Abeokuta, the capital of Ogun State, takes its name — "Under the Rock" — from Olumo Rock, a massive granite outcrop that rises 137 metres above the city. The rock is sacred to the Egba people, who found refuge in its caves during the inter-tribal wars of the 19th century. It stands as both a monument of faith in unity and the city's defining landmark.
Climbing Olumo Rock is the main attraction. The caves, some 20 feet long and 25 feet wide, were the hiding places of early settlers. From the top you get a sweeping view of the city and the surrounding countryside. The rock has been developed with walkways and a small museum, making it accessible for visitors.
Abeokuta lies about 100 kilometres north of Lagos and 70 kilometres south of Ibadan, making it an easy day trip from either. The city has a rich tradition of adire (tie-dye) cloth production, and the adire market near Itoku is one of the best places in Nigeria to see the craft and buy fabrics. The old quarter around the Ake palace of the Alake of Egbaland is worth a wander, and the nearby First Storey Building — built by missionary Henry Townsend in 1845 — is claimed as the oldest two-storey structure in Nigeria.