Hi,

Badagry is under-utilised for tourism and it's a shame really. I implore the Lagos State Government to do more to make Badagry more attractive.

Unlike Lekki beaches, you find normal every day people in Badagry beaches. Hard to distinguish between the rich and the poor. I like the originality.

If you have a car, you can still follow this thread as a guideline. However, I went by public transport.

I will try to be detailed as much as possible.
..........

Easter Saturday, 31st March, 2018.

Following

The total cost of transport to Suntan Beach in Badagry, aka as Coconut Beach, was N800 from my house (only ladies should pm me for address )

I will start my story from Iyana Iba. The time was around 12noon.
At IyanaIba, i walked a little bit down pass LASU to Alaba Rago to buy dates. I love dates and I get it cheaper there. I bought N200 worth there.
(Alaba Rago is another "state" on its own. A story for another day.

Then, i crossed to the other side to enter a Badagry bus. I didn't know the Roundabout the conductors were shouting was Badagry until I'd missed a few buses. Not until I told a conductor I was going to Badagry, that i was told Roundabout means Badagry Roundabout. I paid N200 for the fare. It was a J5 danfo.

We got to Okokomaiko, then Ijanikin, Otto-Awori, Agbara then on an endless journey to Badagry. Mheeen, Badagry far dieee.

The bus had about 4 people left at a point and the driver and the conductor decided to put us in another bus.

We eventually got to Badagry roundabout.

At Badagry roundabout, i crossed to the other side and took an okada to Badagry main market, aka Agbalata market. (you can google it). The okada man, an aboki took N100.

I walked round the market and really enjoyed window-shopping. I was looking for where snakes were sold as I heard about that, but didn't find. I found many things fascinating. I bought a litre of coconut oil. It was way cheaper than all the ones I'd been buying in supermarkets in Lagos. They are fresh and original too, no chemicals, not diluted, although oil-milled. Some claimed theirs were cold-pressed. But they were quality products.

The market ends at Marina Road. I was able to see the Owode bridge from the Marina end of the market.

The Owode Apa bridge is where the custom, the police, the immigration and NDLEA stop vehicles coming from Seme to check them.

Seme is the border town shared by Nigeria and Benin Republic.

Nice and interesting.. Pls try and add pix

From the market, i took a bike to the other end of Marina Road. The okada had to pass another route instead of going directly through the Marina Road as there was a Prison there and a Nigerian Navy blockade.

I dropped at the Seriki Abbass Slave Museum. I paid N200 only. The price gave me access to a tour guide who narrated the history of slave trade in Badagry and then showed me the relics in the museum. It was heart-breaking hearing all those gory tales.

I then went to the nearby museum, the Chief Mobee Slave museum. There, i paid N200 too and like the Abass Museum, there was a guide to explain stuff.

I then strolled to the first storey building in Nigeria. I didnt enter as I had been there before some many years ago. I took some pictures anyways.

I then walked to the point where you take a ferry to Gberefu Island, where the point of no return is situated. I bargained up to N2000 for the ferry fare. They accepted but later I later declined so as to stay on budget. Next time I go to Badagry, that's where I'll go.

I then took a N100 bike back to Roundabout. Do you still remember Roundabout?
That's the last bus-stop (on the expressway) when coming from Lagos.

I crossed to the other side and took a bike to Ajisi Hotel where I paid N4000 for the night. I had earlier googled the hotels around there.

At the hotel, i freshened up and changed to a more beach-friendlier cloth. I still hadnt eaten. The food there was N1,100. So, I decided to eat at the beach.

I took a bike back to the expressway and took a cab to Suntan Beach. The cab was heading to Seme, but Suntan beach is on the way. I had to reiterate to the driver that i was to alight at Suntan as he was at the highest speed.

I dropped and crosses to the other side and paid N500 as entrance fee to the beach.

At the beach, my first mission was to eat. There were too many things I saw that were edible. But i wasn't too confused. I headed to a built-up restaurant/bar and had rice and turkey with water. They told me it was N600 but I negotiated N300 which had only 1 turkey piece and reduced portion. I also ordered water N100.

There were many things to do at the beach. I easily flowed with the guys playing ball.

There are many things you can do at the beach. But before i list them, i will tell you what i did.

After eating, i headed to the water waves. I sighted people playing football and i joined in. It was fun considering the difficulty the beach sand posed. I now appreciate more the beach soccer tournament. It wasn't easy.

I then proceeded to swim and play in the water with many other people there. People there were chicks, guys, married folks, children and foreigners especially Asians. I took some pictures and then proceeded to sit on the sand watching the ocean waves. Then a coconut hawker passed. I bought a coconut with straw and drank the water. Afterwards, the little boy split the coconut to two and i ate the coconut. It was a baby coconut. That's why the water in it was plenty. The coconut flesh was soft and gel-like yet solidified. The coconut was N200, but trust nah, i bargaines to N100.

Then I joined some guys dancing as if there was no tomorrow. I had fun here. They didn't screen anybody, people just joined in and danced. Chicks were liberal too. It was crazy yet decent.

