卡朱鲁城堡(Kajuru Castle)位于尼日利亚北部卡杜纳州(Kaduna),距离卡杜纳市区约45公里。这座在山顶拔地而起的中世纪风格建筑并非历史遗迹,而是由一位在尼日利亚工作的德国侨民在1981年至1989年间亲手打造的私人度假别墅。城堡完全由厚达一米的当地花岗岩砌筑而成,拥有典型的巴伐利亚风格尖顶和防御工事。作为西非极少数能体验欧洲古堡氛围的地方,它至今仍保持着私人经营模式,且只接受整座城堡的预订租用。
这座城堡的诞生源于一种对故土建筑的执念。德国商人格哈德·休伯纳(Gerhard Huebner)在20世纪80年代花费了将近八年时间,将这片荒凉的岩石高地变成了充满浪漫主义色彩的防御堡垒。城堡的设计完全复刻了中世纪欧洲的防御体系,不仅有标志性的圆柱形塔楼,甚至还设计了带有铁栅栏门和鳄鱼池的吊桥入口,虽然这里的鳄鱼更多是作为景观存在,但那种仪式感在非洲内陆腹地显得非常违和且奇妙。
从建筑细节上看,厚重的石墙能有效抵御尼日利亚北部的酷暑。城堡内部分为三层,顶部的露台可以俯瞰周围起伏的荒原和花岗岩残丘。每当旱季夕阳西下,金色的光线打在粗粝的石材上,确实会让人产生一种身处德国南部山区的错觉。
城堡内部的布局完全打破了现代酒店的常规。为了追求真实的中世纪体验,客房被设计成了地牢(Dungeons)风格。整座城堡共有4间这种半地下风格的客房,以及一间位于顶层、视野最好的主卧套房。虽然名字叫地牢,但内部配备了基本的现代化生活设施,包括空调和独立卫浴。在这里过夜,你面对的是原始的石墙和狭窄的采光窗,这种居住体验在整个非洲大陆都难找第二个。
城堡中央的核心区域是骑士大厅(Knights' Hall),墙上挂着盔甲模型,陈设着沉重的木质家具,非常适合举办复古风格的晚宴。而走出大厅,外面的露天庭院则又是另一种景象。这里有一个巨大的不锈钢露天泳池,在常年高温的卡杜纳,跳进冰凉的池水中远眺远处的群山是这里最核心的享受。除此之外,城堡里甚至还藏着一个地道的芬兰桑拿房,这种将北欧式洗浴与西非热带气候结合的配置,足以看出原主人的生活趣味。
需要注意的是,卡朱鲁城堡并不提供标准的餐饮服务。城堡内有一个设备齐全的厨房,包括烤箱、冰箱和燃气灶。通常前往这里的旅行者需要自带所有食材、酒水和木炭。城堡管家会协助你进行简单的烹饪或烧烤,但主要的餐食计划得你自己搞定。这种自助模式非常适合家庭聚会或朋友团建,大家在池畔烧烤架前自己动手,远比在餐厅点餐有意思得多。
虽然城堡本身美轮美奂,但前往卡朱鲁并不是说走就走的轻松旅行。安全和预订流程是每一位旅行者必须跨过的门槛。城堡实行严格的预约制,不接受临时登门访问。由于是私人领地,你必须提前通过邮件或电话与管理方确认档期并支付全款。根据最新的行情,租下整座城堡一晚的价格通常在35万至60万尼日利亚奈拉之间,具体取决于人数和是否为周末。
钱的问题还是其次,安全问题得摆在首位。卡杜纳州近年来受匪徒和治安问题困扰较多,城堡在2019年曾发生过严重的武装袭击事件。虽然目前城堡加强了安保力量,但在计划前往前,务必咨询当地熟悉局势的向导或查阅最新的领事安全提醒。从阿布贾前往卡杜纳,目前最推荐的方式是乘坐阿布贾到卡杜纳的火车,抵达理加萨车站(Rigasa Station)后再转乘安保级别较高的私人车辆前往城堡,尽量避免在夜间通过卡杜纳至阿布贾的高速公路。
从卡杜纳火车站开车到卡朱鲁村大约需要一个小时,沿途路况比较颠簸,灰尘也大。建议选择每年11月到次年2月的凉爽期到访,这时候气候干燥,虽然早晚温差大,但白天在户外活动非常舒服。如果你选择在雨季前往,虽然周围的植被会变得翠绿,但蚊虫问题和可能因暴雨阻断的土路会给行程增添不少麻烦。
城堡通常不接受散客参观,主要采取整栋出租模式。不过偶尔会有当地旅行社组织的日游团,这种情况下可以通过分摊费用获得短时间进入城堡参观和使用泳池的机会,建议提前联系官方或当地旅行社咨询是否有开放的日游名额。
城堡内部基本没有Wi-Fi提供,且由于地处偏远山顶加上厚重的石墙阻挡,移动信号非常不稳定。如果你需要处理紧急工作,建议在二楼露台或泳池边寻找信号。这其实也是一种变相的强制断网度假,让你能彻底沉浸在古堡的氛围中。
为了保证体验和安全,城堡的过夜人数严格限制在12人以内,因为床位和地牢房间的数量有限。如果是举办白天的派对或团建活动,城堡的公共区域最多可以容纳大约150人,但这种大型活动需要支付额外的场地费用并提前报备。
Abiodun Williams It was such a nice place for vacation before bandits take over the area. Go to Kajuru at your own risk. Minimum ransom is #20m apart from the sufferings and trauma.
Rachael Bako The Castle stands atop a community in Kajuru. It's such a beauty, especially looking that it is located in a suburb in Kaduna. Up the hill I went and wide open were the gates to welcome me. Oh my! My heart broke when I realised that this outstanding structure has been deserted due to "insecurity", leaving a lot of things in a wreck. Nonetheless, I absolutely love the place. George, the crocodile and the peacocks were in good shape. I saw lots of monkeys from afar the mountain top. I'd love to visit again when situation of things normalises there. PS- It was a rainy day.
Sharon Demige Istifanus Kajuru castle is a nice place to be, At the Castle, there is plenty of leisure. If you desire, you can head out on a short hike to get a mountain view of the magnificent castle where you can take beautiful photographs to capture the moment its has Stainless steel plated swimming pool, accommodation, kitchen, Open air ground etc. Kajuru Castle is a great place to reset your luxury desires and live like royalty.
OKEAGU IKECHUKWU Beautiful castle located up rock in kajuru local government of kaduna state. Location can be used for parties, receptions, events and lots more. Can accommodate but a few for sleep overs. They offer tour services within the castle. And is best advised to come with your food and drink supplies. I have not been here in a while as serveral reports of unrest were recorded. Its advised that one makes proper findings before embarking on the trip to this beauty.
Abdullahi Yaro It's beautiful, wonderful and it's fun been there, it's a place you don't want to be told about, it's something we only see in films so it's exciting to find yourself here, it has a swimming pool, relaxing chairs to enjoy the sunshine it's built on the mountains which gives it a nice view from the top, the design and structure is amazing it's a perfect place for tourism.