Ikogosi Warm Springs

At Ikogosi in Ekiti two springs rise a short distance apart on a wooded hillside, one warm at around seventy degrees at source and one cold, and they run down and join in a single stream where each retains its temperature for a distance before mixing, which visitors test by hand at the confluence. Geologists attribute the warm spring to water circulating deep enough to be heated and returning along a fault; local tradition attaches a story of two wives of a chief turned to water. A resort with accommodation, pools and a conference centre was built around the springs and has been through periods of closure and refurbishment. The setting is forested hillside with a walking path.

History

Local tradition forbade visits to the source of the two springs, but in 1952 the Southern Baptist missionary John S. McGee went there, and a Baptist camp was built on 28 acres, beginning with a swimming pool fed by the warm spring in 1962. The warm spring is about 70 °C at its source and 37 °C at the confluence (Wikipedia, Ikogosi Warm Springs).

The landscape

• The warm spring - the heated source on the hillside.
• The cold spring - the second source a short distance away.
• The confluence - the point where the two streams meet.
• The wooded valley - the forested slope the springs rise on.

When to go

November to March in the dry season for the easiest walking. Weekends bring visitors from Ado-Ekiti and beyond. The resort's condition and opening have varied, so check before booking accommodation.

Practical notes

The resort has closed and reopened several times and standards vary. The springs themselves are small and the visit brief. Entry, guiding and camera fees are charged separately. Paths can be slippery after rain.

Nearby

Ado-Ekiti lies east; Arinta falls are close by.

Key facts