Ngwo Cave and Waterfall

Useful Information

Location:	Ngwo-Asaa 400102, Enugu, Nigeria. (6.422759, 7.455343)
Open:	no restrictions. [2025]
Fee:	free. [2025]
Classification:	Gorge
Light:	n/a
Dimension:
Guided tours:	self guided
Photography:	allowed
Accessibility:	no
Bibliography:
Address:	Ngwo Cave and Waterfall, Ngwo-Asaa 400102, Enugu, Nigeria, Tel: +234-901-718-1984. Mr Chimaze, Tel: +234-07037398162. Mr Ifeanyi, Tel: +234-9068303591.
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

Description

Ngwo Cave and Waterfall aka Cave of Giants is typically used by people to spend some time and shower in the waterfall. But the "cave" also has cultural significance for the Igbo people. They see the cave as a sacred place and home to a number of important cultural sites, including shrines and burial sites. The rock formation seems to be reddish sandstone and a small brook which winds through the sandstone has formed a gorge-like section with a small erosional cave. At one point there is a probably 5 m high cliff and a waterfall, which normally has about the amount of water of a shower and may thus be used to take a shower.

The site is listed on numerous webpages, but the details differ greatly, and actually there is no reliable information on this site at all. So this description is based on pictures and videos of the site, there are actually numerous videos on youTube. The pictures show red sandstone, so the texts about a cave with stalagmites and stalactites is obviously nonsense. Actually it seems cave is the local term for a gorge, so Ngwo Cave is the gorge which ends at the waterfall. There are some small shelter-like erosional caves though.

The site is in general mentioned for recreation, especially bathing and showering in the waterfall. At least, if you don't care about the hygienic situation. A word of caution: tropical countries unfortunately have tropical diseases, and water may contain bacteria and parasites. You may catch an annoying gastrointestinal infection, but also dysentery or billharzia. The locals are resistant to most diseases, but this does not apply to foreigners, who may spend the rest of their vacation in a hospital room. We strongly recommend gum boots for walking in the shallow water and do not take a shower either.

The site is located in the Ngwo Pine Forest Formation (NPFF), a patch of mountain rainforest and cloud forest on the Ngwo Hills in Igboland. The area was a forest reserve established in the early 20th century by the British Colonial Government. They intended to avoid deforestation and ensure a sustainable supply of timber, so the intent was actually not nature protection but business protection. However, after almost a century most of the forest is gone, there are numerous suburbs of Enugu, the state capital, roads and agriculture. Some forest was destroyed by mining coal in open casts. Only hills which are too steep for buildings or agriculture still have patches of forest. This includes this site, which is a short hike along the brook upstream from the village.