Ikogosi Warm Spring, Fajuyi Park, Arinta – My Solo Trip To Ekiti

I visited Ikogosi Warm Spring, Fajuyi Memorial Park, and Arinta Waterfall in Ekiti State, Nigeria. Here’s how it went down.

The goal is to travel the world, but as a Nigerian with many limits, one of the best ways to kickstart your travel spirit is to start from where you are.

In late September 2022, I had just gotten my first high-paying job since I started writing professionally, so I decided to finally bring my dream of traveling the world to a start.

I got my bags and got on the road. It was time for a trip to three states in Nigeria.

I explored Osun State first, then Ondo State. 

Catch up: My Solo Trip to Osun State. Interesting Things To Do in Osun State

My Trip To Ondo State. The Mystery of Idanre Hills. Things To Do in Ondo State

The last state I visited before returning home was Ekiti state. 

How Ekiti State Made Me Feel

While I might not remember exact details like how much I spent, what hotel I stayed in, or how much some things cost (honestly, it won’t be useful again in 2024 because have you seen how the prices of things have skyrocketed?), I will never forget how Ekiti State made me feel.

Like I’d always say, “Nigeria is a beautiful country.” We have lots of natural beauty. I just wish we had an active tourism department taking care of them.

On my way to Ikogosi Warm Spring, I saw many beautiful hills and trees, including vast forests that had not been used and were inaccessible. 

I gaped at them and marveled at their beauty, but I could only see them from the sidelines. I just imagined that in other countries, these places would have been made into parks, conservative centers, bungee jumping areas, or ziplining areas. 

Arriving in Ekiti State From Owo

I arrived in Ekiti State on a rainy day. I had just left Owo in Ondo State, where I had a great time with my former colleagues. 

Getting to the state was not a very long journey, as the two states were not too far apart. I got a bike at the bus stop and told him I needed a hotel to stay. 

He first drove me to an ugly old motel, which he said was cheap, but that was not what I wanted. 

Then, he took me elsewhere. This place looked neater and more put together, so I entered. I can’t remember how much I paid, but it wasn’t very pricy. Let’s say around 8000 – 10000 per night as of then.

I settled in and went out to get food to eat because hotel foods are usually more expensive. 

After a hearty meal, I rested for the day in preparation for the adventurous week I had planned out. 

How I Spent One Week In Ekiti State

Whenever I travel, I always leave an availability for work, rest, and adventure. So, if I am to spend a week in a new state or country, my plan would usually be to rest and work on day one, then go out on day two, and so on. 

This was what I did.

I had started working remotely at the time, which gave me the opportunity to work and travel simultaneously (the dream).

However, I always made sure to balance my work and travel lives by putting work first before travel, and this always worked. Sometimes, I would go on an adventure during the day and then catch up with work at night.

Here is a mini sketch of what my Ekiti Itinerary looked like:

Day 1 – Rest and walk around the area

Day 2 – Visit Fajuyi Memorial Park

Day 3 – Catch up with work, eat, rest, see a movie, then take a walk

Day 4 – Visit Ikogosi warm spring and Arinta Waterfall

Day 5 – Catch up with work, eat, rest, see a movie, then take a walk

Day 6 – Tour the environs, patronize and converse with locals

Day 7 – Go home.

If you want a more detailed itinerary, come back to this space. I will soon update it with an Ekiti Solo Trip Itinerary.

My Visit To Fajuyi Memorial Park

Now, to my adventurous experience. The first place I visited in Ekiti state was Fajuyi Memorial Park. I took a bike from my hotel room to the park. 

It was a serene park reliant on former glory. When I got there, it was deserted except for some elderly men enjoying a cool morning at a nearby bar inside the park.

I paid the access fee and was allowed entry.

I felt dejected that it was boring and deserted, but then I remembered that it was not the holiday season and that most people were probably at work. Then it made sense to me why the park was like that.

There was a high tower at the Fajuyi Memorial Park, which you would climb lots of stairs to reach. I love heights, so I went for it and took beautiful pictures there. 

But, of course, the rails were getting old, and the wall paintings were fading out.

I eventually got down and went to the burial place of Francis Adekunle Fajuyi, a Nigerian soldier who was the first military governor of the former Western Region of Nigeria.

His pictures and statue can also be found in the park. 

One thing that stood out about him was that we shared the same birthday date—exactly the same month and day (June 26). That definitely made me feel special.

After looking around for a while, I got tired and was ready to go. 

There were swings and a mini roller coaster in the park, but they looked childish, and it would be dang weird to ride them alone.

Right at the entrance was a restaurant. I entered and ordered a plate of amala. I also got another meal to go.

The Beauty of Ikogosi Warm Spring Resort

Ikogosi Warm Springs is very far from the city center. The bus doesn’t get filled on time, and you have to take about two buses. 

I can’t remember how the journey was, but I know that I eventually took a bike at some point, and he carried me around. 

One way or the other, I have always had the luck of meeting bike men or boat drivers (like the one in Benin Republic) who do not mind being my tour guide. 

The bike ride was long. However, on my way, I enjoyed nature’s beauty, and it was worth it. It got rainy at some point, and I was a little drenched, but like I said, it was worth it!

When we got there, it was deserted as usual. But when we looked around, there was a beautiful swimming pool around the resort and people could plan to stay overnight too.

I don’t know if I like it or not, but I usually end up traveling to places when people are not there, and it always makes me look awkward. Lol. 

Especially in places like beaches or public parks. I like being alone, of course. It also gives me the opportunity to get great pictures without interference, but sometimes, I just want to see what it is like when people are there, too. 

Shoutout to being indecisive.

We had to meet someone inside a house who allowed us entrance to the cold and warm spring resort. 

