Ask most people to name Nigeria’s great getaways, and the same few names come up. Beyond them is a country of stone figures older than most of our towns, waterfalls once worshipped as gods, a river that begins inside a tree, and a plateau where the air stays cool all year. These seven places are rarely on the postcard, but all of them are worth the trip.
Esie Figurines, Kwara State
In the small town of Esie sits the largest collection of stone carvings in Africa. The soapstone figures show men, women, children and animals, seated or kneeling, some holding farming tools or musical instruments. A hunter found them in 1775, and they are estimated to date from the 12th to 15th centuries. Nobody knows who carved them. Some scholars link them to a nearby ancient Yoruba kingdom, while local legend says they are a community the gods turned to stone. In 1945 a museum was built beside the site, the first official museum in Nigeria. Collections are also at the Met in New York. Excavations suggest 1,000 to 1,500 figurines in all, with more still buried.
Ogbunike Caves, Anambra State
Go down 317 steps into a valley and you reach a network of caverns and winding passageways. Water drips from the rocks, said to have healing powers, and visitors often fill bottles to take home. Bats hang from the ceilings, and legend says the caves were made by the deity Ogba, who still lives there. The caves are on Nigeria’s Tentative List for World Heritage status, and the Ime Ogbe festival marks their discovery every year.
Agbokim Waterfall, Cross River State
In the rainforest near the Cameroon border, about 17 km from Ikom, seven streams drop over steep cliffs into a pool below. In the rainy season the falls roar, and with luck you will see a rainbow. The hike is challenging but rewarding, and you may meet antelopes, monkeys and parrots along the way. Its remoteness has kept the crowds away, though visitor numbers have grown over the past decade.
Gurara Waterfalls, Niger State
On the Suleja–Minna Road, the Gurara River drops about 30 metres. Oral history credits a Gwari hunter named Buba with finding it in 1745. Long before Europeans arrived in 1925, nearby communities worshipped the falls, and both the river and the falls are said to be named for two deities, Gura and Rara.
River Ethiope, Delta State
The Ethiope begins in Umuaja, where its source rises from a tree and a shrine stands for traditional worshippers. From there it runs about 50 km through Obiaruku, Abraka and Sapele before reaching the Atlantic by way of the Benin River. Its water is famously clear, and at Abraka visitors swim, fish and boat, with riverside resorts for rest.
Wikki Warm Spring, Bauchi State
Inside Yankari National Park, Wikki is the biggest of four geothermal springs. It stays at 31°C all year, and its clear water runs into a lake about 200 metres long. It’s a natural spa, ideal after a day of wildlife spotting.
Kofa Dam (Suleja Dam), Niger State
Built between 1988 and 1991 for water supply, irrigation and flood control, Kofa Dam has become a quiet spot for picnics, fishing and photography. It’s an easy, low-key escape for people in the community as well as curious travellers.
Mambilla Plateau, Taraba State
Reached from Gembu, the plateau sits more than 1,800 metres above sea level, with rolling hills, green pastures and cool weather all year. Chappal Waddi, Nigeria’s highest peak at about 2,419 metres, rises nearby. The plateau is also known for Highland Tea, rare birds, and forests that draw researchers from around the world.
