Gurara Falls, Niger State

Gurara Falls, Niger State



GThe Gurara Waterfalls is one of the famous tourist sites in Nigeria. Located in Niger State and close to FCT, the site is popular with foreigners and Nigerians who visit the recreational area to swim, have picnics and go bird watching. Abuja Facts organized a road-trip to the fall in October 2014, with support from the Niger State Tourism Corporation. Here are 10 facts that you may not know about the waterfalls:

1. The Gurara Wateralls was reportedly discovered in 1745 by a Gwari hunter called Buba, as he was travelling from Zaria to hunt for animals.

2. According to legend, the Gurara falls and river were named after two gods once worshipped by Gwari people: Gura and Rara.

3. The community around the waterfalls used to worship the falls. If they had any problems, they used to go to the waterfall to pray and make sacrifices.

4. When some Europeans discovered the falls in 1925, they turned it into a recreational area, and so the sacrifices were stopped.

5. Gurara waterfalls sits between Suleja and Minna in Nigeria State, about an hour’s drive from Abuja.

6. The fall is at its peak between April and November, and at its lowest between January and March.

7. The waterfall spans about 300 meters across and drops 50 meters below.

8. According to the area manager of the waterfalls, Mr Abdullahi Suleiman, the government of Niger State plans to develop the site to international standards and has earmarked 1,105 acres for that purpose. An indigenous private developer has shown interest in partnering with the Niger State government. While the state government has developed the road to the waterfall, the developer plans to establish a park, conference center, hotel, and restaurants around the falls.

9. It is safest to swim in the river during dry season i.e. January-March, when the water is clean and calm.

10. There are constant security operatives to ensure a safe environment for visitors and tourists.
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This impressive waterfall, an hour's drive from Abuja, is 30 metres tall with a span of up to 200 metres across, dependent on the season. There are two main streams of water crashing over the cliff face, however during the height of rainy season the whole cliff face is engulfed by a formidable curtain of white water.

The Gurara river is a large tributary of the famous River Niger and is most impressive after the rainy season when the water becomes a raging torrent while in January, during the dry season and when water levels are low, there are clear pools at the bottom of the falls in which visitors can swim.

As well as being an area of outstanding natural beauty the area surrounding Gurara Waterfall is also a fantastic place for bird watching.There is an on-going plan to develop the waterfall into a resort.