I told the bike man he could go, but he said he would like to stay. I was happy because the place had no people. I mean. NOBODY. Lol

He showed me around because he had been there before. 

I had always wanted to see the cold and warm spring location. 

It was astounding. I just couldn’t bring myself to fathom how hot and cold water could be in the same proximity yet didn’t mix. 

God is Great!

The bike man also offered to take my pictures. Although the low-camera quality of my phone at the time didn’t help, the pictures he took were horrible.

I saw this later when I was at home, and I almost cried for my life.

But I do remember him with fondness because he was very helpful. 

My Adventures At Arinta Waterfall

We left Ikogosi Warm Springs Resort, and I was about to leave for home when my kind bike rider told me there was a waterfall very close to the resort. 

I was like, sign me up!

We left Ikogosi Warm Springs and proceeded to Arinta Waterfall. It was a short ride, as he said, and we were there. 

Right at the entrance, you would see Arinta Waterfall boldly written in front of an arch. It was also off-season, and there were no visitors, but many young boys from the area were playing and having fun inside the place.

Arinta Waterfall is a very big place. It is very beautiful, and you will walk quite a distance before getting to the main waterfall.

There are lots of beautiful natural places you will encounter on the way. On the way, you will also see farmers and locals doing their thing — carrying logs of woods and plantations.

We went to the waterfall, and I got closer to the water (not too close because I am scared of fast-running water). 

The bike guy took more horrible pictures of me, and then he persuaded me to climb the steep mountains with him, but I declined.

We finished and looked around, and we were ready to go.

He drove me back to the front of my hotel. We haggled prices a bit, I paid, and he was gone. 

He definitely is someone I won’t forget for his kindness. 

I entered my room and rested. 

A long day indeed!

Unforgettable Encounters In Ekiti State

Let me tell you some of the things I can never forget about Ekiti.

1. A bike man slapped me on the road 

This is what happened. I was putting on my headphones while taking a walk in the area around my hotel. It was drizzling, and the roads were really bad. 

Usually, I would listen to music while on the road, but this very day, I hadn’t started playing any song. I just wore my headphones.

Then I heard a bike horn, but as soon as I tried to leave the road, I felt a hard tap on the back of my head. 

I was livid. I shouted at the bike man, so angry and embarrassed. Luckily, it was just us on the road because of the rain. 

He shouted back, “Why are you listening to music while walking on the road?” Then I explained that the music wasn’t even on, but the deed had been done. I hurled abusive words at him, and he did the same. I was so angry and helpless because this was a strange land, and I didn’t even know anyone there.

I eventually ignored him, and he left. I had a mini trauma after that, and occasionally, I would look around when a bike was coming, hoping to see the annoying man or something, but they all wore identical uniform-like clothes, so there was no way to even recognize the man again. 

It was such an experience.

2. I almost climbed the hills of Arinta Waterfall

Just like I did at Olumirin Ijesha Waterfall in Osun State, I was told there was another mountainous step to climb in Arinta. I really wanted to give it a try, but I was so tired and traumatized from my last hike that I couldn’t bring myself to do it. I didn’t even know that could happen. 

3. A Hostile Man At Fajuyi Memorial Park

I have noticed something about two memorial parks now; there is always one man who knows too much. I will explain. 

During my trip to Ghana, I was taking a picture of Kwame Nkrumah at the front of the park before going in when a strange-looking man told me to stop that Kwame was a bad man. He does not deserve to be commemorated. His picture should not be on my phone and all. 

I was confused, so I ignored him. He then continued. (He was walking behind me. I have increased my pace now.)

He said I should go and read my history and learn about the atrocities Kwame committed, and I was just confused, like, “Hello, I’m just an innocent tourist, and this is my first time here.”

Anyway, I didn’t say a word. I ignored him, walked faster, and left him behind.

Now, at Fajuyi Memorial Park, I stood on the pavement where the statue of the man was to take a picture with it. Then, a man started waving from outside the park.

So, the park has these gate bars that allow you to see people from outside even though they can’t get in. 

He waved disapprovingly at what I was doing, but he wasn’t speaking, so I didn’t even know what I was doing wrong.

• Was I standing where I shouldn’t?
• Is there an unspoken rule that I should not take pictures here?

I wondered. 

He was trying to say something. I couldn’t hear him so I ignored him and took pictures to my satisfaction before leaving the place.

He is my birthday mate, mister. I get the rite of passage to do anything I like. Lol

The Future Of Travel Across Nigerian States

To be honest, travel and tourism will get better in Nigeria. 

With the likes of Pelumi Nubi and several people bringing light to Nigeria’s tourism, we will get there. 

I don’t know if there are rumors, but I heard there will be a rehabilitation of Cross River’s Obudu Cattle Ranch Resort, which is a big step forward to great things for the country.

While I have now become an international tourist, I have still not forgotten home. I recently went on a trip to Akwa Ibom to see the beautiful attractions there. I even took my first flight and first domestic flight there.

Even though I am looking forward to visiting countries across other continents, I will definitely not stop touring states in Nigeria until I have seen all 36 states. As of October 2024, I am currently on number 9. Keep up with the numbers on my Lifetime To Do List Page. 

Writing such a lengthy travel experience article for my 2022 Ekiti travel in 2024 is such a feat for me. I didn’t realize I could still remember so much. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I did writing it.

I love that this was as vague and generic as possible in terms of prices so that no matter the year you see/read this, it will still remain valuable to you. 

Keep Up With My Travels Here — where I list the countries and states I have gone, the countries I want to go very soon, the countries I want to go, the countries that seem out of reach but I want to go, and the countries I don’t know if I will ever go. 

Let me know if you have any questions. Feel free to leave a comment about anything and share your own experience, too.