Ondo State · Nigeria
Owo travel guide
Owo is a city in Ondo State, Nigeria, home to about 222,000 people.
- Nearest airport
- AKR32 km · Akure Airport
- Currency
- NGNnaira
- Time zone
- Africa/Lagos
- Language
- English
About
About Owo
Owo is a city and local government area in Ondo state, Nigeria. Between 1400 and 1600 CE, it was the capital of a Yoruba city-state.
In their oral tradition, Owo traces its origins back to the ancient city of Ile-Ife, the cradle of Yoruba culture. Oral tradition also claims that the founders were the sons of the Yoruba deity Oduduwa, who was the first ruler of Ile-Ife. The early art-historical and archaeological records reinforce these strong affiliations with Ife culture. Owo was able to maintain virtual independence from the neighboring kingdom of Benin but was on occasion required to give tribute. The transmission of courtly culture flowed in both directions between the Benin and the Owo kingdoms.
Wikipedia and Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Things to do
What to see and do in Owo
See
- Olowo of Owo Palace
- Owo Museum
Do
Igogo Festival: This festival takes place annually. It lasts for a period of seventeen days and begins with Upeli proceedings by the Iloro chiefs. This Upeli procession lasts for 12 days and features several activities including Utegi, Ugbabo, Uyanna and Ugbate. This festival is also a period of celebration of new yams and masquerade dance. Dancing in the market by the monarch is also one of the rites performed during the festival. The festival is done in remembrance of the king’s wife who turned into a tree while she was being pursued by the king’s slave so that she will return to the palace after her rival violated her taboos in her presence.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
When to go
The best time to visit Owo
Owo has no month that is both mild and dry by the measure used here. February is the warmest month, with average highs of 35 °C; September is the wettest, with about 283 mm of rain.
Comfortable means average daytime high between 18 °C and 29 °C and under 80 mm of rain in the month. Averages for 1991–2020 over the surrounding area, a grid square about 50 km across, so a coast or a nearby mountain can make the town itself warmer or cooler. Data: CRU TS v4.10, Climatic Research Unit, University of East Anglia (Open Database License).
Getting there
Getting to Owo: airports and arrival
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Akure Airport (AKR), about 32 km from the city centre in a straight line; Benin Airport (BNI, 98 km) is also within reach.
Getting in
There are different buses that transport people from various parts of the state to Owo ranging from ₦500 depending on your location. People also come from various parts of the country to Owo directly paying different prices depending on your location. People move down to Owo with plane from different parts of the country especially Lagos. From Lagos to Owo using a plane is about 1½ hours. The prices also vary depending on locations.
Getting around
People move around Owo to all parts of the city using buses apart from the taxi which can be used to transport people and goods. Bikes are also used to convey people to some parts of Owo especially places that are far from the road or are rough for the use of buses.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
AKR · Akure Airport
BNI · Benin Airport
Questions
Owo: questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Owo?
Owo has no month that is both mild and dry by the measure used here. February is the warmest month, with average highs of 35 °C; September is the wettest, with about 283 mm of rain.
Which airport is closest to Owo?
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Akure Airport (AKR), about 32 km from the city centre in a straight line; Benin Airport (BNI, 98 km) is also within reach.
What currency is used in Owo?
naira (NGN).
Nearby
Destinations near Owo
Sources: city facts from Wikidata and Wikipedia; airports from OurAirports; climate from CRU TS v4.10 (University of East Anglia Climatic Research Unit), 1991–2020 monthly means, 0.5° grid; places to stay, guest scores and amenities from each operator's own public pages. How this guide is made.