To be very honest here, the thought of me touring Owu falls (the tallest in Nigeria) kept me awake all night- It was the longest since my arrival in Kwara and unknown to the poor me, I was about embarking on my most dangerous mission.


This perfectly describes me

The first woe which betide me was late preparation. I didn’t finish preparing until 9:30am when I finally left home for Unilorin- the only place I could charge my phone which was only 2% alive at the time.
I charged for about 30 minutes before hastily joining a shuttle heading towards post office. This journey made me #120 poorer but I cared less being a nonchalant traveler that I was.
My next hurdle was to get to Omu aran where I was told I’d get the direction to Owu falls. So I strolled relieved into the park by 12:36pm but the bus didn’t move until 2pm. why? I was the second to get there and you know that angry moment when you’d pray earnestly for passengers to just come in for the bus to get filled.
Still unknown to me how rough the journey ahead was going to be, I sat with utmost joy between the driver and another passenger in the front section of the white interstate bus as we journeyed through the infrastructure-starved Kwara state.
The only colourful things I saw aside the green weed which adorned both sides of the express road were myriads of political signboards with over 90% of them bearing the picture of Bukola saraki– With the look of things, the people of Kwara are more satisfied with the posters than the dividends of democracy.

Whats my business? I only blame the Angel who didn’t hear me properly when i told him my most preferred country was Netherlands and not Nigeria.

We soon swept past Idofihan , Igberi Owode, Omupo as our bus maintained a consistent momentum until we got to Iludun Oro– a small village where our bus decided not to move again until we replace the engine’s belt.
So we all alighted and as expected sprinkled to different spots in search of a resting place while we await the arrival of the driver who went to get another belt from a nearby town.
My wristwatch reminded me it’s few minutes past 5pm.

I suddenly remembered I don’t know my next move after getting to Omu Aran, so I decide to ask one of the passengers who was also taking her refuge beside me. She was with her colleague and I suspected from her lousy attitude and endless talks in the bus that she is a public secondary school teacher who came to greet her daughter- an undergraduate in one of the higher institutions in Kwara state.

“Ha! hope you have where to sleep because you certainly can’t return today if you continue this journey o. Its better you go back home and come back tomorrow”.
That was her exact statement. she really said it in a scary manner, the way every yoruba mother does.

I pretended like I heeded her warnings, so I requested for the direction to Owu falls so that I can come back tomorrow like she advised. so she gave me… “you needn’t reach omu aran as there is a shorter route just by that bus stop”- she said pointing to a junction on our left.
I immediately stood up, dusted my partially stained shorts and headed backwards towards Oke Onigbin where she advised.






The time raced fiercely towards 5:30pm as I increased my pace. My tongue was drying up and the sky’s attitude wasn’t encouraging either. I knew i was feeling tired but I decided not to feel it. I was thorn between going back home and forging ahead.

“I cant go back, I managed to mutter. I was already head and neck into the journey.

It occurred to me that the son of man hadn’t eaten anything aside the #50 orange he bought at Igberi Owode. His tummy rumbled but that was the least of his problems.

I finally got to Oke Onigbin where I asked for the buses going to owu falls. The woman smiled and told me buses don’t go there due to how dangerous that road is. My heart skipped as I immediately knew they have finally get me. You know that mogbe moment naw.



I was brought back to life when she said pointing to the right, “go and meet those bikers, they might take you there”.

Its on probability again? kuku key me.
So I proceeded with a shattered mind while the bikers all stopped their conversation immediately on sighting I was coming for them.
“I want to go to owu falls” i said to no one in particular so none answered me except one who told me he can’t go even if his mum begged him.
I finally understood the teacher’s warnings. The time was 5:48pm. My tongue became sour.



Suddenly, one of them volunteered to take me on just one condition, and that was if I would pay him #4,000. I begged him with all the known names that works till we finally arrived at #2,000 for both going and returning.

I hopped on his bike and we zoomed off.

We sped past Ijara, Owu, sabaja, oba isin, owa onire and didn’t stop until we reached Owu falls.

All through our journey, he kept lamenting about the bad state of things in Kwara state, emphasizing on how the Government has refused to tap into the potentials of Owu falls, according to him, this falls has the potentials of being the most sought-after travel destination in Nigeria. I couldn’t agree less even though I haven’t seen it yet.







We journeyed through this path- only the two of us and series of thoughts raced through my mind as the horrible sound of the bike couldn’t drown them. At a point I thought about being kidnapped, at the other, it was the fear of being killed but the friendly nature of my biker did a lot in restoring my hope.

This continued until we got to Owu falls.





