By: Abdulsalam Omuya & Ekpe Nsa.
Besides Obudu Cattle Ranch, a remarkable mountain resort of global appeal in Cross River State, there is another spectacular destination deserving of equal or greater attention – The Agbokim Waterfalls.
This bewitching natural grandeur of Seven Streams produces a hypnotic optical illusion: a magical Rainbow. Retrospectively, Nasarawa State’s Farin Ruwa Waterfall had, at the time, taken our breath away. But Agbokim knocked us flat!
The sheer beauty and majesty of the Seven Streams cascading thunderously from the high cliff down below onto the lush green rainforest; the imposing backdrop of pitch-black high columns of Basaltic rock; and the spitting billows of misty dew midwifing an entrancing magical rainbow as it interacts with midday glow of clear sunshine. All of these presents out-of-the-world sights to behold. God! It is sublime.
LOCATION/ACCESSIBILITY
Agbokim Waterfall is located in Otere village, Etung Local Government Area of Cross River State, astride Nigeria’s border with Cameroon. It is about 250 kms away from Calabar, the state capital, and some 25 kms from Ikom, the nearest Local Government Area. From Ikom, the Fall is accessible by a combination of a well-tarred road and another distressed but motorable 6km road from Ajasse junction.
DISCOVERY
History has it that the seven river tributaries originated from Buanchor, within Cross River. A certain hunter named Ntankum, brought his family and other Inaku people who previously lived in a mountainous area, to settle there. This was in the early 1900s. This marked the advent of the waterfalls’ discovery. Ntankum, like all the settlers, are of the Ejagam tribe.
ENVIRONMENT
Agbokim Waterfall is situated within a lush green, steep hill and deep valleys. The rainforest region is dominated by predominantly towering trees, which forms absolute canopies about the fall and creates the semblance of a local climate, oozing a soothing, relaxing ambience over tourists. The environment is a tapestry of delicately woven ecosystem.
INTERESTING FEATURES
The approach of the Fall from the cliff face will surely elicit delightful exclamations as it panoramically unveils a profound surprise with its cream colored Seven Streams plunging violently into the valley. The C-shaped hanging cliff Wall with the deluge plummeting from a 25 meter height to the valley floor is profoundly mesmerizing. The iconic but mysterious rainbow, believed to manifest only to lucky tourists, was all through boldly visible. Its deeply saturated spectrum hues, depending on the sun’s intensity, have led locals to believe, even if superstitiously so, that tourists who witness the rainbow will know peace. This notion has over the years attracted huge public interest.
As you navigate the adventurous trail towards viewing the fall from below, you inadvertently pass through an interestingly perched cave, inhabited by rare species of bats, other exotic birds and insects. Eventually, standing at the Delta, – a vantage point to visualize the unending fall from above – the seismic reverberation beneath one’s feet emanating from the sheer drop conveying the cold-spewing dew is reinvigorating.
According to local folklore, there is a mythical, eerie spiritual entity overseeing the enclave. The configuration of the entire circle left a sublime impression difficult to explain. In any case, it is strongly discouraged to wander alone, unaccompanied by local guides.
OUR EXPERIENCES
We were lucky on arrival. The elusive rainbow has just risen meteorically from the column of pitch-black basaltic rock highlighted by the feathering, rising mist from pounding water.
With the blaze of optical color intercalation and sounds of enormous volumes of plunging water, Ekpe and I were refreshingly fixated on the rare marvel. The steep fall over a rocky ledge into a restless pool below stirring a violent, swirling convection current seem surreal. The humongous pile of accumulated basaltic gravel on the floor vividly illustrates erosion caused by the relentless force of water on vertical column.
Why do other waterfalls not share the rainbow attribute? Our confidence in science stood tested. Refusing to mull over the rainbow optical phenomenon, we focused on rationalizing the scenery all we could. The fall is comparable to the legendary Niagara, located in southern Ontario.
The day came to a close too quickly. Silently and sluggishly, we mounted our bikes enroute Ikom. The two-wheeled machines roared to life in response to the rider’s command. We rode out onto the open plains, gradually putting distance between us and Agbokim.
Our mind could picture nothing but the indelible Seven Streams, water pool down the escarpment and the magical, colorful rainbow.
We moved on, with a return for a dejavu someday soon appearing in our bucket wish list. We also envisioned this location a perfect one for a blockbuster, stunt-infused movie shoot: a location which can veritably offer the ‘cliff hanger’ effect. It also provides exceptional and globally appealing backdrops for high profile modeling shoots and presentations. It’s a long list of possibilities where the showcasing of this wonderful geological heritage is concerned.
Nostalgia was tugging at us from all sides. As field Geologists, we are by default tailored for the wild outdoors. But the power behind the convergence of rocks; the crashing of rare waterfalls; complementing sunlight and a magical Rainbow is impossible to match.
By day’s end when all the excitement has settled, one thing remains clear:
This memory is eternal!
We urge all nature lovers and fun seekers to dare this mind blowing adventure.
For any inquiries or messages, please feel free to reach out to me via email @
omuyalooks@yahoo.com
