Ezeagu Tourist Complex

Ezeagu Tourist Complex is in Obinofia Ndiuno of Udi Local Government Area of Enugu State, Nigeria. The complex is made up of a waterfall, a natural spring and lake, and a cave (full of tunnels and chambers) which is about 3 km distant from the waterfall.

Understand

Ezeagu Tourist Complex is about a half hour drive from the state capital, located in an area of natural beauty. The complex is about 22 hectares in size.

Tourists are attracted to this site because of the believed curative nature of the water from the fall.

History

Ezeagu Waterfall

The waterfall which is indigenously called Ogbagada is about 23 meters high. Water rushes down the cliff with a sound so loud that it can be heard from a distance.

Ogbagada is peculiar because of its association and ability to signal the beginning of harmattan through an unusual loud noise from the falls.

The beauty of the waterfall is well appreciated by the almost 5-km-long cave which is large in size with several compartments.

Flora and fauna

The very tall trees that line the river provide a cool shade for tourists.

In the complex, a herd of cows are seen grazing around the valleys surrounded by green hills from above.

Climate

The temperature of the water keeps changing that when feet are dipped inside it goes from cool to warm in few seconds.

Get in

Passing through the winding Miliken Hills and the 9th Mile, the journey to Ezeagu Tourist Complex is about an hour drive.

Note that the road in the Obinofia community is filled with sand,so be prepared to have a change of cloth if you feel the dirt/sand might be too much for you before or on getting to the complex. While journeying to the complex, you see people pass you by on motorbikes. Vehicles are rarely seen on this road, so, unless you hire a bus of your own, you will have to go on a motorbike.

Fees and permits

According to the belief of the people of the community, it is prohibited for a woman on her period to enter the cave, but never told what would happen if a woman on her period enters the cave.

Get around

The tour guides are always available to show you around through to the cave. It is more fun to go as a group when going on this trip.

See

• Iheneke Lakes. A fresh water lake covering about 5 km². It is also pronounced Heneke. The Iheneke lake is surrounded mainly by bamboo trees. Animals such as pythons, guinea fowls and crocodiles are found in and around the lake. (updated Feb 2024)
• Ogbagada Spring and Waterfall. (updated Feb 2024)
• Ihuezi Cave (Ezeagu Cave). It is made of tunnels that lead to a big chamber. In this chamber, bats and alligator lizard are found. Two small tunnels are found along this chamber which are really small to contain human being. Going out of this tunnel, there is another tunnel where you can follow and keep going until you get to another big chamber, where four other tunnels are found here in particular. One of the four tunnels is the one where you come in through while the other three leads to different directions. When you keep exploring these other three tunnels, following one of the tunnels that contains a stream which flows somewhere but you won't be able to see where the stream drains to because the small exit that leads off to the stream drainage is too small for you to pass through. Another tunnel connects to the second entrance of the cave while the last tunnel leads to the exit of the cave. (updated Feb 2024)

Do

• Swimming. You can decide to swim in the river if you are a good swimmer. (updated Feb 2024)
• Hang out. (updated Feb 2024)
• Picnic. (updated Feb 2024)

Sleep

There are hotels in Enugu.

Stay safe

It is advisable to go to the complex in the early hours of the day because the people of the community might decide to come do some laundry in the later hours of the day. Also, going in that early hour of the day gives you your own quiet time and space because the complex is less crowded at that hour of the day.

You can bring your swimming gears, shorts, rubber shoes/climbing shoes, and your camera to take beautiful shots of the whole exploration.

Go next

• Cave of Giants, Enugu: Also known as the Ngwo cave. It is a deep dark cave found in Enugu. It has served as a tourist site for locals and foreigners over the years. Also, serves as a perfect and safe location for ecological study, sightseeing, and tourism.

• Silicon Hill, Enugu: Located in Nkalagu town in Enugu, sometimes referred to as Enugu's Chappal Waddi because it is 300 metres above sea level.This hill got its name from the mineral (silicon) found here.

• National Museum of Unity, Enugu: Established in 1972 to preserve the country cultural heritage, a research facilities for scholars, historians, and other individuals interested in the diversity of Nigeria as a country. The goal of the establishment of this museum is to unify Nigeria after the Nigerian civil war, National Museum of Unity, Enugu is notable as the only functioning museum in Nigeria dedicated to the No Victor, No Vanquished slogan of 1970 which aim was to heal the wounds and pains inflicted after the Nigerian Civil War. Its establishment was of the believe that the heterogeneous culture which Nigeria exhibits will encourage understanding, love and peaceful co-existence among the various groups, tribes and ethnics of Nigeria thereby bringing about unity in diversity. This museum is a home to host of vast cultural relics from different tribes in Nigeria These cultural relics are always of interest to anyone that has an eye for details and cultural awareness. Touring through the museum, you get to see three different galleries which are representations of different views and beliefs. These galleries include; Unity Gallery (consists objects of arts which illustrate the belief system of the various ethnic groups of Nigeria), Igbo Gallery(showcases the Igbo world in relations to the architectural, religious, social and political systems of the Igbo people), The third gallery is that of the Coal City Gallery(represents the growth and development that arose from the discovery of coal in Enugu State.

• Akwuke Sand Beach: Located along the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway in a town called Akwuke ranks one of the top places to explore and for sightseeing when you visit Enugu.