Natural wonders and delightful tourist destinations abound in Oyo. When you’re in town, stop by one of these attractions.
If you enjoy adventure and happen to be in Oyo state, be sure to check out any of the top places to see in the Pace Setter State.
Iyake Lake is Africa’s only recognised suspended/hanging lake, and one of only two in the world after Colorado’s Hanging Lake. It has been named one of the most fascinating places to visit in Nigeria, as well as one of the country’s seven wonders. It is said to have no bottom and to have swallowed those who attempted to measure its depth.
Till today, whoever enters the lake never comes out of it. It is said to be the main god of fertility of the Mountain.
The villagers believe that beneath the lake exists another world that resembles Earth, and that anyone who enters that world by diving into it will never be able to return to our own world again.
2. Bower Tower
The Bower Memorial Tower is a 60-foot-tall structure located on the hilltop of Oke Are in Ibadan, Oyo’s capital city. It was built in 1936 in memory of Captain Robert Lister Bower, the first British Resident in Ibadan. The tower has about 47 spiral staircases and offers a panoramic view of the city’s brown roofs from its top.
3. Agodi gardens
Agodi Gardens and Resort caters to those who seek solitude, picnics, get-togethers with friends, and family time out. It is located at the foot of Old Mokola Hill in Ibadan. It was previously known as Agodi Zoological and Botanical Gardens, which opened in 1967 and was destroyed by a flood in 1980.
4.IITA Forest Reserve
The IITA Forest Reserve is owned by the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) and is managed by its Natural Resource Management department. It is located in Ibadan, between Ojoo and Moniya town. The forest reserve covers 350 hectares out of the 1,000 hectares owned by IITA, and the forest reserve is highly wooded and has natural landscaping features like wetlands, farmlands, a reservoir, and eight lakes and ponds.
The forested reserve is highly diversified and rich in exotic plants and birds and butterflies. There are over 200 bird species living in the reserve and over 220 butterfly species, with 440 plants that are largely used for medicinal purposes throughout West Africa. The rainforest also has sporting facilities like a 9-hole golf course, badminton court, swimming pool, football pitch, and a lawn tennis court among others.
5. UI Zoological gardens
The UI Zoological Garden is one of the best-kept zoos in the country, with animals ranging from mammals to reptiles, amphibians, and birds. It was founded in 1948 and is housed in the Department of Zoology at the University of Ibadan. In 1974, it was transformed into a full-fledged museum. It is open every day of the week.
