The Ikogosi Warm Spring Resort is Nestled in the lush rainforests of Ekiti State, Nigeria; this hidden gem is home to a rare geological wonder, the only place in the world where cold and warm spring waters meet and flow side by side. You’ll be mesmerized watching the waters gently flow into each other yet refusing to mix as if separated by an invisible barrier.
In this article, you will learn about the History and Myths of Ikogosi Warm Springs Resort.
Overview of Ikogosi Warm Springs
The Ikogosi Warm Springs is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Nigeria, with records of visitors dating back to the 1950s. Located in Ikogosi, Ekiti State, Ikogosi is part of the Ekiti West Local Government Area. The resort is home to a rare geological wonder of warm and cold spring water flowing side by side. According to local legend, the warm and cold springs are believed to be the meeting point of the male and female spring waters.
Scientists, however, have a different theory that the warm and cold springs arise from separate underground sources with varying temperatures. The warm spring has a temperature of up to 70°C at its source, while the cold spring is about 37°C.
The entire area, with its lush green foliage, is amazing. The immediate surrounding area of the spring (resort center) is approximately 31.38 hectares in size and is shielded from erosion by towering evergreen trees that form a canopy beneath which tourists can relax.
The spring is said to offer medicinal properties for ailments such as rheumatism and guinea worm. The undulating landscape improves the aesthetic appeal of the people of Ikogosi. The people of Ikogosi revere the goddess of water and have a great belief in the folklore around her.
History of Ikogosi Warm Springs
The Ikogosi Warm/Cold Spring is said to be the place in the world where cold and warm springs coexist. However, we lack the coordination ability to harness and enhance Nature’s gifts in order for the people of Ikogosi to mobilize wealth and the country to generate revenue. Most commonly in the tourism industry, Europeans endeavour to show the way and ring the bell. And when it comes to the time for us to manage these projects, we inevitably show our insensitivity and utter incompetence.
The situation of Ikogosi Warm and Cold Spring in Ikogosi Ekiti, Ekiti State, is pitiful, as it has undergone immeasurable humiliation and abandonment at the hands of those tasked with turning it around. Enjoy the tragic story of the world’s only tourism site where warm and cold springs flow side by side and meet at a confluence.
The Myth
According to local folklore, the Ikogosi Warm Spring was discovered during a hunting expedition by a local hunter named Ogunkugan.
Ogunkugan, tired and thirsty, was compelled to visit the water fountain, which he subsequently realized had a higher temperature than other similar streams in such a beautiful area. The hunter hurried to the Oba’s palace, filled with fear and ecstasy, to reveal the amazing wonder that he had just discovered.
The Oba immediately dispatched a retinue of traditional title chiefs to the spot to corroborate the incredible story. It was finally confirmed to be true. Such a spot must be idolized, the people reasoned, and one Ijoye Baaleshi was instantly appointed spiritual leader of the “Awo” (the traditional term for the warm spring). Similarly, the adjourning cold spring, which confluences in the same area, was named “Awele.”
“For a long time during the olden days, the warm spring automatically became a place of traditional worship and point of intercession with the gods by the community dwellers.” And it stayed so until the Baptist Missionary Church arrived in town.
Reverend MacGee’s Arrival
While tendering this natural gift, the people of Ikogosi met a Baptist missionary, Reverend MacGee, a Briton, who was given a block of property near the spring. Recognizing the significance of the spring, Rev MacGee established a Baptist youth camp on the property, complete with chalets, a chapel, his residence, a recreational zone, and a dormitory. These are enclosed on the right as you pass through Ikogosi on your way to Ipole Iloro.
He ran the spring site as a tourist attraction, providing lodging for visitors who came to see and feel the spring’s wonders. Rev MacGee enjoyed running the site until one night when he ran with a pan-Africanist and outspoken social critic.
Tai Solarin’s connection
Knowing the tourism potential of Ikogosi Warm spring, the late Tai Solarin organized a trip for certain Mayflower School students from Ikenne to Ikogosi, which was not a light experience given the transportation system at the time.
