Lateral subsurface flow within a 10% forested slope in a part of the humid tropics of southwestern Nigeria during 1982 is described with particular regard to the cumulative amount, timing and frequency of seepage, the relative contributions of the various soil horizons to the total seepage, and factors affecting these seepage parameters. Seepage was collected at 30, 500, 900, 1200 and 1800 mm depths by means of troughs connected to plastic collectors, and measurements were made between March and November 1982. The total amount of seepage during the study year was 67.7 mm and this was obtained from a total of 29 seepage days. This is considered low given the number of rainy days (106), the total rainfall for this period (924 mm) and results from other environments. The impeding layer in the soil is within the 900–1200 mm horizon, but the largest relative contribution to total seepage was not from the horizon immediately above this layer (i.e. 500–900 mm), but from the surface 0–30 mm horizon. Soil moisture status and hydraulic conductivity as influenced by the rainfall pattern were found to be very important in controlling the seepage patterns.