Recently on social media, we had been seeing images of a beautiful body of water surrounded by rocks in Abuja. It seemed to have just appeared out of nowhere as we had never seen it or heard about it before.
So imagine our excitement when Wura sent us a picture of herself visiting and said she would talk about it with us.
Read all about the Mpape crushed rocks below and hopefully it helps you plan your visit.
First of all, what gingered you to leave your house in the middle of corona for this trip
HAHA! So I’ve basically been indoors since March, and 95% of my friends live in Lagos. I was starting to go a bit crazy so I just needed a change of scene really. I still had my mask and sanitizer with me on this trip though! #CoronaIsStillOutside
When and how did you hear about the crushed rocks
So I saw the pictures floating around on twitter a few weeks ago. Then two weeks ago, a friend of mine posted about it on his Instagram so I hit him up for details on how to get there.
Tell us about the crushed rocks.
So I heard that it used to be a quarry. It’s man made “tourist attraction” but beautiful nonetheless!
Did you go solo or as a group?
I went with my friend, but I think it would be fun to go as a group as well. There’s safety in numbers
Was it difficult to find?
LOL so my friend and I drove around in circles for about an hour only to find out we were in the wrong part of town completely. Had to call my friend for detailed instructions on how to get there. Getting to Mpape (where its located) is not that difficult. But getting to the exact location the rocks are? An okada rider had to come to our rescue (so cash is handy to tip them, we had to stop by an ATM to get some)
How did you get there and how long did it take?
Once we figured out where we were actually heading to, it took us about 30- 35 mins to get there (might vary depending on what part of Abuja you’re heading from).
Basically just put Mpape Police Station on Google Maps and hire an Okada Rider to take you to “crushed rocks” once you get there and you’re good to go!
Is there an entry fee and if yes, how much is it?
Free (for now.)
Did you have security concerns?
Definitely. It’s in a somewhat remote area that has no security in terms of police etc. so be very aware of your surroundings. And like I said, strength in numbers. DO NOT GO ALONE.
What’s the security in this area like?
The nearest landmark is actually the Mpape Police Station but that’s about it.
In terms of activities, what’s there to do based on your experience?
There’s not a lot to do, it’s just a great place to take pictures. But if the FCT officials decide to take over and it’s well managed, I can see hiking activities, yoga, and all that outdoorsy stuff happening here.
What was the highlight of your trip?
THE VIEW!! After the stress we went through finding the place, it was definitely worth it!
Favorite & worst thing about this place
Favorite thing: Definitely the view. It also has potential to be a great work out spot.
Worst thing: No parking per say. No security so we were worried about the car. The LITTER!!! People visiting should pick up after themselves. You can’t see it in the pictures but some of the locals empty some of their refuse into the water.
What do you think should be added to create more values for visitors?
I really want this place to be managed by people who have the vision to bring it alive. Picnic tables, DUSTBINS, security, food trucks, paddle boats etc. are just a few of the things I would like to see there when I visit again!
Any last words?
Pick up after yourselves!
So what do you guys think? Will you be visiting soon? And if you've gone, what are your thoughts on this man made attraction.