Kwa Falls

Kwa falls lie in a gorge on the Kwa river in the forest south of Calabar, where the river comes over rock into a deep pool enclosed by high walls of vegetation and stone. Reaching the water means descending a long flight of concrete steps, several hundred of them, cut into the gorge side, and the climb back up in the humidity is the hardest part of the visit. The pool is used for swimming and the rocks for sitting. The forest around is part of the Oban hills, and birds and butterflies are abundant. The site has had periods of neglect with the steps deteriorating, so conditions vary.

The landscape

• The gorge - the steep walls enclosing the river and pool.
• The step descent - the long concrete stairway to the water.
• The pool - the swimming basin below the fall.
• Rainforest - the Oban hills vegetation around the gorge.

When to go

November to March in the drier season for safer steps and access; this is a very wet region and the rains make everything slippery. Flow is strongest in and just after the rains. Mornings are cooler.

Before you go

The stairway is long, steep and in variable repair; the climb back is hard in humidity. Facilities are minimal and have been neglected at times. The access road is rough. Currents in the river can be strong after rain.

Nearby

Calabar lies north; Cross River national park surrounds the area.

Key facts