Assop Falls

Assop falls sit directly beside the main road from Jos toward Abuja, where a stream drops over granite ledges into a rocky basin surrounded by boulders and scrub, and their accessibility rather than their scale is why they are known: the site has been a picnic stop for decades, and it has appeared in Nigerian films and music videos often enough to be recognisable. The drop is modest, around ten to fifteen metres, and the flow varies sharply with the season. Rocks around the pool are used for sitting and climbing. Facilities are a car park, some shelters and vendors, and the site is busy at weekends and holidays.

What you actually see

• The rock ledges - the granite steps the water comes over.
• The pool and boulders - the basin and rocks below the drop.
• Picnic shelters - the built facilities around the site.
• The plateau scrub - the vegetation of the surrounding country.

When to go

September to November after the rains for the best flow; the falls reduce to little in the dry season. Weekdays are quiet; weekends and public holidays are crowded. Mornings are cooler.

Honest expectations

The falls are small and can be almost dry by March. It is crowded and noisy at weekends with music and vendors. Litter is a persistent problem. Rocks around the pool are slippery.

Nearby

Jos lies northeast; Abuja is southwest.