Beautiful tourists’ destinations in Nigeria

Nigeria boasts of several exquisite tourist destinations, and that’s the main thrust of this article.

1. The Obudu Mountain Resort, Cross River State
Obudu Mountain Resort also known as Obudu Cattle Ranch is one of Africa’s finest and most interesting and spectacular tourist destinations. Obudu Mountain Resort is located in the highlands and deep tropical forests of Cross River State with a temperate climate at about 45 miles from the border with Cameroon. If you are a tourist looking for a mix of adventure and idyllic tranquility, then Obudu Cattle Ranch is the place to be. With rich natural vegetation and a picturesque view, Obudu is increasingly becoming popular amongst tourists from all around Nigeria and Africa as a whole.

The ranch has numerous pleasant and beautiful mountain-area and country-side views, with a well-preserved and calm Serene to suit all our guests. Obudu Mountain is described by some as one of the most beautiful places on earth, the picturesque plateau is best known for its breathtaking, dramatic Panorama.

2. Ogbunike Cave, Anambra State
The Ogbunike Caves are located in Ogbunike, Anambra State, South-Eastern Nigeria. Located in a valley blanketed by tropical rain forests, the collection of caves has been in use over centuries by local people for whom it has particular spiritual significance. This spiritual significance is still apparent, as the “Ime Ogba” celebration is undertaken every year to commemorate the discovery of the caves. Descending into the valley where the caves are located is a lengthy walkway made up of about 317 steps said to have been constructed by the Anambra State Government in the mid-90s. Visitors must remove their shoes before entering the caves, as per tradition. And women who are having their monthly cycle cannot go in.

The main cave consists of a massive structure with a big open chamber of about 5m high, 10m wide, and 30m long at the entrance. There are ten tunnels in the main chamber leading in different directions. Within the tunnels are big chambers and other tunnels of varying lengths, some of which are interconnected. The caves are occupied by a large colony of bats of various sizes. There are streams and bodies of water in various places. A stream flows out from one of the tunnels into a rapidly flowing river (River Nkissa). At the meeting point of the river and the stream one can feel the warm water from the caves and the cold river water. Beside this portion of the river is a table land of about 5 X 5 square meters used as a relaxation spot by visitors to the caves. The immediate environment of the caves up to about 200 meters radius is a thick tropical rainforest type of vegetation. The site has sufficient boundaries (20 hectares) to protect its values from the direct effects of human encroachment. Ogbunike cave is on the tentative list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

3. Agbokim Waterfall, Cross Rivers State
In a remote rainforest near the border of Nigeria and Cameroon, seven streams tumble over steep cliffs to form the Agbokim waterfall. During the rainy season, the rushing falls create a thunderous sound and sometimes, for those who are lucky enough to see them, rainbows. Agbokim waterfall is most significant for its multiple adjoining streams, which tumble down to form a mesmerizing cascade of water that flows down to a beautiful pool. The waterfall is surrounded by steep hills and valleys, which makes the hike to the waterfall challenging, yet rewarding.

Agbokim waterfalls are situated in the Etung local government area of Cross River State in the South-South (Niger delta) region of Nigeria, very close to its border with Cameroon. The waterfalls are about 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) from Ikom and 320 kilometres (200 mi) from Calabar. Surrounded by a rich variety of flora and fauna, lush greenery, valleys, and steep hills, Agbokim waterfall offers an alluring collection of seven cascades rushing over a cliff and creating an impressive seven-part waterfall. During the rainy season when the waterfall is in its full bloom, it produces a beautiful blend of rainbow colours making the scenery even more magical.

4. Zuma Rock, Niger State
Zuma Rock is a large natural monolith, or inselberg, an igneous intrusion composed of gabbro and granodiorite, in Niger State, Nigeria. It is located immediately west of Nigeria’s capital Abuja, along the main road from Abuja to Kaduna off Madala, and is sometimes referred to as the “Gateway to Abuja from Suleja”. Zuma Rock rises approx. 300 metres (980 ft) above its surroundings. It was used for a defensive retreat by the Gbagyi people against invading neighbouring tribes during intertribal warring. Zuma Rock is very tall by the standards of Nigerian geography. It is over four times taller than NECOM house (Lagos’ tallest skyscraper, as of 1979) and it is taller than Aso rock and Olumo rock combined.

The rock was found in the 15th century by the Zuba people of Niger State, who called it zumwa, which could translate to “a place of guinea fowls,” due to their abundance around the rock. The Zuba people settled around the rock and came to see it as a spiritual guide, making sacrifices to the rock to keep them safe from harm. Because the landmark offered a clear view of the surrounding landscape, it was also used as a defensive position from other invading tribes.

Zuma Rock is composed of igneous rock, specifically gabbro and granodiorite. The natural runoff of water has left the rock surface with a human-like facial feature imprinted on the rock, with features like mouth, nose, and eyes. The rock tends to get alight with fire during the rainy season. The friction created moving rocks caused by the sliding slope of the rock and during this, the fire comes up. It has become one of the most prominent landmarks in Nigeria, and since 1999 has been printed on the country’s 100 naira notes. Hiking up to the top of the rock takes about five hours.

