Farin Ruwa Falls

Farin Ruwa, white water in Hausa, falls from the edge of the Jos plateau down the escarpment into Nasarawa State, a long thin column of water that local sources give at around 150 metres, which would place it among the highest in Nigeria, though as with other Nigerian falls the figure is not independently established. It is fed by streams on the plateau above and is at its most impressive after the rains, when the column is full and the spray carries a long way. Access is the difficulty: a rough road from Wamba and then a walk of an hour or more over broken ground and stream crossings, with local guides.

What you actually see

• The falling column - the tall thin drop off the escarpment.
• The escarpment - the plateau edge the water comes over.
• The approach walk - the route over broken ground and streams.
• The spray zone - the wet vegetation at the base of the fall.

When to go

September to November after the rains for full flow; it thins considerably by the dry season. The walk is hard in heat, so start early. Roads deteriorate badly in the rains.

Honest expectations

The road in is rough and the walk long over difficult ground. There are no facilities. Height figures are local claims rather than surveys. Guides and fees are arranged informally in the village.

Nearby

Wamba lies south; the Jos plateau is above the escarpment.