A few weeks ago, in what I now refer to as an amazing twist of fate, I got to spend a night at and explore the beautiful grounds of the Nike guesthouse in Osogbo, and also visit the Osun osogbo grove.
I call this a twist of fate because I had no idea any of these things would happen. I was headed to Ede in Osun state on a work trip, and the thought of being a tourist never crossed my mind. Shocking right? I guess we can chuck that up to me not being particularly excited about leaving Lagos.
Related: #TravelNigeria – My Experience At Mount Ned Nwoko Resort In Asaba.
It’s also a twist of fate because I had already checked in, and spent a night at the guest house I was booked to stay at, and I didn’t exactly see that plan changing.
Fortunately, one of the other guests couldn’t stop going on about the lovely place she’s staying at, and the lovely breakfast they have in the garden every morning. The best part? It was practically the same rate – cost wise – with where I was currently staying. Of course, I was sold. Although, any reason to get away from the other guest house would have been welcomed with open arms.
And so it turned out that on that blessed day, I packed up my bag, said good riddance to the other place, and headed down to see this amazing place she was referring to.
*Cue in the Nike Guesthouse *
We arrived at night, so I didn’t get to fully take in the sights. My first thought was “definitely an artsy space but err not amazing”. What I was expecting, I don’t know. Although, in terms of the offerings in Osun state, it is a good space.
It has the vibe of a family house (It probably is), with personal pictures scattered around and a decent amount of artwork. It was intriguing, I’ll give it that. And the manager was so homely and welcoming that it was easy to feel right at home.
The most intriguing part about the Nike guesthouse though is the interesting way they merged the ensuite bathroom with the room. It was a first for me, seeing a bathroom inside the room but separated by just a curtain. I found it interesting and eventually chose to go with that, as opposed to the other room which had a proper bathroom layout.
I woke up the next morning quite refreshed and set out to explore the grounds, and this right here is when I fell in love with the Nike guest house.
The garden was way bigger than I envisioned it and so beautiful! Phew! It was love at first sight for me. We got to have breakfast surrounded by all that beauty, and some pesky animals lol (like the turtle and geese). It was a lovely experience.
The rate for a room at the Nike guesthouse is N6000/night regardless of which room type you choose. It’s a flat rate. If you’re looking for a place to stay/ hotel in osogbo, check out the Nike guesthouse.
All good things eventually come to an end, so we said our goodbyes and continued with our journey to Akure. But not before making a pitstop at the Osun Osogbo grove.
I was excited about visiting the grove because I’ve always wanted to see it. The Osun-osogbo grove is a UNESCO heritage site and regarded as the home of the goddess of fertility- Osun.
I don’t have so much to say about the grove, because it didn’t exactly excite me. It’s always nice to cross places off my list, and I was happy to see it but I wasn’t awestruck or anything. Don’t get me wrong – it is a beautiful place. All that stone carvings and the intricate details on them are stunning.
Related: An Unforgettable Trip To Ibadan + My Review of IITA Ibadan.
We paid N200 to get in, it was cheaper for Nigerians. I also had to pay N1000 to take pictures with my phone. Although, in hindsight, I didn’t have to because no one was checking for that inside. meh
On getting in, you still need to drop some money for a group of women with small plates. I didn’t drop any, and they were about ready to kick me out. My colleague left some money for both of us, so they didn’t push any further.
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Have you ever been to Osun or visited the Osun osogbo grove ? What was your experience like? Please share your thoughts and let’s connect!
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It’s beautiful!! My dad’s from Osun, I’ve never been there (we only went to my mom’s hometown for some reason growing up) but now I wanna go when I visit Nigeria!
This is beautiful
Any advise for someone who wants to get to Osogbo safely from Lagos.Apparently the train from Alagomeji at Yaba only gets as far as Ibadan and so one is forced to go by road from Ibadan to Osogbo which in these days of kidnappings…Did you make your trip from Lagos to Ede/Osogbo by road? is it safe? Thanks for your nice blog; I must start mine and will surely invite you to comment!