Located on the bank of the Cross River near central Calabar, the Marina district is a green leafy spot to spend an afternoon or evening. There is the Slavery Museum, a couple of very sparse cafes, a cinema and a nightclub on the main section. Towards the rear is Tortuga Island, by far the best of the nightlife options.
It is effectively three ornate wooden shacks set on a green lawn with several thatched cabanas along the riverside. It’s amongst the most picturesque points in Calabar. A perfect spot for a sundowner, you can pull up a chair, order a cool beer, and watch the succession of dugout canoes and patchwork sail boats as they traverse the palm-fringed banks whilst the sun casts a golden glow over the water. The first shack serves beers and spirits; the second is an African kitchen serving chicken, beef and goat with yam or rice accompaniments (N1000); and the last is a juice bar serving up freshly pressed cool drinks.
Incidentally, the two large scuppered hulls that lie immediately to the left as you look towards the river were confiscated from pirates raiding the interior to transport wood from illegal logging camps, a very public display of some of the issues that face this beautiful and resource rich part of the country.
Expert Review
Located on the bank of the Cross River near central Calabar, the Marina district is a green leafy spot to...
Located on the bank of the Cross River near central Calabar, the Marina district is a green leafy spot to spend an afternoon or evening. There is the Slavery Museum, a couple of very sparse cafes, a cinema and a nightclub on the main section. Towards the rear is Tortuga Island, by far the best of the nightlife options.
It is effectively three ornate wooden shacks set on a green lawn with several thatched cabanas along the riverside. It’s amongst the most picturesque points in Calabar. A perfect spot for a sundowner, you can pull up a chair, order a cool beer, and watch the succession of dugout canoes and patchwork sail boats as they traverse the palm-fringed banks whilst the sun casts a golden glow over the water. The first shack serves beers and spirits; the second is an African kitchen serving chicken, beef and goat with yam or rice accompaniments (N1000); and the last is a juice bar serving up freshly pressed cool drinks.
Incidentally, the two large scuppered hulls that lie immediately to the left as you look towards the river were confiscated from pirates raiding the interior to transport wood from illegal logging camps, a very public display of some of the issues that face this beautiful and resource rich part of the country.