Road Trip – South West

The one thing we can appreciate from our present economy is Local Tourism. If you don’t have anything planned for this public holiday or you can’t deal with the exchange rate and you want to make the most of your time, money and resources. This post is for YOU!

Starting Point: Lagos

 

I would recommend starting from Lagos because it connects to virtually everywhere in the South.

Olumo Rock | Ogun State

Ogun State is known as the “Gateway State” because of its strategic location as they link by road, rail and sea to the rest of the country. Abeokuta is the capital and the largest city of Ogun State.

Abeokuta (Abẹ okuta) which means “Under the rock” is also known as the Egbaland and is the capital of Ogun State. Olumo means “God molded it” and “God has put an end to our travail and unrest”.

Read my experience at Olumo Rock – Olumo Rock | Adventure Travels

Hotel Suggestions: Green Legacy Resort

Erin Ijesha (Olumirin) | Osun State

Erin Ijesha is one of the most visited tourist site in Nigeria grossing over 50,000 visitors yearly. It is said that Olumirin waterfalls was discovered by a hunter in the year 1140 A.D. The people of Erin Ijesha are said to be immigrants from Ile Ife led by Akinla Aye, a granddaughter of Oduduwa (Father of all Yoruba tribe).

She consulted an Ifa Oracle and was told that she and her family (husband, children, siblings, and hunters) would trek for seventeen days and anywhere she gets to, that is where she should settle down. They got to Erin Itadogun, now called Erin Ijesha after seventeen days and that’s where they settled down.

The Erin Ijesha waterfall has seven layers with 3 major waterfalls (the second being the highest), beautifully positioned above one another with water flowing among the rocks which then plummet down to the base with a great force.

Read Anu’s experience here – Osun – Erin Ijesha and Osun Osogbo Groove

Hotel Suggestions: Star Rock View Hotel, Erio-Ekiti

Ikogosi Warm Springs & Arinta Waterfalls | Ekiti State

I believe there is nowhere in the world where cold and warm water meets, except at the Ikogosi spring. Any other one would be man-made, which is artificial. Ikogosi is a miracle of nature and a sacred place where God exhibited his power of creativity – An account from an Irish Catholic Bishop (Rev. Richard Burke) who has lived in Nigeria for about 30 years.

A myth says that the warm and cold springs were the two wives of a great hunter. One of his wives was said to be temperamental while the other was a quiet woman. One day, the two wives had a fight and after being rebuked by their husband, the temperamental wife changed to the warm spring while the quiet one turned to the cold spring. – Vanguard

According to a tour guide, in previous times if you boil the Cold water from Morning till Evening it will not boil but nowadays due to the continuous boiling of the water the coldness of the spring has been affected. He also explained that during the raining season, the spring does not get over flown like any other streams and it does not also dry up during the dry season. The conference of both springs (Warm and Cold Spring) form a slightly warm water. – Afolakorede

Read Socialprefect’s experience here – The Wonders of Ikogosi Warm Springs

Hotel Suggestions: Ikogosi Warm Springs Resort

Arinta Waterfalls

“Arinta… ever wet ever flowing, the obsession of Ipole people, ever plunging ever splashing”.

Located in Ipole-Iloro, in the same Ekiti Tourism Corridor/Belt/Axis as the Ikogosi Warm Spring (10 minutes’ drive from each other), Arinta Waterfalls is a spectacle to behold, watch and marvel at.  The falls cascade down the rocky hills from a great height, amidst natural forest vegetation to form a flowing pool of spring water.

Read Unravelling Nigeria’s experience here – We went, saw & conquered!

Hotel Suggestions: Ikogosi Warm Springs Resort

Idanre Hills | Ondo State

Idanre Hills or Oke Idanre which means “On top of Idanre” is located in Idanre town, Ondo State. Idanre Hills was submitted to the UNESCO World Heritage Sites tentative list in October 2007 by National Commission for Museums and Monuments.

There are several legends surrounding the discovery of the town. One version tells the tale of a fleeing son of Ife who was left amazed by the sight of the hills once he arrived in the town. The name ‘Idanre’ was then coined from his words ‘idan ree’ which translates to ‘Amazing wonders’.

Hiking the steep steps of the hills to get to the ancient city is no child’s play, it takes about 660 steps with 5 resting points to get to the top of the hill.

Read Amarachi’s experience – All Hail Idanre Hills

Hotel Suggestions: Idanre Hills Resort

UI Zoological Garden | Oyo State

The University of Ibadan Zoological Garden was established in 1948 primarily as Menagerie to support teaching and research in the Department of Zoology. With time the animal collection grew in number and diversity and the Menagerie gradually became a full fledged Zoo in 1974. It is home to various wild animals primarily for the conservation of endangered species, as well as for research purposes and education, and so also for the entertainment of visitors.

Read SocialPrefect’s experience – Exploring U.I. Zoological Garden

Oke-Ado Mountains

Also located in Oyo State is the one of the suspended lakes in the World – Ado-Awaye Lake on Oke-Ado Mountains. It is also said that there are sixteen (16) gods on the Oke-Ado Mountain. These gods are embodied in specific natural landmarks on the mountain. Each of these landmarks constitute tourist attractions on the mountain, lined up along the path which leads up the mountain.

Ado-Awaye town itself is a small enclave with its own unique but interesting history. In ancient time, Ado and Awaye settlements existed separately. The ancestors of the Adó people were forced to migrate from Awori land to settle at the top of Oke-Ado Mountain because of the Dahomey war.The ancestors of the Ado people believe that the lake is so powerful that whatever prayer is made with its water will yield supernatural results.

Read Titi’s experience here – Iyake – Suspended Lake on Oke-Ado Mountain

Hotel suggestions: A3

Final Stop: Lagos State

If you are not interested in such a long journey – Why not visit any one of them.

P.S. SocialPrefect is organizing a trip to Idanre Hills during this Sallah break, you might want to take advantage of it. “winks”

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Thanks for reading!

Simi