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The Web River, in the Bale Region of Ethiopia cascades, from the rocky highland moor, through deep gorges and forested hillsides until slowing to wind more quietly across the Dinchu plateau valley. One hundred miles later it reaches the limestone hills of the Wabe and Mendayo provinces (east of Goba, the regional capital), where it makes its subterranean way through the Sof Omar Cave. At more than 10 miles, it is the longest cave of Ethiopia with over 42 separate entrances.

It’s main entrance lies in a small, pleasant green valley not far from the village called Sof Omar, named after a Moslem holy man who dwelt there for many years.  The actual entrance is called Ayiew Maco after the daughter of Omar. The clear emerald stream that descended from the highlands disappears into the cave.

Inside, the cave is cool and dry.  The Ayiew entrance is dimly lit, however deep in the cave you pass through a maze of passages and rooms, which have been polished by the trickling and dripping green water to a marble-like smoothness.  In the darkness the river roars and foams through narrow crevices.  Horseshoe Bats and the African False Vampire Bats roost in moderate-sized groups in some of the passageways. 

The African False Vampire Bat (Cardioderma cor) is found in East Africa from northeastern Ethiopia and southern Sudan to northern Zambia. Sometimes referred to as the African heart-nosed bat, due to a large, heart-shaped nose leaf on the face, these bats are blue-gray in color and weigh between 21 and 25 grams (about one ounce). They have been found roosting in caves and hollow baobab trees in groups of up to 80 bats. Although they feed mostly on insects, they have also been known to eat small vertebrates. Like many insect-eating bats, the African false-vampires are able to capture insects in flight as well as directly off of vegetation. But their predatory skills are not limited to aerial excursions. Perched in low vegetation, they listen quietly for terrestrial prey, can detect the footsteps of a large ground-dwelling beetle from more than six feet away, and quickly descend to capture their prey on the ground.
 

The Horseshoe Bat, Rhinolophus blasii, is found from Italy to Afghanistan, Morocco to Ethiopia and Transvaal. Horseshoe bats occur throughout the temperate and tropical zones of the Old World, in a great variety of forested and non-forested habitats, at both high and low altitudes. They roost in caves, buildings, foliage, and hollow trees. These bats have a peculiar, complex nose-leaf expansion of the skin surrounding the nostrils. It consists of three parts. These bats generally fly with their mouth closed and emit ultrasonic sounds through the nostrils, which may be directed with the aid of the nose leaf. They begin feeding on insects and spiders within 20 feet of the ground later in the evening than most bats, and often return to the roost to eat their catch. Like many bats, they generally have regular feeding territories or hunting areas.

After about a mile of passage the river re-emerges at a place called “Holuca”, which simply means “it appears”.  Sof Omar Cave has always been prominent in the life of the area and the local people have long revered it as a shrine.  They believe their gods reside in trees and water, and they are the home of a deity.  The cave has always been the object of prayer and sacrifice.  Small pouches of leather straps decorated with beads – offerings of thanksgiving – hang from rocky projections.  This is another instance of an ancient pagan site being conveniently adopted by a later religion, as nowadays Moslems, from far and wide, trek to the dwelling place of Omar the holy man.  Every year the big pilgrimage takes place on Ghinbot 7. (May 15^th).

Whatever one’s religion, there is no doubt the quiet beauty and depths of the cave induce an atmosphere of awe and mystery.  To the caver they are more of a challenge than a place of worship.  It takes only an hour to pass through the cave following a map, however it is essential to have proper equipment - or the gods may claim another sacrifice.