Erin-Ijesha

Erin-Ijesha is in Osun State, South West Nigeria, best known for the Erin-Ijesa Waterfalls (also known as Olumirin Waterfalls).

Erin-Ijesa is about 10 km north of Ilesa. It is in Ori-ade local government in Osun State. It is a small town and it shares boundaries with Efon-Alaye in the north, Ipetu-Ijesa in the south, Ipole-Ekiti in the east and Erinmo in the west. By 2006 Erin-Ijesa’s population was 8,000. The main economic stay of the town is farming and craft making.

According to The Nation, the waterfall was discovered by hunters in 1140 AD. However, local tradition has it that the waterfall was discovered by a woman called Akinla, founder of Erin-Ijesa town and a granddaughter of Oduduwa, during the migration of Ife people to Erin-Ijesa. Akinla then named it Olumirin, an elision of oluwa mirin which in Yoruba means "another god".

Erin-Ijesha has alternating hot dry and warm humid seasons. The temperature ranges from 30-34⁰C with average annual rainfall of 1500 cm.

Buses from main parks and bus terminals in Lagos / Ibadan can be boarded for about ₦ 3000. Private taxis can be hired from Lagos / Ibadan for USD 30-50. The journey takes about four hours along the heavily trafficked Lagos-Ibadan expressway, and about 2 hours from Akure - Ilesha expressway, It is 60 km by road northwest from Akure, and 126 km by road east of Ibadan.

The means of transportation within Erin-Ijesha town is mostly by motorcycle (known as okada) and few taxis. The motorcycles are cheap and more available everywhere. It will cost

They have a major market is the Oyigbo-Mekun market, also known as Oodua market, at the centre of the town

• 7.56514.90211 The First Level Fall, Base Trail Axis, Erin Ijesha Resort (follow the concrete entrance path past the registry office). Daily 07:00-18:00. The most famous and heavily photographed layer. The water plunges down a sheer, high cliff into a wide, shallow rocky pool below. The air is constantly filled with a thick, refreshing mist of cold mountain water. ₦1,000 entry fee per adult.  
• 7.56454.9032 The Second Level Cascade, Upper Trail Ridge (ascend the 138 stone steps from the first tier, then trail down the inner rocks). Daily 07:00-18:00. A wider and taller cascade than the first tier. The water rushes over tiered, mossy rock faces into an extensive natural swimming area where travelers gather to bathe under the heavy water pressure. Included in general entry fee.  
• Abake Hill Village (The Summit Settlement), 7th Level Crest, Koutammakou Border Ridge (requires a rigorous, multi-hour mountain hike past the 5th and 6th tiers.). Daylight hours. A quiet, rustic agrarian mountaintop village hidden completely above the clouds at the crest of the falls. Local folklore claims the river source exudes spiritually from a massive, ancient pot hidden deep within this rocky ridge. Free to explore respectfully. 

For some outdoor touring and hiking, you could try:

• 7.83153.43611 Erin-Ijesa Waterfalls (Olumirin Waterfalls). This is perhaps one of the best hiking in southwestern Nigeria, a seven step waterfall, with a landscape of projecting hills and where you can have a feel of the surrounding Nigerian countryside. There are like seven steps, each with a waterfall except the seventh layer, so prepare for a bit of a workout. Adult ₦1000.  (updated Jan 2022)

Shopping around Erin Ijesha Waterfall is focused primarily on practical gear for the rugged climb and local agricultural produce brought down from the surrounding hills. There are no upscale shopping malls or formal boutiques near the reservation.

• Fresh Ijesha Yams: The Ijesha region of Osun State is famous across southwestern Nigeria for producing some of the finest, largest yams. They are ideal for making smooth, stretchy pounded yam (*iyan*). You can buy them directly from farmers along the roadsides leading to the falls.
• Mats and Woven Crafts: Local artisans in the surrounding villages still weave traditional sleeping mats (*eni*) and market baskets from palm fronds and local grasses, which make excellent authentic souvenirs.
• Fresh Citrus and Fruits: The humid, hilly environment around the waterfalls is perfect for growing sweet oranges, pineapples, and bananas, which are sold fresh and incredibly cheap by local women near the resort tracks.

• 7.56534.90151 Olumirin Resort Gate Stalls (The Waterfall Trailhead Market), Main Entrance Path, Erin Ijesha (clustered outside the ticketing office and registry gate). Daily 07:30-18:00. A collection of small wooden kiosks and tables serving travelers. This is where you can buy essential climbing gear like cheap rubber flip-flops, waterproof plastic phone pouches to protect your camera from the heavy water mist, and shower caps to keep your hair dry under the cascades. Budget.  
• Erin Ijesha Village Market, Main Road, Erin Ijesha Town (in the center of the town, about 2 km before reaching the waterfall gate). Daylight hours; busiest on its designated weekly market day. A traditional open-air Yoruba community market. It is the best place to purchase raw agricultural produce, fresh local fruits, and large tubers of Ijesha yam directly from local traders at non-tourist prices. Bartering is highly expected. Budget. 