5. Aso Rock, Abuja
Aso Rock is a large outcrop of granitic rock located on the outskirts of Abuja, the capital of Nigeria. The Aso Rock is a 400-metre (1,300 ft) prominent monolith with a peak height of 936-metre (3,071 ft) above sea level. It is one of the city’s most noticeable features. The rock is surrounded by the most important buildings in Nigeria; Aso Villa – the official residence and workplace of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, The National Assembly, and the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

Much of the city extends to the south of the rock. “Aso” means victorious in the native language of the Asokoro (“the people of victory”) ethnic group.

6. Wikki Warm Spring, Bauchi State
The Wikki Warm Spring can be found in the Yankari National Park, Nigeria’s most revered national park for spotting wildlife. The Wikki Warm Spring is the biggest of the four warm springs in Yankari, which has come about as a result of geothermal activity below the park.

Spring is Mother Nature’s answer to a spa. The Spring is 1.9 metres deep, and 13 metres wide with a consistent temperature of 31°C which boasts crystal clear waters and flows into a beautiful lake that is 200 meters long by 10 meters across and nearly two meters deep, making it the perfect spot for a swim. The water gushes out from a string of chambers under the sandstone cliff. The actual source of this water is still to be determined.

The spring provides visitors with a chance to enjoy the warm water and relax in a tranquil environment, surrounded by nature. Located about 42 kilometres from the main entrance of the park, you can stay in one of the many furnished chalets at the “Wikki Camp” which is the tourist centre of the Park and you can make use of this graceful and elegant natural phenomenon.

7. Idanre Hill, Ondo State
The Idanre Hill or Oke Idanre is located in Idanre town in Ondo State of southwestern Nigeria. The Idanre hill is well-known for its landscape. Its wide variety of cultural sites as ‘Owa’s Palace’, shrines, The Old Court, Belfry, Agbooogun footprint, thunder water (Omi Apaara), and burial grounds have since brought the location fame and the nation’s nomination for the UNESCO World Heritage Site shortlist. It resides 3000 ft (914.4meters) above sea level and houses a unique ecosystem upon which the cultural landscape has Integrated.

This site was added to the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List on October 8, 2007, in the Cultural category. Idanre Hill is said to have 9 ancient wonders and beliefs. All the following myths are located on the Idanre hills;

1. “Ibi Akaso” The Steps
2. The King’s Palace
3. Agboogun’s Legacy
4. Unreadable signs
5. Agboogun’s footprint
6. The wonderful mat
7. “Omi Aopara” Aopara Water
8. The Orosun Hill
9. Arun river

Awhum (Ohum) Cave, Enugu State
Ohum waterfall, which is officially known as Awhum waterfalls, is situated at Amaugwe village of Awhum town in Udi Local Government Area, Enugu state. The valley town which also boasts of numerous pristine lakes, some of them with beautiful white sand beaches are located about 24 kilometers from Enugu and it is bounded on the north by Okpatu, in the east by Nike, in the south by Ukana and in the west by Egede communities. But, separating the town of Awhum from her bounded communities are beautiful rolling grassy hills, majestically adorned in green. Also, the mystic auras from Awhum’s caves emit on her a unique kind of beauty.

However, the graceful Awhum waterfalls were birthed as a result of a massive outcrop of granite rock with water cascading over the top, forming a stream. The waterfall is 30 metres high and it is famed to have both healing powers and the capability of dispelling satanic or evil forces. It is for these reasons the falls have become a place of Christian pilgrimage and a prayer centre”

The tranquil Awhum cave offers a prayer atmosphere that facilitates spiritual uplifting and the renewal of mind and body. The cave houses a crucifix of Jesus Christ and a grotto of Joseph and Mary, where monks and pilgrims perform their spiritual exercises. A must-experience highlight of the cave is the waterfall. The fall is said to proclaim the wisdom and healing power of God.

River Niger and Benue, Kogi State
River Niger and Benue are the longest in West Africa. The river Niger remained a wonder to the first Europeans who set foot on Nigeria’s soil until John and Richard Landers passed through the confluence on October 25th, 1830 thereby completing the journey that Mungo Park had started. Rivers Niger and Benue are the two largest rivers in West Africa. The two rivers meet at Lokoja in Kogi state, forming a Y-shaped structure in what appears to be a magnificent union and draining southwards into the ocean. While River Niger is brownish in colour, River Benue is light green in colour. Fishing is carried on extensively on the rivers. There are ferry and boat services plus cruising facilities within view of the confluence.

The sole aim is to make it a pleasurable delight to visitors, both foreign and local, thus boosting the tourism industry, the economy, and the level of social interaction in the state. Lokoja is mostly known and celebrated for is its confluence. Lokoja is where the two great rivers: Niger and Benue meet. Whichever means the great geographical wonder is accessed – it is a beauty to behold. The ‘Y’ shape is symbolised in Nigeria’s Coat of Arms.

