Chamber of Columns
Rows of rock pillars.
Rod Waddington from Kergunyah, Australia — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Rod Waddington from Kergunyah, Australia — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Rod Waddington from Kergunyah, Australia — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Rod Waddington from Kergunyah, Australia — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Rod Waddington — CC BY-SA 2.0
Sof Omar is the longest cave in Ethiopia at 15.1 km, and when it was surveyed in 1972 it was the longest in Africa. It lies east of the town of Ginnir in the East Bale Zone of southeastern Ethiopia, about 96 km in a straight line from Goba, and joined UNESCO's tentative list in 2011. The Weyib River runs through the cave, sinking at the Ayiew Maco entrance and reappearing at the Holuca resurgence 1 km away. By tradition, Sof Omar was a Muslim holy man who lived in the area and Ayiew was his daughter. The cave has long been a religious centre, sacred both to Islam and to traditional Oromo religion. The explorer Arthur Donaldson Smith recorded a visit in 1894. The caves are known for their many pillars, above all in the Chamber of Columns. Water has carved the limestone into rippled shapes, channels and openings that let in light, and the river flows between smooth walls. In the valley outside stand mud houses with thatched roofs, and villagers fetch water from the river. This is a sacred site, so respect the people and their customs, dress modestly and ask before taking photos. Go in with a local guide, bring a torch, and avoid the cave when the river runs high in the rainy season.
Rows of rock pillars.
Water between smooth walls.
Rippled shapes and light openings.
East of Ginnir, East Bale Zone, Oromia, Ethiopia
By tradition, a Muslim holy man who lived in the area.
Yes; go with a local guide and bring a torch.