卡杜纳市中心的 Kofar Gamji 嬉水公园紧邻卡杜纳河(Kaduna River),当地人也习惯叫它哈桑卡齐纳公园(Hassan Katsina Park)。这座公园的历史地标意义远大于普通的游乐场,它的根基能追溯到1914年,那是卢加德勋爵(Lord Lugard)在尼日利亚北部站稳脚跟的年代。现在这里已经演变成了一个集历史古迹、微型动物园与现代化水上游乐设施于一体的综合场所。在尼日利亚北部干热的气候下,这片临河而建的绿地是当地人躲避酷暑的首选地。
很多人来这里并不是为了游泳,而是为了看一眼卢加德桥(Lugard Bridge)。这座全钢结构的悬索桥始建于1914年,最初位于宗盖鲁(Zungeru),后来在1920年被拆解并运往卡杜纳,在公园现址重新组装。桥身至今保留着当年的工业质感,虽然漆面有些剥落,但走在上面的吱呀声总能让人瞬间回到那个作为北尼日利亚行政中心的年代。站在桥中心可以俯瞰浑浊但宽广的卡杜纳河,这可是卡杜纳市的生命线。
公园最初的职能其实是殖民政府的后花园。经过一个世纪的变迁,原本私密的官邸林地变成了现在的公共空间。公园内的树木树龄大多超过五十年,巨大的树冠提供了天然的遮蔽。现在的管理方在古老的林木间开辟了成片的草坪,每到周末,就能看到不少当地家庭席地而坐。这种历史厚重感与现代休闲生活的碰撞,在尼日利亚其他的现代化公园里很难见到。
水上乐园部分是近些年新建的,也是 Kofar Gamji 保持人气的原因。虽然滑梯和水池的规模没法和国际顶级乐园相比,但在当地绝对算得上是豪华配置。园内设有专门的儿童戏水区和成人深水池,配套了典型的螺旋滑道。每逢宰牲节或圣诞节,水池里几乎挤满了人。如果你想避开人潮,建议选在周二到周四的上午前往,那时候水质相对清亮,滑梯也不用排长队。
穿过游乐区往深处走,会发现一个小型的动物展区。这里最出名的是鳄鱼池,几条体型巨大的尼罗鳄常年趴在石头上晒太阳。除了鳄鱼,你还能看到鸵鸟、狮子以及几种北非特有的灵长类动物。虽然展馆的设施看起来有些陈旧,但这对于带孩子的游客来说依然是个很有吸引力的环节。多说一句,喂食动物是被严厉禁止的,虽然偶尔有工作人员推销食饵,但为了安全最好直接拒绝。
公园位于卡杜纳市中心的哈桑卡齐纳路(Hassan Katsina Road)。如果你住在市区的酒店,打一辆三轮摩托(当地叫 Keke Napep)过去非常方便。如果你从阿布贾驱车过来,下了高速进入市区后大约二十分钟车程就能看到公园那座标志性的红砖大门。这片区域的交通在傍晚时分非常拥堵,建议把返程时间提前到下午四点半之前。
门票价格分为两档。单纯进入公园和参观卢加德桥通常只需要支付大约 500 奈拉的入场费。如果你计划进入水上乐园区域,则需要购买包含游乐项目的套票,总花费通常在 1500 到 2000 奈拉左右。园内的饮料和零食比外面稍贵,一瓶普通的矿泉水大约卖 200 奈拉。里面的餐厅售卖典型的尼日利亚美食,比如烤肉(Suya)和传统的主食,味道还算正宗,但卫生环境就不要抱太高期望了。
进入公园大门是需要门票的,目前的成人基础票价大约在 500 奈拉左右。如果想去水上乐园游泳或者玩滑梯,通常需要额外付费或购买约 1500 奈拉的通票。建议随身携带少量现金,因为售票处的刷卡机经常信号不好。
最核心的看点是卢加德桥(Lugard Bridge),它是尼日利亚的国家级历史纪念碑。除了这座桥,卡杜纳河边散步和看鳄鱼也是这里的传统项目。这里的动物园虽然规模不大,但对于了解西非本土物种很有帮助。
每年的 11 月到次年 3 月的旱季是最佳时间。这时候卡杜纳几乎不下雨,虽然阳光强烈,但公园里茂密的植被能降温不少。避开节假日和周末,周中的上午 10 点到下午 2 点是游客最少的时候。
在草坪、水上乐园和卢加德桥拍照通常是允许的,但严禁拍摄公园附近的政府设施或军事区域。如果你拿着专业单反相机,有时可能会被保安拦下索要额外的摄影费,遇到这种情况保持礼貌沟通,通常 1000 奈拉以内的小费就能解决。
Fishon Amos The park has great potentials but they need to renovate and upgrade the facilities available. Although, recreation is not a culture that is popular here in Kaduna, if this park can be made more attractive, it will attract more people. I love the game shop and the free work space. I had fun though.
Halima Omolara Adegboye Still under renovation but with time it should look more appealing. There are games for kids such as splash water and 3D virtual reality game as well
Yusra Badamosi His place has potential but seems the owners don't care much about it. I like the view, it very cool. Went there this week to do my first vlog and I got really cool shots. The shawarma shop didn't have anything I could eat and nowhere else inside the park to get food as the barbeque spot is always not open when I go. He bar was locked as well. The only cool stuff was the game shop, the view, and the horse riding. If you're going, take your food along. There's a vlog about everything on. My youtube: Badamosi Yusra
SAMANA SUTU The kofa gamji splash park is not the way it use to be like anymore...its scanty and no longer crowded like before...it use to be crowded every weakend and most times during festive period..but am surprised that as off yesterday it was really scanty!
James Hope The park was formally abandoned and unused despite the fact that the place is really good and a very good source of revenue generation if well managed. However, some improvement was made when it was handed over to Splash. Although is still going through the process of rehabilitation, Maire resources needs to be put to ensure it compete with other places. The water side if managed, can become a world class fun side. The place still looks good and ok with alot of fun facilities.