10. Ado-Awaye Suspended Lake, Oyo State
Ado Awaye lake is said to be the only suspended lake in Africa and the second in the world. It is located at Ado-Awaye town about 20km west of Iseyin in Oyo state, Nigeria. The lake’s natural formation, teeming biodiversity, unspoilt serene surroundings are a natural treasure.

The Ado-Awaye suspended lake sits on one of the crests of rocks commonly referred to in the surveyor’s language as the “sleeping lion”. The view of the lake at the top of Ado-Awaye mountains is mesmerizing.

11. Gurara Waterfall, Niger State
The spectacular Gurara waterfall spans 200 meters across with a drop of about 30 metres. It changes its shape from a calm graceful waterfall in the dry season to a vast thundering fall in the rainy season.

Gurara Waterfalls is located in Gurara, a local government area of Niger State, North Central Nigeria. The waterfall is approximately 30 metres in height and it lies on the Gurara River along the Suleja-Minna Road. According to oral history, Gurara Waterfalls was discovered by a Gwari hunter called Buba in 1745 before some Europeans discovered it in 1925 after they found it as a recreation centre. Prior to the discovery of the waterfalls by the Europeans, Gurara Waterfalls were worshipped by people living in communities around it. Oral history also has it that Gurara Waterfalls and Gurara River were named after two deities called Gura and Rara.

Despite its chequered history, Gurara Waterfalls is one of the major tourist sites in Nigeria. There have been plans in recent times to turn it into a resort with a recreation centre and a seven-star hotel around it.

Ogba Ukwu waterfall and cave, Anambra State
Ogba Ukwu Caves and Waterfalls presents one of the greatest natural tourist attractions in Anambra State. Hidden away from the busy routes that crisscross Anambra, the Ogbaukwu Caves and Waterfalls are located in Owerre Ezeukala community that borders Abia, Enugu, and Imo. Approximately 75 kilometres east of Onitsha, the cave is considered the largest cave in West Africa, which will take upwards of two hours to explore. It forms a deep and complex rock formation with roomy compartments large enough to take in an entire village.

At the centre of Ogba Ukwu, is one large area said to have been the living room of the ‘god’ of Owerre-Ezukala. There is one particular compartment, accessed by the aid of stone steps where an old elephant’s foot still stands, long dead and dry. In another crevice, there is a natural spanner of rock, and in yet another is a gun of stone, as old as the cave. A guided tour in and around it is a wonderful experience and leaves a visitor dumbfounded by this wonderful work of nature.

Ogba Ukwu cave is the largest in West Africa, with unique and roomy compartments which collectively can accommodate an entire village. It takes a minimum of two hours to explore.

13. Farin Ruwa Waterfalls, Nasarawa State
Farin Ruwa Falls is a waterfall found in the central region of Nigeria. It is among the highest waterfalls in Nigeria. It is significant among Africa’s falls when the total height covered by the waterfall is considered. The source of Farin Ruwa falls is found in Nasarawa State, from whence it gushes down over the edge of the Nasarawa. During its descent from the Jos Plateau, the water drops a total height of about 150 metres (492 ft). This drop is higher compared to the more popular Victoria Falls, which drops a height of around 108 metres (354 ft) during its descent.

Farin Ruwa falls is found in the Farin Ruwa Development Area, under Wamba Local Government Area of Nasarawa State. The falls are found along the boundary of Plateau State and Nasarawa State, under the Bokkos and Wamba Local Government Areas of the two states. The falls have their source on the Jos plateau, in the Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State. The falls were discovered by the then-British colonial rulers of Nigeria in the 1950s. A catering Rest House was established in Massange village close to the falls in order to exploit it commercially. To protect its rich heritage, the colonial administration gazetted it and named it MAYES Forest Reserve. However, despite this early development, Farin Ruwa was consigned to the background until the creation of Nasarawa State in 1996. The mountainous nature of the region surrounding the Farin Ruwa falls induces heavy rainfall from clouds passing over the region during the rainy season from March to November. As a result, there is an increase in the volume of water of the falls crashing from the mountains during the rainy season. The mountains around the falls are the edge of the Jos Plateau. There is a drop in the volume of water of the falls during the dry season, from December to March. But it is for a short while, as the falls recover their water volume again during the rainy season.

The waterfall fall is about 30 kilometres from Wamba and 120 kilometres from Lafia the capital of Nasarawa State. It is also 192.6 km (almost 3hrs 45mins) from Abuja the capital city of Nigeria via Keffi-Akwanga Nasarawa State. The location is on the verge of being listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Nigeria. Other attractions include a magnificent waterfall and a massive dome.

14. Riyom Rock, Plateau State
The Riyom Rock is one of the most enchanting scenes in Nigeria and taking a look at the way these mighty boulders are arranged on top of one another in that delicate position for thousands, if not millions of years, one cannot but be awed by the majestic wonders of nature.

The rock formation is located in Riyom Town just 25 kilometres to the southwest of Jos, the capital city. The Riyom Rock is located in Riyom Local Government Area of the state and the area is predominantly populated by Berom people. When viewed from some angles, the formation resembles the map of Plateau State. The formation is also popularly known as Three Rocks.