Sof Omar is Ethiopia’s longest cave, stretching over fifteen kilometers. It channels the River Weib, which originates from the 4,300-meter-high Bale Mountains, 120 km upstream. The river flows into the cave at the Ayyo Makko entrance and resurfaces one kilometer later at Holuca.
“Holuca” and “Makko” are simply the local words for “name.” Vervet monkeys are liable to steal any food left unprotected by visitors to the cave, who usually camp near the village.
Vervet monkeys often steal food from visitors camping nearby, while less friendly baboons roam the area. Crocodiles inhabit the river downstream but do not enter the cave. The cave houses many bats and insects, as well as animals like Dikdik, Mountain Nyala, serval cats, tortoises, snakes, and various birds. Located in Southeast Ethiopia, it is a remarkable natural and cultural heritage site formed by the Weib River.
Sof Omar Cave, located in the East Bale zone of Ethiopia, is about 540 kilometers from Addis Ababa and 110 kilometers from Robe town. It is named after a holy man, Sof Omar, and is valued for its natural beauty and cultural significance. The Cave features 42 entrances and stretches between 15.1 to 15.5 kilometers in length, showcasing nature’s architectural skills.
Sof Omar serves as an ancient shrine where the Oromo traditional religion blends with Islam. It hosts two annual festivals, attracting pilgrims and followers known as dargas. Besides its natural aspects, Sof Omar has notable scientific, historical, and cultural importance.
The nearby areas, Ayyo Makko and Holuca, also contain important Islamic shrines that attract many tourists. The cave is accessible via two main routes from Finfinne, with various roads leading to Robe and the surrounding villages. Visitors can explore the cave on foot, following the course of the subterranean Weib River, which they must cross multiple times to see the entire system.
The Sof Omar Cave System is located on Jurassic limestone beds, particularly in the Gabredare Series. It presents a striking landscape featuring an underground river, limestone sinks, cave passages, and caverns, highlighting significant geological processes. This area provides insights into Earth’s history through its unique karst formations and geomorphic features.
The caves are crucial for understanding past climates, vegetation, fauna, and human cultures, with the Sof Omar system believed to have formed between 2.3 and 5.3 million years ago during the Miocene period. The system’s distinctive limestone features showcase an exceptional cultural landscape that reveals the extensive history of Earth’s geological development.
The Sof Omar Cave System is a significant cultural and religious center for the local Oromo population, despite being abandoned from permanent use. The caves are associated with diverse ritual practices and annual festive events, including Islamic religious processions. These ancestral beliefs have revived for nearly 1000 years, making them a living culture for the Islamic community. The local Oromo population respects and actively ensures the protection of the caves, highlighting their unique beauty and significance in their spiritual life.
Caves are natural chambers or hollows beneath the earth’s surface, with various sizes and shapes. They are of special interest to geologists and biologists due to their unique mineral formations and life forms. Over 400 years ago, natural caves began opening to tourism, with over 500 major show caves hosting over 50,000 visitors annually.
Today, show caves are a significant tourist attraction, with 1223 in 95 countries and an income of almost 800 million Euros for over 79 million visitors.
Although it must be stressed that these data (i.e. total visitors and income) represent estimation, it is also true that the number of show caves underestimates the actual number of caves open to the public, since all sites not having an official website in English and/or poorly promoted online have been excluded.
BY NAOL GIRMA
The Ethiopian Herald December 22/2024
