Top 10 Most Popular Caves In Nigeria (2025)

Many of the most magnificent natural monuments, including rocks and waterfalls, are found in Nigeria and are both significant tourist attractions and historical places. Caves, which were once used as both hideouts and shelters by early settlers, are among these natural monuments. As we proceed, we will intimate you on the top 10 most popular caves in Nigeria this 2025, we believe that once you have gone through this list, you will be educated on which caves in Nigeria are the best and most well visited in the country today.

TOP 10 MOST POPULAR CAVES IN NIGERIA AND WHERE THEY ARE LOCATED

The following are the top 10 best and most popular caves in Nigeria this 2025 and their locations:

OGBUNIKE CAVE, ANAMBRA STATE

The remarkable feature of Ogbunike Cave, which is situated in Anambra State, is that it is a network of caves connected by small passageways and tunnels. Undoubtedly, one of the most popular tourist destinations in Anambra State at that moment. is the Ogbunike cave. According to legend, this cave has long been used by native people as a route of escape and a hideout during times of war. It was also said that the cave was crucial in helping those fleeing that region of the country during the Nigerian Civil War to find safety once more as the fighting continued.

It would take roughly 317 steps to enter the cave’s passage, and it has been said that once visitors arrive, they must remove their shoes and that ladies who are menstruating are not permitted within. The Ogbunike cave’s main chamber is accessible through approximately ten tunnels. It is comprised of a gigantic structure with an open chamber of approximately five metres in height, ten metres in width, and thirty metres in length at the entrance. An annual event called as “Ime Ogbe” is held in May to celebrate the discovery of the cave.

ESA CAVE, EKITI STATE

Located next to a mountain that rises roughly 10,000 feet above sea level is Esa Cave. It is situated in Ekiti State. The Ijoro family of Okesale, Iyin Ekiti, in Ekiti is reported to have originally owned the cave. Their forefathers, upon discovering the existence of a cave in the region, used it as a shelter many generations ago. Esa Cave is roughly 3 kilometres from Ado-Ekiti, the capital city of Ekiti State, and 6 kilometres from Iyin Ekiti in the Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government Area of Ekiti State.

Even though there is still evidence of human activity in the cave, it nonetheless retains its natural appearance. It features low, solid walls made of mud bricks that divide the rooms, making them hard to knock down. Additionally, there are still little pebbles in the cave that the ancient inhabitants used as “pillows.” The Iyin and Ado-Ekiti warriors had a long history of using the cave as a safe haven during their intertownship wars with the Ikere-Ekiti people of Ekiti State. With Ikogosi and Arinta Waterfall in Ekiti as the top two tourist destinations, the cave is the third most popular.

OLUMO ROCK CAVES, OGUN STATE

The renowned Olumo Rock in Ogun State’s old city of Abeokuta includes the Olumo Rock Caves. During intertribal war in the 19th century, the Egba people, the original inhabitants of Abeokuta, used the rock and its numerous caves as a natural fortification. It gave the Egba people security when they needed it, and it is now one of the most popular tourist attractions in the nation’s southwest.

OWERRE-EZUKALA CAVE, ANAMBRA STATE

Situated in Anambra State’s Orumba South Local Government Area, Owerre-Ezukala Cave is a limestone formation featuring waterfalls. Claimed to be among the biggest caves in West Africa, it is also referred to as the Ogba-Ukwu cave. There are two waterfalls, four rock shelters, and other exquisite elements that make this specific cave in Eastern Nigeria extremely unique. An ancient, dry, and dead elephant’s foot is said to be standing in one of the cave’s compartments, which is accessible with the use of stone steps.

AWHUM CAVES, ENUGU STATE

Located in Amaugwe Village, Awhum Town, Udi Local Government Area, Enugu State, Awhum Caves, also called Ohum Caves, are accessible by road. For those who enjoy taking a break from the hectic, loud lifestyle that comes with living in a large city, the Awhum Waterfalls cave offers a serene setting. The scenic Awhum Cave is a limestone cave that winds its way through a stretch of steep-sided hills that have been divided into separate sections by streams that run through them. During the day, light filters through the cave’s roof through tiny sinkholes, illuminating the interior and creating a stunning scene.

EDEGBAKE/OGHODOGHODO CAVES, EDO STATE

Fugar, Etsako Central Local Government Area, Edo State is home to the Edegbake/Oghodoghodo caves. It is thought that an early human group lived in these prehistoric caves. Conveniently, Oghodoghodo, the larger cave, can hold up to 200 people, while Edegbake, the smaller of the two, can only hold 50. The region around the caves is ideal for outings, picnics, leisurely strolls, and other activities. A gently running creek that passes through Edegbake Cave allows amateur fishing in the area.

THE MARSHALL CAVES, BAUCHI STATE

The Marshall Caves can be found in Bauchi State at Mainamaji Village, KM 40 on the Bauchi-Gombe Expressway. The 59 cave dwellings, which are carved out of sandstone escarpments, were found during the early 1900s. Although the identities of those who frequented the caves are unknown, it is certain that humans had lived there. According to local legend, the indigenous population of this region used the caves as a place of refuge from Arabic slave raiders descending from the Sahara region or from slave raiders affiliated with the Emir of Bauchi. The Marshall caves have multiple lines of rock inscriptions and paintings that were most likely made by the caves’ original occupants.

IHU-OGBA CAVE, ENUGU STATE

The Ihu-Ogba cave, which can be found near the Ezeagu Tourist Complex in Enugu State, was discovered during the Nigerian-Biafran civil war, when the local population was in dire need of hiding places that could also serve as places to call home. The locals think that this cave is home to the Ogba ghosts, and it is accessible by two significant, narrow tunnels that each have three chambers.

IHO ELERU CAVE, ONDO STATE

Situated 24 kilometres south of Akure in the state of Ondo, is the Iho Eleru Cave, popularly referred to as The Ashes. At the base of an inselberg, this cave is a gigantic block of gneiss that has overhung, creating a rock shelter. In 1965, renowned archaeologist Thurstan Shaw discovered prehistoric human remains in these caves. Radiocarbon dating of the remains revealed that they date back more than 8,000 years. Any tourist who enjoys adventure should definitely check this cave out.

AMANCHOR CAVE, EBONYI STATE

The Amanchor Cave is situated in Amanchor, Ebonyi State, Afikpo South, in the southeast of the nation. One of the major tourist attractions in Ebonyi is The Cave, which is around 4 kilometres long. The community built a wooden ladder to support the natural step-like structure at the entrance of the cave. The Amanchor cave consists of three tunnels, the second of which is known as the “window” because it opens into the ground floor and provides a view of the cave’s floor. The “door” refers to the third opening in the cave. On the final Orie market day of the year, a yearly celebration called Orie-Ogba is typically held in the cave.