MY VISIT TO OGBUNIKE CAVE: A CAVE WITH UNTAPPED TOURIST ATTRACTIONS FROM NATURE

DISCOVERY AND LOCATION OF OGBUNIKE CAVE:

Ogbunike Caves was discovered about 4,000 years ago by a hunter named UKWA who hails from UMUCHEKE family of IFITE VILLAGE OGBUNIKE. The caves are situated in a valley with tropical rain forest behind the "Ogba" hills in which lies St. Monica College, Ogbunike. 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. At the end of the walkway is an open space used as a reception point where visitors are by tradition to remove their shoes.

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 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 inter connected. The caves are occupied by a large colony of bats of various 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 the stream one can feel the warm water from the caves and the cold river water.

Beside this portion of the river is a table land of about 5 X 5 square meters used as a relaxation spot by visitors to the caves. The immediate environment of the caves up to about 200 meters radius is a thick tropical rainforest type of vegetation. Among the fauna of the site are deer, antelope, grass cutter, porcupine, rabbit, alligator, snakes and frogs. Others are fish, crabs and birds.

Ogbunike caves are associated with living traditions and are said to be used by the people for many centuries. The site still retains its historical and spiritual significance. There is an annual festival called "Ime Ogbe" celebrated in commemoration of the discovery of the caves. The biodiversity of the site has remained almost in tact. The integrity of the site can be attested to by the presence of the primary forests around the caves. The Nkisa River flows by the side of the caves into which the water that drains from the caves empties itself. At that point,where the difference in temperature is felt between the river and the water from the rock. The entire site is within ranges of undulating hills and valleys which stretch across other communities and farmlands. The site has sufficient boundaries (20 hectares) to protect its values from direct effects of human encroachment.

THE CAVE AND AFRICAN SLAVERY.
Ogbunike cave is a place where Africans hid from slave raiding parties during the slave trade. Sandstone caves are rare and small. This cave is big for this type of caves. It was formed by tectonic forces, which produced weak zones in the rock. Physiochemical and biological weathering and erosion formed the cave. The cave has a large bat colony.

According to Igbo oral tradition, there was a god called Ogba who lived inside the cave in the middle of a large rock. Despite the opaque nature of the rock, he was an all-seeing spirit who could detect crimes, especially, theft. When someone was accused of crime, he could prove his innocence by entering the cave. The guilty ones never returned alive. The town is Ogbunike and the cave is called Ogba, like the god. But the English name used by tourists is Ogbunike Cave.

MY VISIT TO THE CAVE.....
On my visit to the Cave, I learnt that it was a form of shelter for my forefathers during the war. I began to wonder how they made a living staying inside that cave. Personally, I was amazed because it drew my consciousness to the fact that things like that actually happened – they lived in darkness and underground . And I became curious about how they made their food; maybe they ate those bats and used the leaves from the tropical rain forest for food. Hmmmmm!!! What a life...... I also wonder where their source of light came from? Well, to God be the glory – they survived! Alright, lets now talk about the cave formation:

FORMATION OF OGBUNIKE CAVE:

There are three different believes about caves Ogbunike cave:

1. Christians believe it was just made by God (i.e. he placed it there when he was creating the world.

2. Traditional people believe it was made by their own god called “Ogba” who lived inside the cave.

3. Scientists stipulated that Caves are formed by the dissolution of limestone and it comes naturally by the weathering of rock and often extend deep underground. So, you are free to choose whichever one you like but the bottom line is that it came naturally – no human built it.

THINGS YOU WILL SEE IN THE CAVE:

There is something in particular; which is the vast amount of bats that are predominant in the cave. The bats have lived there throughout the history of the cave, and the bats are not harmful. . Also, the water in the cave never stops dropping, it keeps dropping forever

Inside the cave is very dark, you cant see unless you use a touch light

You will also get to see a stream which is some meters away from the entrance of the cave. Visitors are free to swim in the stream if they wish to, you can also wash your cloths there and so on. I didn’t swim because I am not too good at swimming, even tough I have paid and attended so many swimming tutorials – but, I believe that once I put my time into it, I will be a wonderful swimmer someday

MOVIES SHOT THERE:
*The popular Idemili movie with storyline of (Ekema, a lady from a lineage of Osimini; an offspring of Idemili has been betrothed to a honorable prince but on the eve of her engagement, while the virginity test was been carried out, something magical and fearful happened revealing she was from a lineage of powerful diviners. She’s on an adventurous and fearful journey to seek her foundation and during this quest realized how powerful and gifted she was) was acted by Veteran actors Pete Edochie and other actors was acted on the cave.

WHERE DOES THE TUNNELS LEAD TO?

There are so many tunnels and paths in the cave;

• I learnt that one leads to the Igwes palace*
  One of the tunnel leads to St. Monica College in Ogbunike village, and is just about six kilometers from the stem of the cave
  Another tunnel leads to Abatete town in Idemili Local government area of Anambra State, which is several miles from the cave
  One other tunnel leads to Igbariam town in Anambra East Local Government Area
  Another tunnel which leads to Onitsha main market ends at a small hole, which some people have converted into a shrine

RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE CAVE:

Ladies who are on their menstrual cycle are prohibited from going into the cave because they are considered as unclean

No matter who you are, you are prohibited from putting on shoes to the cave

Pictures speak;
Inside the cave where people used as relaxation centre.