The Mayflower group arrived in Ikogosi extremely late, tired, and worn out. The excursionists sorely required a place to sleep for the night till the next day, as there was nothing they could do by that time of arrival. Other than Rev MacGee’s youth camp, no hotel or guest house could accommodate the excursionists.
Solarin was alleged to have contacted Rev MacGee and requested accommodation, which the latter claimed to have declined due to the cheap tariff offered by the former for the night and the fact that Solarin did not pre-book his accommodation. The ensuing quarrel and breakdown of discussion resulted in the late Tai and the students sleeping in the open.
On the second day, Solarin drafted a powerful appeal to the Western State Government saying that Rev MacGee was practicing apartheid in Ikogosi, the site of a natural gift from God in Nigeria. This petition sparked debate and raised questions about the propriety of a Briton controlling such a site in Nigeria, even going so far as to restrict people’s access to the facilities, despite the fact that he built such structures there.
And then, one thing led to another, Rev MacGee was requested to leave the land, and he returned to his homeland, leaving all the structures he had built behind.
The intervention of General Adebayo
The controversy and uproar caused by Solarin’s petition brought the Warm Spring to the attention of the Western State government, led by General Adeyinka Adebayo, who directed the Western State government to take over the site and build an enclosure at the source of the Warm Spring.
After Reverend MacGee’s departure, General Adebayo was said to have established the first touch of government by laying the foundation for the first building on the site. It received no additional value or significance from military governors and administrators until General Olusegun Obasanjo announced his retirement as the head of state.
Chief Obasanjo’s Saving Grace
Recognizing the need to develop the country’s tourism potential, General Olusegun Obasanjo, the then Head of State, gave each state a sum of one million naira as part of his valedictory programs and parting gifts to the 19 states in 1978.
The government of Chief Adekunle Ajasin
The sum of one million naira was big back then, and only Ondo State, led by late Chief Adekunle Ajasin, spent it on the project it was intended for. Instead of allowing politicians to mismanage the funds, Ajasin worked with the then-Nigerian Tourist Board, then led by Alhaji Ahmed Gumel, now known as the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), to construct some chalets and embarked on improving the spring’s raw state.
Ikogosi’s golden era- Col. Opaleye’s tenure
This collaboration was maintained even after the death of the 2nd Republic until the period of Colonel Opaleye, a military administrator who continued with the purpose. The collaborative agreement which the late Chief Ajasin had with the Nigerian Tourists Board, which ensured the construction of the swimming pool, the gatehouse, which collapsed and was rebuilt, the zoological garden, and furnished the chalets.
The Opaleyes Ruled during the Golden Age of Ikogosi Warm Spring
That was the time when the spring was so beautiful that the Ondo State governor, Opaleye, decided to convene the State Executive Council Meeting there. Following Opaleye’s departure, the spring received little attention, as it was left to the Ministry of Tourism and the Tourism Board to manage.
The location deteriorated, particularly when one of the lions in the zoo, which had been denied food for many days due to inattention to the spring, took courage and bailed himself out of starvation by devouring a zoo keeper. Though the lion was shot and killed, its carnivorous behavior instilled fear in the hearts of people who dared to travel into territory where a lion had devoured a human being.
The Efforts of Otunba Niyi Adebayo
This extinguished whatever interest the people had in Ikogosi warm spring. Therefore, it was considered as a contagious plague by the people of Ondo State and successive governments. As a result, the spring and infrastructure were left to rot until the foundation of Ekiti State and the arrival of Otunba Niyi Adebayo as the first Executive Governor of Ekiti State.
As a cosmopolitan and well-connected individual, he arranged an Economic Summit for the state. He rebuilt the chalets to a degree of toleration for guests as the spring was turned into a venue. Otunba Adebayo’s renovation was not built on by his successor, Dr Ayodele Fayose, who was said to have ordered the removal of all fixtures, fittings, beddings, furniture, and electronics gadgets because it was perceived to be a meeting point for his opponents. Despite the fact that he rehabilitated the Ipole Iloro Ikogosi road, his stated instruction was carried out.
