Idanre Hills
An ancient hilltop settlement in Ondo State, with a palace, shrines and a place on UNESCO’s Tentative List.
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Quick facts
- State
- Ondo State
- City
- Idanre
- Category
- Landmarks
- Location
- Idanre, Ondo State
- Height
- About 914 m (3,000 ft) above sea level
- UNESCO
- Added to the World Heritage Tentative List on 8 October 2007, in the cultural category
- Geology
- A Precambrian igneous batholith about 500 million years old
Idanre Hill, also called Oke Idanre, is above the town of Idanre in Ondo State. Its ancient hilltop settlement includes a palace, shrines and other historic sites. It is on UNESCO’s World Heritage Tentative List, which is not the same as World Heritage inscription.
About the hill
The ancient settlement stands on Idanre Hill above the town below. The hill reaches about 914 m (3,000 ft) above sea level and sits on a Precambrian igneous batholith about 500 million years old.
UNESCO added Idanre Hill to its World Heritage Tentative List on 8 October 2007 in the cultural category. A Tentative List entry is not an inscription as a World Heritage Site.
What is on the hill
Sites on the hill include Owa’s Palace, shrines, the Old Court, a belfry, Agboogun’s footprint, thunder water (Omi Apaara) and burial grounds.
Wikipedia lists nine “ancient wonders and beliefs”. Among them are the Ibi Akaso steps, the king’s palace, the wonderful mat, Orosun Hill and the Arun River. These names include local beliefs as well as sites; they are presented here as the source describes them.
History
The hill has been settled since antiquity. According to the supplied Wikipedia account, missionaries led by Rev. Gilbert Carter arrived in 1894 and built a primary school in 1896. A law court with an old prison was established in 1906.
Nature
Wikipedia mentions hyraxes, said to be declining because of hunting, and monkeys near the Orosun hills. It also mentions Perret’s toad, known from a single locality on the hill. These are source descriptions, not a promise of wildlife sightings during a visit.
Festivals
Wikipedia mentions the Ogun festival in October and the Ije festival, when people from the lowlands gather to re-enact local history. Festival dates are not confirmed here, so do not treat the usual month as a confirmed event date.
Visiting
Access arrangements, fees and opening times are not stated in our sources. Ask locally before planning a visit.
Ondo State is not named in the UK Foreign Office lists of areas where it advises against all travel or all but essential travel (page updated 22 Oct 2026).
For other historic sites, see Olumo Rock and the Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove. Read is Nigeria safe to visit? for wider travel advice.
Frequently asked questions
Where are the Idanre Hills?
In Idanre, Ondo State, above the town of Idanre.
Is Idanre Hill a UNESCO World Heritage Site?
No. It has been on UNESCO’s World Heritage Tentative List since 8 October 2007. A Tentative List entry is not a World Heritage inscription.
What is on the hill?
Owa’s Palace, shrines, the Old Court, a belfry, Agboogun’s footprint, thunder water (Omi Apaara) and burial grounds.
Sources and further reading
Last checked
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Is Nigeria safe to visit?
It depends on where you go. Lagos, where most first-time visitors land, is not covered by the UK government's travel warning, but UK and Canadian advice both ask visitors to take care.