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Gurara Falls – Sunday 20 April 2008

This page updated:  21-Jun-08

 

Gurara falls is one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Central Nigeria. During the rainy season the quantity and flow of water is enormous while in the dry season the water is calm and swimming is possible in the small pond under the falls, as well as at the beach where we’ll picnic. It is worth visiting both during the rainy and the dry season.
 
Our trip included sightseeing, swimming, and picnicking at the falls. We drove from Abuja, everybody with their own.  We stopped on the way to look at (and take pictures) of Zuma Rock near Suleja. We picnicked at the falls for a few hours, swim, eat and have fun while enjoying the scenery.

 

The scenery is amazing. Rock formations together with beautiful flora of evergreen trees and bushes, rivers, ponds and waterfalls all around you.

The Gurara Falls change their shape every season of the year. From calm water ponds with slowly flowing water and meager waterfalls – in the dry season (December to March), to a vast, huge flow of water with giant falls all around the site – in the rainy season (July to September) and every possible variety in between. The place is worth visiting at list twice a year in order to witness the enormous change between the seasons.  

                                                                            

This time we chose to visit the site in the dry season in order to enjoy the calm ponds for a swim and water paddling. Following a couple of rainy days the falls were a little rough but still enabled us to enjoy the water in the numerous ponds and streams. It was a beautiful day for hiking, picnicking, and bathing and we all enjoyed a wonderful trip.

   

 

 

 

Maximum number of attendees: 

No maximum, open to all.

 

 

Rating: 

Moderate in that there is a bit of climbing down a steep hill and climbing back up it.  The park service has recently put in somewhat crude concrete steps, but this has made the climb much easier.  Also, the river is rocky and slippery. 

 

 

Security: 

No security concerns.

 

 

Gear:  

As usual - comfortable clothes and shoes, hat, sunscreen, picnic chairs and tables, BBQ and any food you desire and most importantly:  water and drinks, photocamera, bathing suit, change of clothes, towel.

 

 

Costs: 

Fuel: approx. ½ tank / N2000 or so - to be shared among passengers

Entrance fee:  N200 per adult, less for kids

Porters:  N50 per piece per direction (down / up), usually about N200

Snacks

 

 

Timing:   

The ride is about 1½ hours, plus time for picture taking along the road

 

 

Directions:  

From the Hilton, take Shehu Shagari northward toward Maitama

Turn right on the ring road (Nnambi Azikwe)

Turn left at the end toward Suleja

Continue past Kubwa to the expressway to Kaduna/Kano

Turn right onto the Kaduna/Kano expressway

Continue past Zuma Rock

Continue past where all the trucks are parked on both sides of the road

Continue past the palm oil selling shacks on the right

Look for a turn-around in the road and go back ¼ kilometer

Turn right at the junction toward Dikko, Minna

Bear right at the Y junction toward Minna

Turn right in the next town toward Minna

Turn right in the next town toward Minna

Look for an old (or perhaps now new) tourism sign for Gurara Falls and turn right

 

 

Contact Info:   

Event Coordinator