Am a serving corps member in Nigeria and i got posted to Ekiti state for my one year compulsory national service. I got posted to the Forestry commission located at the state secretariat in the state's capital of Ado-Ekiti.
Some weeks back, we embarked on a biodiversity survey to study and get some inventory of landmark ecological sites and potential sites for ecotourism. One of the site we got to visit was the Arinta waterfall located in Ipole-Iloro in Ekiti State.
The water flows through lush evergreen forest, crystal clean and rushing and dribbling through rocky hills from a great height and descends to create flowing pool below. The thick vegetation of the region ensures a modest temperature is maintained all day long and keeps the water clear and clean.
The water is a kind of pride to the Ipole people as its attracts local and foriegn tourists as well as hikers who come to admire the beauty of nature and have fun in the refreshing water of the spring.
The crystal clear waters fizzles out a cloud of water vapour on the surrounding. Knife-life rays of sunlight pierce the air and gives out a rainbow at the plunge pool.
The valley that precedes the waterfall is fix with huts to accommodate visitors to this site and gives and exciting view of the thick green vegetation around the waterfall and also a perfect view of the waterfall. I personally see it as a place to relieve and relax your nerves after a long week of working and getting taut nerves. Nothing heals like nature and nothing beats mother nature in the creation of beauty and Arinta waterfall is an example of such beauty.
The steep slopes of the ridge, sight of a beautiful valley wading between two ridges beckons the eyes. The landscape features a rolling expanse of plush green vegetation set with a facelift of alternating rust-brown tablets at a distance, and a sky-line bedecked with softly undulating ridge tops on the opposite side. The at it peak sun triggars the natural sweetness of the valley below, casting it in a harmonious romance of bright and dark shades of leaf green. The tarred road creeps down the other side of the ridge to hug the humble enclave of Ipole-Iloro.
Talking about healing. As many other rivers and streams found in this part of the country, Arinta waterfall is believed by the locals to have spiritual healing properties that clears infirmities when the diseased person baths in it. I personally named it "The Ganga Ma of Ipole".