As the days of my trip progressed, I realized that many of the natural sites that had survived or were being preserved had strong spiritual or cultural ties. Whether I believed the stories behind them or not was irrelevant. What mattered was that, thanks to those beliefs, these incredible places were being protected and were still accessible to visitors. Here are my favorite sites from the ones I visited.
Awhum Waterfall is attached to a monastery, and the water is believed to be sacred. So much so that women are traditionally not allowed to visit the falls while wearing trousers. The waterfall is about an hour to an hour and a half's drive from Enugu City, depending on where you depart from.
The entire hike covers 6.77 km and took us 2 hours and 27 minutes to complete, including photo stops and breaks. It is absolutely beautiful. The trail begins on an open stretch before gradually descending until you reach the stream that flows from the waterfall. At this point, we took off our shoes.
The next stop was a cave with a statue of Mary. Interestingly, we were joined by a group of religious pilgrims who had travelled from another state to collect water. They stopped to pray at the cave before continuing their journey.
The path continues through the stream as the towering rock walls begin to rise around you until you finally reach the main waterfall. Walking through the cool water between the high rock walls is an unforgettable experience. It is an absolute must-see if you are visiting Enugu.
Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove I have visited a couple of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, but there is something especially meaningful about visiting one in your own home country. I couldn't have imagined just how vast the sacred grove was.
The grove is a primary high forest with the Osun River flowing through it. It is believed to be the home of the river goddess Osun. Throughout the grove, you will find more than 40 shrines and sculptures dedicated to Osun and other Yoruba deities.
Restoration work on the grove began about 40 years ago through the efforts of dedicated artists. As a result, the grove has once again become a sacred place and now serves as an important symbol of identity for the wider Yoruba diaspora. It remains an active religious site where daily, weekly, and monthly worship takes place. It also serves as a natural herbal pharmacy, containing more than 400 plant species, around 200 of which have medicinal value.
Every August, the Osun-Osogbo Festival is celebrated to commemorate the promise and covenant between the people and the river goddess Osun.
Ogbunike Caves - underneath a valley covered by tropical rainforest lies Ogbunike Caves, a network of #caves that has #spiritual significance for the local people.
Descending 317 steps brings you to the main entrance of the caves. Visitors are required to remove their shoes before entering and should be prepared to walk barefoot on the cool, moist earth.
These tunnels open into large chambers of varying sizes, some of which are interconnected. Inside the caves, you will find large colonies of bats as well as streams flowing through the underground passages. One of these streams exits the cave and flows into the Nkissa River.
There is also a relaxing spot beside the river where visitors can unwind after exploring the caves. According to local legend, the rock at the cave entrance continues to grow over time. I made sure to take a photograph to mark its current height, so that if I ever return, I can see whether the legend is true.
Olumirin (Erin Ijesha) Waterfall – according to tales told Akinla the first daughter and a princess of Oduduwa had to leave Ife after a violent dispute occurred with regards to sole ownership of the yourba goddess Iro, the goddess of fertility. She and her followers embarked on a 17 day’s journey from Ile Ife that ended up at Erin Ijesha where the gods instructed her to settle. Making the founding date of Erin Ijesha to be around 1140AD.
The initial settlement had a water scarcity problem because of this a search for a place with suitable water source started. It is said to be that during that search, Olumirin the ceaseless waterfall was discovered. Olumirin or Oluwa miran’ means in yourba "another god," They named the waterfall as such because they believe it to be mystical and have spiritual powers.
The initial settlement had a water scarcity problem because of this a search for a place with suitable water source started. It is said to be that during that search, Olumirin the ceaseless waterfall was discovered. Olumirin or Oluwa miran’ means in yourba "another god," They named the waterfall as such because they believe it to be mystical and have spiritual powers.
Some people still believe in the powers of the waterfall, they come to say prayers and bring offerings. For most people however it is a beautiful and physically engaging exercise to hike the 7 levels of the Olumirin waterfall. A bonus of getting to the seventh level is that you end up visiting two states in Nigeria, Osun and Ekiti. The lower levels of the waterfall are in Osun state whilst the seventh level located in the Abake village is in Ekiti. The hike to the seventh Level and back took us 4 hours and covering 10.3 km. This included a 30 - 45-minute break at the level 3 waterfall. This area is good for swimming. Be sure not miss out the lookout point at the 3rd level
Olumo Rock is a historical site located in the city of Abeokuta not far away from the Olusegun Obasanjo presidential library. It is easy to combine both attractions for a day whilst visiting.
The Rock which stands at 137 meters above sea level, served as a natural fortress to the Egba people. They sort refuge there during the tribal wars. In the past you could access the rock using the natural footpaths at the base which required climbing in some areas. There are different sections of the monument that can be visited. The main shrine, the garden lookout point, the Egba wartime hideout and some of the chambers. In recent times a staircase and lift have been added making it more accessible to visitors. Unfortunately the lift construction obstructs the frontal view of the rock from the base.
What makes this place even more special is the natural arrangement of rocks and tunnels that created hiding places for the Egba people.The greenery around including some old trees, add to the flair of the environment. You get an amazing view of the city including views of other tourist attractions such as the first church, the first mosque and the river Ogu.
At the base you have the option of getting a tour guide - its advisable to do so as mine was quite knowledgeable with regards to the site and the history of Abeokuta - which means Under the rock in Yourba language.
Be rest assured the country still has a lot more to offer and I am looking forward to seeing more of these sites
Yours Truly
Liesel81
Yours Truly
Liesel81
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