The popular Nike Lake & resort is an excellent destination for savouring Igbo culture and nature’s beauties Tucked away in the heart of the coal city, Enugu State.
By Ruth Echewe
Have you ever wondered about so many hidden wonders that the world is yet to bask in? Have you tried coming to the realisation that nature, itself, inspires the design and, in fact, is a designer of note?
These were thought-provoking questions sparked by my short but long-lasting touring experience at the Nike Lake and Resort. It is one of Nigeria’s beautiful tourist destinations tucked away in the heart of the coal city, Enugu in Enugu State, South East of Nigeria. Little wonder, it is said that the depth holds a lot when you give it a try. That is exactly what I did when I took the decision to visit the Nike Lake Resort.
A two-hour drive from the suburb of the city to the busiest part of Abakpa, heading towards the Nike Lake Resort would give you an unsolicited invite to enjoy the famed view. Without traffic jams, the journey to the resort is about an hour as you drive through the city. The city boasts exciting tourist attractions, such as lakes, caves, hills, falls, and springs, including man-made edifices, such as hotels, transport facilities, galleries, and archaeological sites.
With this at the back of your mind, you may easily forget the drifting traffic. Being able to beat the traffic on my way to the resort was a wonder as the vehicle got to the destination in record time. Without wasting time, I quickly settled down to savour one of those treats that nature offers.
At the entrance to the resort, the tight security measures within the resort area will not go unnoticed. As I made my way towards the reception, I passed through a beautiful driveway that evoked a feeling of déjà vu. I felt like I had seen this scene in a movie or two.
It is typical of those royal castles that take you down a path surrounded by what is popularly referred to as “Masquerade Trees” with sitting areas for one to relax and savour the moment as you bask in the euphoria of nature’s peerless ambiance and creativity. I remember saying to myself that I could finish scripting a movie here in a day if I had such peace and tranquillity.
I guess you never know the essence of nature till you witness it yourself. It is amazing how the combination of water and land can package so much beauty. Not only was there a lake but the resort had so many wonders to behold. It appears to be wonderful within wonder as nature unfolds its beauty non-stop at the resort.
Culture in a modern setting
Before arrival at the lakeside, which is a distance away from the resort but still within the same environment, there are mini makeshift huts creatively built to shelter about three to four people. From its setting, it could also serve as a pub or relaxation centre. A walk away from that spot leads you to the bush bar spot, which has an Igbo inscription at the entrance, ‘Ebea bu omenala,’ which literally means, ‘Here is our tradition.’
This unarguably depicts how particular the resort is about promoting the Igbo culture of togetherness and specialty, especially in food as one could see the apt display of freshly tapped palm wine at the bar and the local meal of African salad, popularly known as abacha. It was mouth-watering. At that point, a feeling of hunger hit my stomach. I wasted no time in order for a plate of abacha, although there were other tempting local dishes such as point-and-kill grilled fish, bushmeat, and meaty pepper soup with drinks being served.
Satiated, I stepped out to continue my exploration when the sight of a striking edifice hit me. I later learnt it is the Enugu State Community Music Carnival (CMC), a place where music festivals are held with indigenous artistes showcasing their creativity as they thrill the guests on a touring experience.
There are also garden tree areas with red leaves falling from the trees. This creates what looks like a flower bed that added aesthetics to the serenity and ambiance of the resort. There were so many tourists around and the idea died on arrival. A two-minute walk from the garden area leads to the sports centre that has a volleyball and lawn tennis courts with guests already playing and having a good time.
Close to the volleyball court is another relaxation spot and, this time, it is a swimming pool which has a rare sort of calmness to it probably because nobody was swimming at that point, but you could see people having drinks at the poolside, immersed in quiet conversations.
With the resort’s massive space, one could see different structures geared at providing comfort. The intentionality behind making sure that one’s accommodation needs are nothing to worry about. While checking out its rooms, I kept wondering how the scenery would make one feel at home. This is because the room set up had such a home-feel, to it and the resort also has suites fit to accommodate guests with more than two persons or better still, family needs.
The resort has more than a hundred rooms with the best services available. With the number of rooms in the resort, taking the stairs does not even become an option even though they are available but only if your room number is on the first or second floor. Thankfully, there is a working elevator to conquer your fears of ‘stairs flight’ if you have one as I do.
It may come as a shock that the Nike Lake and Resort is several decades old. Built in late 1988, it is amazing how there is still a blend of the old and new. You wouldn’t even know it is as old as that till you are told about it. This could be due to the fact that the resort has a functioning maintenance team that keeps it running.
But it is also important for any organisation to keep up with trends, which necessitates the construction sites springing up around the resort. According to some of the workers on-site, Nike Lake has plans to become a five-star resort, a move that has prompted the decision to erect hotel accommodations that suit the social, physical, environmental, and even technological needs of guests.
And there is the lake
Of course, you know this piece will not be complete if we do not mention the amazing Nike Lake, itself, which is the resort’s unique selling point. The lake has a flower bed covering one side. It almost seemed like the lake had been waiting for me because I could hear nature singing at her peak as the wind blew at the lake to create a sound that resonated with the waterfalls but at a lower level.
The quietness at the lake couldn’t be compared to that of the swimming pool. This time, people were around the lake queuing to have a ferry boat ride, which costs about ₦2,500 as a group, family, or couple. That means you definitely have to go with someone or you would have to pay the entire sum. You could see people tagging with each other to share a boat ride, total strangers becoming tag team partners, a great way to make new friends.
And you definitely know I had to look for a tag team partner, but I was looking out for someone who looked like Randy Orton and had the muscle structure of John Cena, just for bodyguard reasons, if you know what I mean. Well, you obviously know I couldn’t find such a combination; so, I chose to watch from the relaxation spot provided close to the lake and it was a view.
I had a great time at the Nike Lake and Resort but it is noteworthy that the resort, if well promoted, will trigger significant footfalls of fun-seeking tourists from across the world who crave hard-to-find serenity, aesthetics, rich Nigerian dishes, and effective security after battling it out with the hustles that life throws at us.
Ruth Echewe, a blogger and creative writer, lives in Enugu, Southeast Nigeria.
Ayodelé is a Lagos-based journalist and the Content and Editorial Coordinator at Meiza. All around the megacity, I am steering diverse lifestyle magazine audiences with ingenious hacks and insights that spur fast, informed decisions in their busy lives.
