Southern Nigeria, like the North boasts a number of hills and mountains that make hiking an adventure many would want to undertake.
We have curated a list of 6 places you can go hiking if you live or when you visit the South West part of Nigeria. The South West comprises 6 states: Lagos, Ondo, Oyo, Osun, Ogun and Ekiti.
6 places to go hiking in the South West
- Olumo rock: This is one of the most common hiking destinations for people looking to explore popular attractions in Nigeria. The rock is made of granite boulders and has been in existence for thousands of years. Although it is estimated to be about 450 feet above sea level, Olumo rock is one of the easiest rocks to climb. This is because of the artificial steps that have been carved into the rock to make the uphill climb easier. It is located in Ogun state
Image from Viator.com
- Idanre hills: Located in the old town of Idanre, Ondo state, Idanre hills are over 800 years old. They are steep-sided, smooth and dome shaped. It takes over 600 steps to get to the top of this hill.
Image from Flickr.com
- Oke Ado mountain: The name “Oke Ado” is derived from two communities surrounding the mountain - Ado and Awaye. This mountain is special because it houses the only suspended lake in Africa. A suspended lake is a lake ontop of a mountain and only two exist in the world. The Iyake lake on Oke Ado is one of the two and is located in Oyo state.
- Canopy walk, Lekki Conservation Centre: This is the longest canopy walk in Africa. The canopy walkway is a suspended bridge in the middle of dense vegetation. It is 1300 feet in height and approximately 73 hectares of land in size. Because it is a canopy walk and not a mountain hike, it is one of the safest hiking experiences in the South West. The canopy walk is located in Lagos state.
Image source: Lekki Conservation Centre on Instagram
- Erin Ijesha Waterfalls: Erin Ijesha waterfalls (also known as Olumirin waterfalls) is located in Erin Ijesha, a town in Oriade local government of Osun state. Like Arinta, it has seven layers but atop the seventh layer sits the ancient village known as Abake.
Image source: Guardian.ng
- Arinta Waterfall: Arinta waterfalls is located in Ekiti state. Although the waterfalls have seven layers, not many people make it to the top (it’s quite tedious) but if you have the grit, you can do it.
Image credit: https://www.visitnigerianow.com/
You can book your tickets here to feast your eyes on these beautiful hiking locations.