Review of Agodi Gardens

Located in the heart of Ibadan, at the foot of Old Mokola Hill is Agodi Gardens which stands out in the city of brown roofs. It would interest you to note that Agodi Gardens was originally created in 1967 and managed by the Western region then. It was formerly called Agodi Zoological and Botanical Gardens and was a top notch recreational centre. However, the infamous Ogunpa flood disaster in Ibadan, which happened in 1980 destroyed the garden; the flood swept away most of the animals and left the place in a deplorable state. Thankfully in 2012, the government decided to renovate it and in 2014 the new Agodi Gardens was re-opened.

Agodi Gardens has a lot of nice features including a water park, children’s play area, rides, picnic spots, restaurant area, a lake and a mini zoo. It is very serene, lush and green; perfect for photo shoots, pre-wedding shoots, picnics, garden parties, outdoor events, concerts and even weddings. Every visit to Agodi Gardens is enchanting due to the sheer beauty and serenity of the place.

Location

Agodi Gardens is located on Parliament road Ibadan, Oyo state. It is about ten minutes from the University College Hospital (UCH) Ibadan, which makes it accessible and easy to locate. On two occasions, asking a few locals and using the directions on Google maps helped us to easily locate it.

Entrance fee

The entrance fee into Agodi Gardens is 500 naira per person and an extra 500 naira for access to the swimming pool.

Refreshments

It houses a restaurant and several shops that sell refreshments. External drinks are not allowed into the park, but external food is allowed. They also have a local shop that sells palm wine, pepper soup, asun and other local delicacies that you should try out. Why travel if not to try out new things?

Attractions

As stated earlier, the garden provides a lot of side attractions which is one of the reasons why Agodi is on the list of tourist attractions in the country.

Waterpark

The waterpark is one of Agodi Garden’s most prominent features. It has two water slides and three pools which cater to both adults and children.

Lake

Agodi has a nice lake where visitors can take a boat ride and enjoy the scenic views of the rest of the garden.

Mini zoo

The zoo has a lion, crocodile, a few monkeys and ducks. A sign at the entrance of the zoo clearly states that it is still being worked on, so the amount and variety of animals present can be excused.

Play area and rides for children

Children have a lot to keep them busy, so it is a perfect place to take your kids to for relaxing family time. There are swings, trampolines, a bouncy castle and much more.

Picnic and Gardens area

Everywhere in Agodi is green and perfect for picnics, but there are specific picnic areas and this is one of the best things about the place; just being able to spread your mat, bring out your food and play games or just simply relax. One thing clearly lacking in Nigeria is recreational and relaxation spots, so the Gardens caters to this gap.

Generally, Agodi Gardens makes for a perfect getaway from all the noise and hustle of the city, however, a lot still needs to be done to bring it up to international standard and make it an ideal destination. During a recent visit, they shared their plans to turn it into a massive resort with hotel chalets, spas, a canopy walk, an event centre and lots more. With these additions and probably more sporting facilities and entertainment options, Agodi Gardens will undoubtedly be a choice holiday destination for Nigerians and foreign visitors in years to come.