Then a teenage girl passed by hawking palm wine. I bought N100 which was in a 75cl soft drink bottles. I quickly headed to buy N300 suya. I had to share the suya with the bae i was dancing with. I bought another of palm wine for her too.

Before I left there, i drank 4 bottles of palm wine and bought a bottle to take along.

The palm wine was fresh and not intoxicating. It's old palm wine that intoxicate as they get fermented.

I left the beach 6:45pm. At that time many people were leaving. Some were leaving for Lagos either in their cars or by PT. Don't forget to leave earlier if you are going back that night. If you are going by PT, first you would need to take a cab to drop at Badagry Roundabout and from there take Agbara/okokomaiko or Iyana Iba or Mile 2.Or if you are lucky, the cab, if private, might take you beyond Badagry further into Lagos.

Things you can do at the beach:

Buy Hausa beads, baskets, hats, and other hand-woven crafts.

Buy food and drinks, include beer and other liquors.

Buy suya meat or suya chicken.

Rent a hut. The hut are semi-private.

Ride a horse.

Take a professional photograph and pay for the printed copies.

Buy palm wine.

Buy coconut, drink the water and if you choose, eat the meaty flesh.

Join a party. Well, gate-crash a dancing party

Bring your mat, or buy one there.

Bring your stereo and start a party.

There are professional musicians going about to dumbfound with exotic music, either with talking drum or hausa gote (like guitar).

There are professional beggars too. Beware some get drunk and could insult if you give too little. I witnessed one. The guy was a crippled guy and the benevolent guy wanted his money back

Bring your ball and enjoy beach soccer. If you are a guy, you would make friends faster.

Okay, let me continue my story

When I left the beach, i got to Roundabout by the expressway and branched by a bar beside the filling station. You cant miss it. It's open-aired bar with car wash and many large TV screens.

I watched Everton vs Manchester City 2nd half which ended 1-1. Had a few drinks. I held my palm wine bottle tightly. That's meant for tomorrow.

I bought a N300 indomie and eggs in takeaway pack with water and headed to my hotel. Bike man took N50.

I ate and then freshen up.

I started writing this as I watched Big Brother Naija at the hotel restaurant with the hotel staff. As I round off now, BamBam was evicted.

Now, i plan to play football a bit on my tab and then sleep late. I plan to wake up late too, maybe around 10am. I will then check out from the hotel and head back to Lagos. Check out at most hotels is usually 11am or 12noon.

I plan to drop by at Alaba Rago to buy N500 dates.

Visit the beach tomorrow Easter Sunday and Easter Monday. It would be more fun.

More people will be there. Especially Easter Monday.

Badagry is intriguing too. Serene and fascinating.

Enjou your Easter holiday.

Izuogu1:
Nice and interesting.. Pls try and add pix

I will, before I sleep

And the whispering palms?

chukslawrence:
And the whispering palms?

Whispering palms is not a beach and has no beach, just embarkment. It is rather a resort. It is also not exactly in Badagry but somewhere after Agbara (before Badagry). I'm not sure if you can enjoy and mix freely with strangers on a low budget there unless you go in a group.

Very educative... I can see u really enjoyed your stay there

Thanks Op. I like your explanation but the place is not as beautiful as I thought... Maybe it's your camera.

Cc

spiralwedge

Sirmuel1:
Thanks Op. I like your explanation but the place is not as beautiful as I thought... Maybe it's your camera.

Cc

spiralwedge

Maybe. Was using one Tecno W3 as at that time.
Historical places don't have to be beautiful, it's the interest that matters. Fun doesn't have to happen in beautiful places alone. You need to first sightsee and then make up your opinion. Good luck, enjoy.

spiralwedge:


Maybe. Was using one Tecno W3 as at that time.
Historical places don't have to be beautiful, it's the interest that matters. Fun doesn't have to happen in beautiful places alone. You need to first sightsee and then make up your opinion. Good luck, enjoy.

You're right anyway.
I would love to visit by month end or first week of October.

Do you know anything about La Campagne Tropicana Beach Resort?

Sirmuel1:




You're right anyway.
I would love to visit by month end or first week of October.

Do you know anything about La Campagne Tropicana Beach Resort?

No

spiralwedge:


No

Alright, thanks.

Please are there good, cheap and comfortable hotels in badagry you can suggest? Going on a five day trip.

marcnelly:
Please are there good, cheap and comfortable hotels in badagry you can suggest? Going on a five day trip.

me too... I need to sort it out

spiralwedge:
Hi,

Badagry is under-utilised for tourism and it's a shame really. I implore the Lagos State Government to do more to make Badagry more attractive.

Unlike Lekki beaches, you find normal every day people in Badagry beaches. Hard to distinguish between the rich and the poor. I like the originality.

If you have a car, you can still follow this thread as a guideline. However, I went by public transport.

I will try to be detailed as much as possible.
..........

Easter Saturday, 31st March, 2018.

I sent you a pm bro

bbstarr:


I sent you a pm bro

I replied. Go ahead, write me.