Last week, on assignment in Delta State. Gamera in hand, curiosity in tow, and a quiet dream I had carried for years whispering in my ear. I have always wanted to see the majestic Ethiope River at one of its most iconic points. A natural wonder born from the earth in Umuaja and flowing with a clarity and depth that feels almost unreal. This trip, I made it a mission.
From Asaba to Abraka is roughly 120 kilometres, about two hours on the road. But my Lagos brain, conditioned by the chaos of distance mixed with traffic, had already mapped it as Ojota-to-Ibadan levels of commitment. Chuks, my companion for the day, didn’t help matters. He kept insisting, “Ah, Abraka is far o… another side of town entirely,” complete with enough “blah blah blah” to make it sound like a cross-country expedition. The night before, I was honestly close to giving up. I would have been restricted to the environs of Asaba only.
By the morning, resolve kicked in. It must be Abraka or nowhere else, I told myself.
The drive from Asaba revealed Delta State in its lush, cinematic glory. Beautifully aligned palm trees stretched endlessly; rubber plantations rolled across the land like patterned carpets; lakes glimmered in the soft sun; and farmlands, uplands, and lowlands merged into sweeping tropical vistas.
We wound through Igbuzor, down to Aboh-Ogwashi and onward to Nsukwa, then westward through Owa-Alidima, passing Obi-Arukwu before finally making our way into Abraka. Everything along the way whispered: slow down, breathe, observe.
The roads were smooth and freshly tarred, a reminder that this is one of Nigeria’s wealthiest states. Oil money runs deep here, and sometimes, it shows.
Then came the moment: arriving at McCarthy Beach, where the Ethiope River reveals one of its most dramatic expressions. The waters here are astonishingly pure, so clear you can see deep into the riverbed, so clean that the colors themselves seem untouched by time. Deep blue melts into emerald green in a breathtaking natural confluence, forming estuaries bursting with life. It is a place that feels almost sacred, as though nature sculpted a masterpiece and left it shimmering in Delta State.
And for once, I wasn’t limited to viewing it from the ground. With my aerial gear, I was able to capture sweeping overhead shots—revealing patterns, colors, and waterways that the naked eye can’t fully grasp from below. The river from above is a different story entirely, one of geometry, poetry, and wild perfection.
Standing there, switching between lenses and drone, I felt proud. Proud to witness it. Proud to document it. Proud that this gem, this world-class natural wonder is right here in Nigeria.
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