OGBUNIKE CAVE

Ogbunike cave is located in ogbunike village of Oyi local government in Anambra state. The cave is said to have been discovered by a hunter
named (Ukwa). According to oral tradition, a god called Ogba lived inside the cave. This divinity, despite the opaque nature of the rocky environment, was all seeing spirit who could detect crimes, especially theft. In ancient times people went there to declare their innocence of an alleged crime, and the guilty never returned. Also during the civil war and the African slave trade, the cave was there to render protection.
Because of religious tradition, the visitors to the cave are only allowed into the cave with their feet bare. There are numerous rules for visitors and they are displayed on a sign at the entrance which read "IFITE YOUTH MOVEMENT WARNING"; no entry except by permission, remove your shoes before entering into the cave, ladies under period are banned from entering, herbalist or spiritual ceremony in the cave is banned,etc.

TOURIST SITTING ON THE STEP

Decending into the the valley where the caves are located is a lenghthy walkaway made up of about 317 steps said to have been constructed by the Anambra state government in the mid 90s.

The main cave consists of a massive structure with a big open chamber of about 5m high, 10m wide and 30m long at the entrance. There are 10 tunnels at the main chamber leading to different directions. Within the tunnels are big chambers of other tunnels of varying lenghts, some of which are inter connected. The caves are occupied by a large colony of bats of varying sizes. There are streams and body of water at various places. A stream flows out from one of the tunnels into a rapid flowing river (River Nkissa). At the meeting point of the river and stream one can feel warm water from the cave and the cold river water. Beside this portion of the river is a tableland used as relaxation spot by visitors to the cave.

TOURISTS HAVING FUN IN THE RIVER.

The immediate environment of the caves, up to about 200m radius is a thick tropical rainforest type of vegetation. The site has sufficient boundaries to protect its value from direct effect of human encroachment.


PICTURES OF TOURISTS IN OGBUNIKE CAVE.