The Ogbunike Caves is located at Ogbunike, a town in Oyi Local Government Area of Anambra State, Nigeria. The Ogbunike caves were discovered by a hunter named Ukwa from the Umucheke family of Ifite-Ogbunike, about 4000 years ago. The caves were used in the past to hide from slave raiding parties during the slave trade era. The Ogbunike caves like the ancient cave temple of Arochukwu in Abia State of Nigeria were a symbol of justice. Ogbunike caves have an attractive waterfall in the North West part of the cave that could compare to Kalambo falls in East Africa.
Legends claim that the caves were created by a deity, Ogba, who they believe lives within the caves. This spiritual significance of the caves is still very apparent as the “Ime Ogba” celebration is undertaken every year to commemorate the discovery of the caves. The Ogbunike caves is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the caves have retained biodiversity and you can see bats nest high above the cave floor. You can feel the threshold between the warm water that runs from the caves itself and the cold temperature of the Nkissa River that flows into it.
A stream flows out from one of the tunnels into a rapid flowing Nkissa River. At the meeting point of the river and the stream one can feel the warm water from the caves and the cold river water. Beside this portion of the river is a tableland of about 5 X 5 square meters used as a relaxation spot by visitors to the caves.
Descending into the valley where the caves are located is a lengthy walkway 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 30 m long at the entrance. There are ten tunnels at the main chamber leading to different directions. Within the tunnels are big chambers and other tunnels of varying lengths, some of which are interconnected. The caves are occupied by a large colony of bats of various sizes.
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How to get to Ogbunike caves?
Drive down a tarred road off the Awka-Onitsha old road at Ogbunike which is roughly three-kilometre long road then you can spot a signpost of Ogbunike Caves, in Oyi Local Government Area.
Entrance Fee
Individuals pay N3, 000 to enter the Ogbunike Caves in Anambra State. Tour guides receive between N500 and N1, 000 to take a tour around while groups pay between N5, 000 and N10,000 with the tour guides.
Rules
In regards to tradition, some rules must be followed.
- All visitors must remove their shoes before entering the caves
- Women who are having their monthly cycle cannot enter the caves.
- One cannot leave the caves by the same entrance they came in. As the Igbo say “Iman gaba iru inokata gaba azu” which means one does not begin a journey and suddenly decide to turn back.
Ogbunike Cave Carnival
The maiden edition of the Ogbunike Cave Carnival was staged in 31st of December, 2013. The carnival, which started as a one-day event, has metamorphosed into a three-day celebration of culture, music, health, and fitness of Ogbunike people. Activities that occur during the festival includes: Five Aside Football Competition, Sports Parade,Traditional Wrestling Contest, Walk4life (Carnival Float), First Public Outing of Ada Ogbunike Contestants, Homage To The King (A Visit to the Round Palace), Carnival Concert/New Year Countdown, Ada Ogbunike Contestants Meet The Queen of Ogbunike and Ada Ogbunike Beauty Pageant (Crowning Carnival Queen)
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Ada Ogbunike Beauty Pageant
The ADA Ogbunike Beauty Pageant comes up on the last day of the Ogbunike Cave Carnival (OCC) which helps to promote the beauty and creativity of women.
In conclusion, the environment of the Ogbunike caves is up to about 200 meters radius is a thick tropical rainforest type of vegetation. The site has sufficient boundaries (20 hectares) to protect its biodiversities.
