Naijatreks’ Amazing 3-Day Adventure Trip to Ondo and Osun States!

Early on the morning of Saturday, 2nd August, 2014, our travel group set off on a quest to conquer the soaring and daunting heights of the massive Effon Ridge in Osun State, on which cascades the seven stages of Olumirin Waterfalls (also known as Erin-Ijesa Falls). One of the attractions on the trip was to climb to the top of the ridge and hike to the small Abake Village reposed in the verdant rainforest at the mountain top, where the group is meant to have a lunch of locally-made cuisine. Other destinations on the tour were Igbara-Oke Petroglyphs and the legendary Iho-Eleeru Cave and its mythical Ifa Inscriptions.

Taking the Lagos-Ibadan-Ilesha route also gave the tour group an opportunity to sample various street food associated with specific places along the route. Among these were Dodo-Ikire, which are balls of fried ripened-plantain, spiced and tightly wrapped in transparent polythene- peculiar to Ikire town; Akara-Osu, which are deep-fried bean balls peculiar to the town of Osu, near Ile-Ife.

The climb up the ridge was nerve cracking, testing each of the participant’s physical fitness. One can never be fully prepared for the arduous ascent up the steep, densely forested slopes of the ridge. However, the summit was immensely breath-taking as the entire mountain-top was engulfed in a dense cloud cover. We literally climbed into the clouds. Although visibility was low, yet the feeling of standing high up in the clouds was inexplicably enchanting. The hike to the village at the mountain top was unexpectedly long and daunting, winding through rocky expanse of sparsely vegetated land, to densely forested areas, dissected by small springs, streams and the Olumirin River itself. One of the eye-catching sights in the forest was the abundant Uma leaf and cocoa trees.

The visit to the ancient diagrammatic rock engravings in Igbara-Oke, known as petroglyphs, fascinated the tour group as we were treated to amusing myths about the history and interpretation of the mysterious engravings. The tour was concluded by a 45 minutes motorcycle ride from Isarun village to the distant location of Iho-Eleeru (also know as Cave of Ashes) in the forest, after which the tour group returned to Lagos.

See below some photos from the trip:

 DAY 1:

The Journey…

– Hawkers of Dodo Ikire at Ikire Town

– Dodo Ikire at Ikire Town (Orange-coloured food is called Adun)

 

 – Akara-Osu at Osu Town.

 

– Akara-Osu.

 – Akara-Osu.

Welcome to Erin-Ijesha…

– Erin-Ijesha Town, home of Olumirin Waterfalls, Osun State

  – Cloud-shrouded peaks of Effon Ridge… on which the waterfall cascades.

– The climb up Effon Ridge to explore the waterfalls begins here…

– The first cascade of Olumirin Waterfalls

 – Climbing to others cascades of the Waterfalls, located higher up the ridge.

– The second cascade of Olumirin Waterfalls

 – Ascending the steep slopes of the ridge… on a quest to visit Abake village located high up on the ridge.

– The ridge-top was engulfed in a thick cloud cover.

 

… We literally climbed into the clouds!

 

– In the clouds… Amazing!!…but freezing cold.

 

– Hiking to Abake Village.

– As we hiked along the foot path, the vegetation changed from a rocky grass-covered land into thick rain forests.

 

– Uma Leaf… one of the most abundant plants at the ridge top.

– We had to make a landmark along the forest path so that we don’t get lost on our way back.

 

– After a long time of arduous trek in the forest, we finally arrived at Abake village!!

– Having our lunch of locally-made Moimoi (bean cake) at Abake village.

– Moimoi of life! loll…. the Uma leaf wrap gives it a special irresistible flavour.

– This is the Olumirin River itself which descends the ridge to form the waterfalls. It is known as the “Seventh stage of waterfalls”.

 

– Uma leaf sellers, loading bundles of harvested Uma leaves unto a truck to transport down to nearby markets and towns.

 

– The monkey of one of the Uma leaf farmers. It’s name is “Obama”. loll

– Checking in at our hotel after a hectic day of climbing, hiking and descending the gigantic Effon Ridge.

DAY 2:

– Breakfast yo!!

– Ready to set out for the day’s adventure!

Welcome to Igbara-Oke Petroglyphs.

 – Welcome to Igbara Oke Petroglyphs, Igbara-Oke Town, Ondo State.

  – Trying to interpret the ancient inscriptions…

  – The mythical Igbara Oke Petroglyphs.

  – An old man in the town who is the custodian of the inscriptions and its history, narrating the fascinating story of the origin of the inscriptions.

 

   – Yoruba legends can be very amusing.. hahaha!!

 

  – Igbara Oke Petroglyphs… CHECKED!!!

Welcome to Isarun, the sleepy cave-city!

  – At the palace of the Oba of Isarun Land, Ondo State… the home of the ancient Iho Eleeru Cave (also known as Cave of Ashes).

  – Cocoa farming is one of the major occupations of the people of Isarun… they gave us a ripe cocoa pod to taste its delicious milk 😀

 

  – Drying cocoa beans.

 

 – Fresh palmy (palm wine) from Isarun village!

 – Getting set to ride off into the forests to the distant location of the cave.

 

 

  – Riding through rough and muddy bush tracks.

 

– Walking through a forest of cocoa plantation to Iho-Eleeru Cave.

  – A tour guide descending into the gloomy Iho-Eleeru Cave.

– Tour guides leading the way into the belly of Iho-Eleeru Cave.

 

– Coming out of the small exit at the far end of the cave.

– “Everybody say cheese!! ….Everybody say Cocoa!!!”

– Posing with our tour guides and motorcycle riders.

– Posing with the Oba of Isarun Land.

Ancient Inscription, Ancient Lettering, Bike Riding, erin-Ijesa, Granite Caves, Hiking, Ifa Inscription, Igbara-Oke Petroglyphs, Iho Eleeru Cave, Isarun, Mountain Climbing, Olumirin Waterfalls, Waterfalls, Waterfalls in Nigeria