Agbokim Waterfalls

Agbokim is a set of falls where the Manyu river comes over a rock escarpment in seven separate streams that drop side by side into a gorge, surrounded by rainforest, and the spread rather than the height is what makes it distinctive; the drop is moderate but the width and the number of channels give it its character. Mist from the falls catches sunlight through the morning. It lies close to the Cameroon border on the road out from Ikom, and a viewing platform and steps have been built, though maintenance has been intermittent. The surrounding forest holds birds and butterflies in numbers.

History

The area's recorded history begins in the early 1900s, when a hunter named Ntankum brought his family and other Inaku people down from a mountainous area to settle here. The Ejagham community still works to protect the forest around the seven streams of the falls (Wikipedia, Agbokim Waterfalls).

What you'll find

• The seven streams - the separate channels dropping side by side.
• The gorge below - the basin the falls come down into.
• Rainforest surround - the forest enclosing the escarpment.
• Morning mist - the spray catching light early in the day.

When to go

September to December after the rains, when all seven channels run; in the dry season some channels stop and the effect is reduced. Mornings are best for the mist and light. Weekends bring local visitors.

Practical notes

Not all channels run outside the wet season. Facilities have been neglected and the viewing structures are in variable condition. The road out from Ikom is rough. Fees are charged informally.

Nearby

Ikom lies west; the Ikom monoliths are nearby.

Key facts