That single action sealed the fate of Ikogosi’s warm spring, as all infrastructure collapsed, the transformer caught fire, PHCN cut off power, and the chalets were overrun by bush and reptiles. Despite having a blueprint for developing the Ikogosi-Ipole Iloro, Erijiyan, a tourism zone because of the Arinta waterfall, the Engineer Segun Oni government was not given the template or time to do anything meaningful on Ikogosi Warm Spring.
Rehabilitation
Between 2011 to 2014, the Ekiti state government under the leadership of its then Governor Kayode Fayemi, was able to reach a deal with resources that allowed the development of the facilities to reach their current high level. All of the present, renovated buildings with a STONE section on their exterior are buildings that were preserved from the Original Baptist Church.
The Myth and Legend of the Warm and Cold Springs
The Warm and Cold springs have attracted the Yorubas to the location and have given rise to many myths and legends surrounding the springs.
One legend says that Ikogosi was the site of an ancient war in which the god Oduduwa and his subjects fought and conquered the Egbas. They were said to have paused to refresh themselves with the warm and cold water of the springs. Another myth claims that the warm spring is the wife of the cold spring and that the cold spring came down from heaven to rescue his wife from the unwanted affection of the overly romantic warm spring. Their eternal struggle continues and is symbolized by the meeting of their waters.
How Much is the Ikogosi Warm Springs Entrance Fee?
The entrance fee to access the Ikogosi Warm Springs resort is very affordable. The entrance fee is just 500 Naira per person. This small fee goes towards maintaining the resort and natural springs.
Facilities at Ikogosi Warm Springs
- Accommodation: Ikogosi Warm Springs Resort provides comfortable accommodation in the form of chalets, bungalows and hostel rooms.
- Restaurant: The resort has an on-site restaurant that serves both local and intercontinental cuisine with foods sourced from the surrounding community.
- Bar: Unwind with a drink at the resort’s bar open daily.
- Swimming Pools: Take a dip in the resort’s swimming pools – one fed by the warm spring and the other by the cold spring.
- Spa: Pamper yourself at the full-service spa offering massages and treatments.
- Camping: For those who love the outdoors, the resort offers camping facilities.
- Event Centers: The resort has multiple event centers suitable for conferences, seminars, weddings and other events.
- Adventure Park: Experience adventure at the resort’s recreational park, which offers activities like rock climbing, rope courses, hiking and more.
Tips For Visiting Ikogosi Warm Spring Resort
When visiting Ikogosi Warm Spring Resort, here are some tips to keep in mind:
- Make advanced bookings. The resort can get quite busy, especially on weekends and holidays. Book your accommodation and tours in advance.
- Bring comfortable walking shoes. There are many hiking trails to explore the surrounding nature. Proper shoes will make it more enjoyable.
- Don’t miss the warm and cold spring. The highlight of any visit! Take a dip in the warm spring, then the cold spring, for a refreshing experience.
- Try the local cuisine. Enjoy dishes made from fresh organic ingredients from the area. Pounded yam, amala and eba are popular.
- Shop for souvenirs. Handcrafted items like wood carvings, local textiles, jewelry and pottery make great mementoes for your trip.
- Take a guided hike. Local guides can lead you on hikes through scenic trails. Spot birds and wildlife in their natural habitat.
- Relax at the spa. Unwind with a massage treatment, facial or body wrap. The spa uses natural spring water and local ingredients.
- Stargaze at night. The resort is located in a rural area with little light pollution. At night, gaze up at a sky filled with countless stars.
Conclusion
You’ve now learned all about the history of the hidden gem that is Ikogosi Warm Springs Resort. Nestled in the lush greenery of a tropical rainforest, this natural wonder offers a peaceful escape from the everyday grind. The next time life feels overwhelming, or you’re craving an adventure, pack your bags and head to this secluded paradise. As you soak in the soothing mineral waters, gaze up at the vibrant birds soaring overhead and unwind, surrounded by the calming sounds of nature.