Ogbunike Cave

Ogbunike Cave, located in a valley blanketed by tropical rainforest, has been used for ages by local people who hold special spiritual value. This spiritual significance is still evident since the "Ime Ogba" ceremony is held every year to honor the caverns' discovery.

A long path of around 317 steps descends into the valley where the caverns are located and is claimed to have been built by the Anambra State Government in the mid-1990s.

The main cave is a gigantic structure with a large open chamber at the entrance that is roughly 5m high, 10m wide, and 30m long. The main room contains ten tunnels that lead in various ways. There are large chambers and other tunnels of varied lengths within the tunnels, some of which are interconnected. A vast colony of bats of all sizes lives in the caves. Streams and bodies of water can be found in a variety of locations. A stream emerges from one of the tunnels and runs into a fast-flowing river (River Nkissa). The warm water from the caves and the chilly river water converge at the river and stream's confluence.

A tableland of about 5 X 5 square meters is located along this section of the river and is utilized as a relaxation area by visitors to the caverns. The immediate surroundings of the caverns, up to roughly 200 meters radius, are dense tropical rainforest flora. The place has enough limits (20 hectares) to protect its values from direct human invasion.

As is customary, visitors must remove their shoes before entering the caves. And women who are on their monthly cycle are unable to go. There is little doubt that the Ogbunike Cave has significant tourist potential, owing to its history, novelty, and the myriad mysteries that lay within its dark depths.

Location: Ogbunike, Anambra State, Nigeria