Olumo Rock
A granite boulder that gave Abeokuta its name, a natural stronghold where the Egba sheltered from war in the 19th century. From the top you overlook the city’s tin roofs and the Ogun River.
Olumo Rock is a cluster of granite boulders rising about 137 meters above the ground. In Yoruba, “Abeokuta” means “under the rock.” During the 19th-century Yoruba civil wars, the Egba used the rock as a natural fortress and hiding place. Caves, an ancient altar, a sacred tree, and wartime refuges still survive, and guides explain the Egba history of the town’s founding. You can climb the steps cut into the rock face or ride a sightseeing elevator up and down. From the summit, you look over the dense reddish-brown tin roofs of the city and the Ogun River. The site is run by the state government, and tickets include a guide. Foreign visitors pay higher prices. At the foot of the rock are a museum, restaurants, and a children’s play area.
Opening hours
About 08:00–18:00
Nearby sights
- Itoku Adire Market
- Ake Palace & Centenary Hall
- Cathedral Church of St. Peter, Ake
- Kuti Heritage Museum
- Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library