Olumo rock is situated in the town of Abeokuta in Ogun state and is one of the more popular tourist attractions in Nigeria. Standing at 137 meters above sea level the beauty of the town can be seen from the peak. The area was originally inhabited by the Egba people who used the rock as a sanctuary.
In times of war, the Egba people would hide their women, children and elderly in a crevice in the rock. It was also said that the rock had powers to protect all those that inhabited it. This is how the city of Abeokuta got its name as it literally translates to “under the rock”
Visitors are urged to make a wish at the fountain located at the center of the massive compound.
After feeding my eyes with all the various beautiful artworks in the gallery, it was time to begin my climb.
The entrance to the war time hide out.
One of the rooms inside the rock where the Egba people hid during the war
The part of rock where the women prepared their meals. The Egba women used to grind their melon seeds, peppers, etc on this spots.
After exploring the Egba people hide out, we continued our climb to the top of the rock
The beautiful town of Abeokuta behind me.
The view from the peak of the rock
Going down, we decided to use the stairs.
After our descent from the rock, I paused at one of the seat-outs to take in the whole sight.
What you need to know….
- Of all the heritage/cultural sites I have visited in Nigeria, Olumo rock remains one of the best preserved and well kept ones. Also, a big shout out to our tour guide Mr Babatunde who was kind and patient enough to help us with photos and videos.
- There is a beautiful gallery in the grounds with a lot of breathtaking artworks but sadly photos are not allowed inside the gallery.
- There is a seat out at the peak of the rock, you can pack a light lunch and make it a picnic.
- The place tends to be crowded on weekends and towards the evening, if like me you don’t like crowd then maybe get there early in the day.
Cost and Transportation..
I left from Ojota in Lagos State and stopped at the motor park in Kuto, Abeokuta, the fare cost N1200/person. From Kuto I took a bike straight to the rock in Ikija, it cost N120 (I think I was overcharged 🙁
Entrance fee is N700/per person.
If you have any questions or comments about Olumo rock please reach out to me and I will help you any way I can.
Thank you…xxx
After a brief war with fatigue and vertigo we arrived on level ground.
We sat at the hill top and took in the sun and fresh air.
From the top of the hills, you are get an eagle-eyed view of the town and its surrounding: beautiful scenery contrasts sharply with the awesome perspectives.
The legend of the Idanre Hills is incomplete without the mention of Agboogun, a great hunter with supernatural ability. A popular account asserts that the great hunter asked three of his sidekicks to accompany him on a journey. On their way, he paused to inscribe hieroglyphics on a hillside, and the cryptic inscription became known as the “Unreadable Signs.”
Then the mystical: A dilapidated building, a blackened slate with written words of warning written on it. It belongs to Chief Lorin, one of the chieftains who could well be described as the kingmaker.
We decided to take a breather underneath the aptly named wonderful rock which is strategically balanced on its side.
A little distance away is the king’s court, a mud house recently renovated. This is where the ancient kings of Idanre kingdom held counsel and attended to their people.
We also visited the first primary school which was set up in 1896. On our way down we were shown the sacred thunder water. The legend goes that the warriors of ancient Idanre drank the water(the water is formed when lightning strikes the rocks) and it made them victorious in all their battles.
So what do you guys make of this trip? I would love to hear from you…..xxx