Ogbunike Caves

The caves at Ogbunike are a system of chambers and tunnels cut into limestone in a forested valley in Anambra, with a stream running out of the main entrance and bats in the interior. They have been a sacred site for the local community for generations, associated with a deity and with the founding of the town, and the observances remain in force: visitors remove their shoes before entering, women who are menstruating are asked not to enter, and a local guide accompanies every visit. A stairway of several hundred steps descends through forest to the entrance. The site is on Nigeria's tentative list for World Heritage.

What you actually see

• The main chamber - the entrance cave with the stream running out.
• Connected tunnels - the passages leading off into the system.
• Bats - the colonies roosting in the darker chambers.
• The forest descent - the long stairway down through the valley.

When to go

November to March in the drier season, when the stream is lower and the caves more comfortable to enter. The rains raise the water and make the steps slippery. Mornings are cooler.

Honest expectations

Ritual observances are enforced, including removing shoes and restrictions on who may enter. The stairway is long and the climb back hard. Inside is wet, dark and low in places. Fees and guiding charges are negotiated at the gate.

Nearby

Onitsha lies west; Awka is east.