cattle ranch and Yankari game reserve! I love it!