Alok Ikom Stone Monoliths
Ikom, Cross River State
Carved basalt monoliths standing in village circles around Ikom, incised with faces and geometric marks.
Dotun55 (Wikimedia Commons) · CC BY-SA 4.0
Visiting information
- Address
- Alok, Ikom LGA, Cross River State
- Opening information
- Opening times are not published by a source we can verify. Confirm locally before visiting.
- Accessibility
- Accessibility information has not been verified for this place.
- Suggested time
- 2–3 hours
About this place
Archaeological accounts propose a range of dates for the carvings without firm consensus. Community oral history in the Nnam, Nta and Nselle areas associates the stones with ancestors and lineage commemoration. Researchers have also read the incised marks as a possible notational system, though this interpretation remains debated.
Airport journey
- Arrival airportMargaret Ekpo International Airport (CBQ), Calabar
- Travel time15–25 minutes to central Calabar; 4–6 hours on to the Obudu plateau
- Recommended routeAirport Road → Mary Slessor Avenue → Calabar Municipality
- Traffic informationGenerally light. Moderate congestion during the Calabar Carnival and major festivals; the mountain road to Obudu is slow and should be driven in daylight.
- Ride hailing optionsBolt, airport taxis and local taxi services serve the terminal.
- Hotel airport pickupMost major hotels and resorts provide airport transfer services; pre-book before you fly.
Nearby attractions
More to explore around Ikom and the wider Cross River State.
Agbokim Waterfalls IkomSeven cascades dropping through rainforest near the Cameroon border in Etung, Cross River State. 2–3 hours
Obudu Plateau ObanlikuA highland plateau near the Cameroon border, around 1,500 metres above sea level. Half a day
Cross River National Park AkamkpaRainforest national park protecting some of Nigeria's most biodiverse remaining forest. 2–3 hours
Slave History Museum Calabar MunicipalityA sober, carefully staged museum at Calabar Marina tracing the Old Calabar port's role in the transatlantic slave trade, from the Efik trading houses to the Atlantic crossing. 1–2 hours
Mary Slessor House Calabar MunicipalityThe surviving Calabar residence associated with the Scottish missionary Mary Slessor, whose work in Efik and Okoyong communities remains part of the city's living memory. 45 minutes
Duke Town Historic Quarter Calabar MunicipalityThe Efik town that became Old Calabar: chieftaincy houses, the 19th-century church and the river frontage where Atlantic trade, mission and city government first met. 1–2 hours
National Museum Calabar Calabar MunicipalityHoused in the old colonial Residency on the hill above the river, the national collection covers Efik culture, the Atlantic trade and the founding of Nigeria's colonial administration. 1–2 hours
Cultural Centre Complex Calabar MunicipalityCalabar's principal performance and exhibition complex, used year-round for cultural troupes, state ceremonies and the rehearsal season that builds towards carnival. 1–2 hours
Plan the rest of your visit
Build an itinerary around this district, or check what Nigeria requires for entry before you travel.
Sources and verification
Status: Reviewed. Last reviewed 2026-08-20.
UNESCO World Heritage Centre tentative listVisitAfrica publishes discovery and cultural information. We do not sell tickets, tours or accommodation, and we do not publish prices or ratings.