Travelling the Devil’s Elbows of Obudu Mountain

  

Like the big rope belt on Bàbásàlá’s waist, a ‘silver-plated’ road winds up the slopes of a gigantic ridge on Obudu mountain, Cross-River State, Nigeria; along which a blue coaster bus slowly sails, appearing tinier than its enclosing shrubs.

The rains have just subsided for a few months and the vegetation had been mending its verdant clothes with brown patches. From on high, the firmament looks upon the lush slopes and has sprayed its magical spell of awe-inspiring contrast between the distant mountain ridges in the background and the enormous ridge from which three intimidating devil’s elbows point at you.

Across the "glass of sharp distinction", a picturesque cascade of raging waters smile at you, plunging down narrow clefts on the rise of the hills. As your bus climbs up the dizzying and daunting heights, you rush at your camera and try to grab each and every atom of perplexing beauty surrounding you; only to continually discover snippets of these sneaking through your fingers, just between the clicks of your shutter button.

 
“ This is Obudu mountain, and the set of dangerous bends dotting its road, called ‘Devil’s Elbows’ are among the mystifying attractions the plateau resort has got to offer.

 

* Thanks to Ayodeji Adesuyi and Opeyemi Shadare for contributing the photos above to the archive of Naijatreks.

Devil's Elbow, Obudu Ranch Resort