By Damilola Adeyera
With a thunderous wave whose sound reaches you from afar, the ocean calls forth. Its soothing breeze brings a refreshing calm. The rhythm of your brainwaves is that of excitement, intrigue and curiosity. The waves come thundering again as you prepare to read paragraph two of this unfolding story.
Welcome to paragraph two, wherein the topic sentence is an introduction to the story of Marina Mangul and Kasya Ore, two Ukrainian visitors to La Campagne Tropicana Forest, River & Beach Resort, Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos State. “The Ocean is calling me”, Marina would say to share her enthusiasm to be at the beachfront. So enjoyable was their experience at the resort, the call of the ocean became an invitation to experience something beyond the ordinary.
Marina Mangul and Kasya Ore arrived at the resort under the calm afternoon sun of Tuesday, November 3, 2026. But before they could settle into their accommodation, they were introduced to one of the distinctive cultural traditions of La Campagne Tropicana: the customary Osugba greeting.
The greeting, synonymous with the resort’s hospitality culture, immediately caught their attention. Intrigued by the practice, Marina and Kasya took time to learn and practise the customary greeting. What could have been an ordinary check-in experience consequently became their first introduction to the cultural identity of the resort.
With the necessary check-in procedures completed, Marina and Kasya made their way to their private accommodation, Oba Ile-Rigi.
Oba Ile-Rigi is one of the exclusive hospitality experiences curated by Otunba Olawanle Akinboboye, President of La Campagne Tropicana Group. Designed as a private four-bedroom oasis built around a tree, the concept draws inspiration from African royalty. The name Oba, meaning king, captures the philosophy behind the experience: every guest who checks in is treated like royalty.
The exclusivity extends beyond the accommodation itself. From dedicated culinary services to housekeeping and security arrangements, the experience is designed to give guests privacy, comfort and personalised attention. Even the provision of dedicated chauffeur services adds to the distinctive hospitality package.
For Marina and Kasya, however, the attraction of La Campagne Tropicana extended beyond the comfort of their private chalet. There was an entire African-themed resort waiting to be explored.
And so began their encounter with the ocean. We’ll allow the pictures tell the remaining story. Enjoy