These pictures should summarize my experience:







Many thanks to my biker who was more friendly than i thought. he doubled as my photographer and guide.

I’m tempted at this point to throw jabs at the Nigerian government for their negligence towards this place. I’m not being biased here, but I think Owu falls has better chances of topping the list of the best tourists sites in not just Nigeria but Africa at large.

You need to see the videos on my IG page @nomadic_negro to understand me clearly.

The sky alerted me it was time to go, so I quickly took a selfie with my tour guide before jumping on the bike again. It was 6:40pm.




We soon got back to Oke Onigbin where I joined a space wagon which charged me #400 back to post office, leaving me with only #100 which used in joining another cab which took me home.

I was tired but I couldn’t stop rethinking the experience till sleep took me to the regular unknown destination it usually does on a daily.

I was brought back on Sunday which was the next day, did all the necessary rituals and headed straight for the train station but couldn’t catch one due to some technical issues, so I opted for a bus ride instead, even though it costs more.


Ilorin


Back in Oshodi- Lagos, Nigeria.


See more of my adventures on www.nomadicnegro.com

one shouldn't embark on such journeys alone,its risky,guess am saying this out of nervousness.I really hope to visit places like dis some day.it just shows how blessed this country is.

Nice adventure.

looks cool. ...who will visit with me

Once visited the water fall with some army officers. Had to walk about 30minutes from the village head's home to the fall. We walked in the thick jungle. That has totally discouraged me from going there again.

Did you have to navigate the jungle too?

If you didnt have to navigate the jungle, it means there is another alternative route to the waterfall. Then I might visit again asap with some friends.

Wow! great experience

ReneeNuttall:
one shouldn't embark on such journeys alone,its risky,guess am saying this out of nervousness.I really hope to visit places like dis some day.it just shows how blessed this country is.

Lol... our existence itself is a risk.
concerning you visiting, I assure you of a mind blowing experience, trust me.

Nigeria indeed is blessed!

saxwizard:
looks cool. ...who will visit with me

I'd love to go again if few more people will be willing

OBALORLA:

Lol... our existence itself is a risk. concerning you visiting, I assure you of a mind blowing experience, trust me.
Nigeria indeed is blessed!

I can't wait to experience it.

Mecoy:
Once visited the water fall with some army officers. Had to walk about 30minutes from the village head's home to the fall. We walked in the thick jungle. That has totally discouraged me from going there again.

Did you have to navigate the jungle too?

If you didnt have to navigate the jungle, it means there is another alternative route to the waterfall. Then I might visit again asap with some friends.

I never navigated the jungle because I didn't pass through Omu-aran.
my biker took a path that didn't require navigating the forest- a short video clip is on my IG page (@nomadic_negro) in case you'd like to see.

so I advise you go again and if you will, I can link you to the bike man who took me there.

ReneeNuttall:

I can't wait to experience it.

hit me up anyway you feel like going. if you stay in Lagos, we could use the train!

mynd44, lalasticlala, rocktation and/or farano, this isn't beyond your capacity. kindly help us do the needed.

ReneeNuttall:

I can't wait to experience it.

aaa Rene aw sign with u,!!!if u ready let me know!!!u can even organise it on NL few will be intrested!!!

God is great

Welcome

I bet you there are spirit in dat River, I don't advice girl to go to water falls especially d fair ones.......... I rest my case here

Wetin dey here?

Been there done that

---

I've been there with happney65

Oya,
Let's go there...

Ok, we've seen.

But is this the whole fall abi some still remain at the back?

because this is just like somebody's bucket of water fell from her head, up there, and the water just dey spill from on top the hill o

Recession hit the water?
To my mind
The place is over hyped by both you and the bike man,
We must depend on government for everything government is the people the people can contribute 1k each and love-vendor that place up starting from that sign board which is too much a kill joy Victoria falls Disney land etc shouldn't have such signboards the sign should suggest you are going to have fun
Also, give that water Viagra find way to increase its flow
Clean up all that green matter around plant beautiful flowers and trees that are native to that place around the area you can even add a few animals to give the place that extra edge
Then viola

Guy you try oooo!!! To think that such a lovely place is located in the "Senate Presidents" hometown and it has been neglected is heartbreaking....

They keep shouting alternative source of generating income for the economy but they neglect TOURISM, to think such a beautiful place exist in the home state of our hon minister of info & tourism and the opportunity hasn't been harnessed. Nigeria should take a sheet from Kenya and dub

So many beautiful places

your poor pictures killed this beautiful write up and wondrous waterfall

Op you have good command of English

Make una go come
I dey here dey mark register