Dining around the waterfalls is rustic and casual. While there are no fine-dining establishments within the nature reserve, the surrounding area is excellent for experiencing authentic, traditional Yoruba food, particularly the signature dish of the region.

• Iyan (Pounded Yam) and Egusi Soup: The ultimate culinary pride of the Ijesha people. The locally grown yams are boiled and pounded in a large wooden mortar until they form a smooth, thick, dough-like texture. It is traditionally paired with a rich melon-seed (Egusi) soup cooked with palm oil, locust beans, fish, and bushmeat.
• Boli (Roasted Plantains): A highly popular street food snack sold right at the waterfall base. Ripe or semi-ripe plantains are slow-roasted over an open charcoal grill and typically served hot alongside roasted groundnuts (peanuts).
• Asun: Spicy barbecued goat meat chopped into bite-sized pieces and sautéed with chopped habanero peppers and onions. It is a popular evening treat at local hangouts in the town.

• 7.56544.90121 The Resort Picnic Bukkas (Waterfall Base Food Court), Main Parking Area, Erin Ijesha Resort (clustered near the entrance steps before the ticketing gates). Daily 08:00-18:00. A collection of open-air local food stalls serving hungry hikers. This is the best spot to get freshly pounded Ijesha yam, white soup (Efere Iyan), and cold drinks right after your climb. The atmosphere is casual, and the food is cooked over traditional firewood. Budget.  
• Ijesha Elite Bukka, Osogbo-Ilesha Road, Erin Ijesha Junction (on the main highway junction leading into the town). Daily 07:00-20:00. A clean, popular roadside stop for travelers. Serves a wide variety of Nigerian staples including Jollof rice, fried rice, Amala with Ewedu soup, and fresh catfish pepper soup. Budget to moderate. 

Drinking options inside the waterfall reservation are highly casual, consisting mostly of small roadside kiosks selling cold refreshments to hikers. For a more lively evening bar scene or access to nightlife, visitors typically head out to the main highway junctions or nearby towns like Ilesha.

• Fresh Palm Wine (Emu): A classic local alcoholic beverage tapped directly from palm trees in the surrounding rainforests. It is incredibly sweet and refreshing when purchased fresh in the morning, and pairs beautifully with spicy local dishes.
• Zobo: A deep red, non-alcoholic drink brewed from dried hibiscus petals, spiced with ginger and pineapple, and served ice-cold at the resort gates.

• 7.56544.90111 The Base Kiosks, Olumirin Resort Gate, Erin Ijesha (clustered around the parking lot and ticket checkpoint). Daily 08:00-18:00. Small wooden shops selling carbonated soft drinks, sports drinks, and bottled water. It is essential to stock up on fluids here before attempting to climb to the higher waterfall tiers. Budget.  
• Highway Junction Sit-Out, Ilesha-Akure Expressway, Erin Ijesha Junction (at the town's main exit heading toward the highway). Daily 16:00-23:00. A collection of local open-air bars popular in the evening. They serve ice-cold commercial beers (like Star, Trophy, and Goldberg), palm wine, and hot goat meat pepper soup accompanied by loud Nigerian music. Budget. 

• Olumirin Hotel & Suites: Situated on Akinfenwa Way within Erin Ijesha town, providing immediate, close proximity lodging for travelers who want to hit the trails at sunrise.
• Osogbo and Ilesha Hotels: Because lodging choices inside the immediate village are limited, the vast majority of international tourists book standard accommodations back in Ilesha (30 minutes away) or Osogbo (1 hour away) and complete the waterfall hike as a day excursion.

Communication and mobile reception are generally stable in the town, but the rugged geography of the hills creates unique reception pockets.

• Mobile networks: Nigeria's major telecom providers MTN, Airtel, and Gloall have active 4G data networks inside the main town of Erin Ijesha and around the entrance gate parking lot.
• Waterfall signal drops: As you pass the second waterfall tier and ascend deeper into the rocky, forested mountain gorges toward the upper levels, mobile signals and internet data connectivity drop sharply or disappear completely. Do your essential navigation mapping and messaging before starting the climb.
• Wi-Fi availability: There are no public Wi-Fi hotspots inside the

• Osogbo – Travel west to explore the capital city, home to the sacred Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove, a historic UNESCO World Heritage site filled with Yoruba shrines and monuments.
• Ikogosi Warm Springs – Track eastward across the Ekiti State border to visit the unique geological confluence point where a cold spring and a hot spring run side-by-side.