The World Tourers: Olumirin Waterfalls, Erinjesha; All you need to Know.

Olumirin waterfalls, Erinjesha.

Olumirin Waterfalls is located in Erin-Ijesha, Oriade local government, Osun state in the western part of Nigeria.

The waterfalls is quite accessible as it's just less than a kilometre from the express, little wonder it's the most visited waterfalls in Nigeria.

As you depart from Ilesha and head towards Erinjesha, you will be ushered into the space of beautiful scenery such as lush and thick vegetations, tall tress, smoky and huge mountains...

Olumirin Waterfalls popularly known as Erinjesha waterfalls has seven steps while each of the levels gives unique & different look which makes every moment spent in the waterfalls totally worthy.

I could not go past the third level due to time factor and fatigue as I was tired from hiking to that level.

The seventh stage which is the peak is said to lead to a village called Abake in Ekiti state

History first

There are many stories surrounding this waterfall but two stood out👇

Olumirin( Ijesha dialect) which simply means "Another god" was discovered in 1140 AD by Akinla, a granddaughter of Oduduwa.

Another one said the waterfall was discovered by an hunter who was hunting and came across the fall.

The natives regard the waterfall as a sacred site and a means of purifying their souls. They also believe that the waterfall flows from a big pot located at the top of rock.

Location Of Olumirin Waterfalls, Erinjesha

This waterfall is located in Erinjesha village in Oriade local government area in Osun state.

How To Get There from Lagos?

Take a bus going to Ilesha from Oshodi or Iyana-Ipaja depending on your proximity to any of the parks. From Ilesha, take a bike going to Olumirin Waterfalls directly or join a cab or going to Erinjesha.

How to get there from other states?

Find your way to Ilesha them continue the process as stated above

How I went there?

I went from Ibadan, I boarded a cab to Ilesha for 1,500 naira although there's a bus for 1,000 naira but it doesn't look comfortable and I said to myself 500 naira is not too much to pay for comfort so I opted for the cab option. From Ilesha, we had the options of taking a car or a bike to Erinjesha. A car will stop us at Erin jesha bus stop which will require us searching for bike that will take us to the fall which we might not get in hours while bike will take us to straight to the destination which is quite far from the bus- stop so we opted for the bike instead which turns out to be the best option because the car in Ilesha are not taking hours before filling up and we went to the express so we'd get a faster semi filled car but we stood there for something that seems like hours. We ended up getting a bike for 1500 naira.

Opening Hours

Monday - Sunday

8am to 6pm

Gate Fee

Adult 1,000

Chuldren- 500

Tour Guide

We met Mr Biodun who said each of the stages cost 1,000 naira and we ended up bargaining to 1500 for both of us for him to take us to the the third level. He has a camera too should you want to take a picture.

Photography

You can take pictures with your phones and all but if you're to use camera, you will pay the sum of 2k

Tips

1.Make sure you pack a power bank. Let it not be a low battery that will prevent you from recording beautiful memories. Vera's power bank came in handy for us.

2.There are thick vegetation surrounding this waterfalls and there are varieties of insects so you might want to wear a fully covered clothes and also try to apply insect repellent on open areas of your body

3. Flipflops is not advisable for this trip as it's a hiking on sloppy, slippery terrain so a sneakers is highly preferrable.

4.Shower cap to cover your hair while taking a dip

5.Sunscreen is actually very vital too to protect your skin from the sun rats

6.Nose mask: this is the new normal, without it, you might not be allowed in although they sell there.

7.Hand sanitizer: to constantly keep your hands clean since you might not have access to soap & water all though the trip moreover, it comes in handy.

What to do in Olumirin Waterfalls?

1.Content creation: there are a lot of content to create in this destinations as there are natural props spilled around

2.Photoshoot: pre-wedding, birthday,music videos ..) can be held here

3.Birdwatching: since vegetations and body water is here, varieties of birds are lurked all around.

4.Excursions: you could take your pupils/students to this place as there are history & educational information to go around.

5.Hiking: this is a perfect destination for hikers.

6.Swimming: the puddles from the falls is a perfect place to swim.

Duration of the trip

Lagos to Ibadan- 2hours

Ibadan to Ilesha-2hours 15min

Ilesha - Erin ijesha - 30 minutes

Where to sleep