Current view: Text account
Site description (2001 baseline):
Site location and context
Sof Omar is in the middle of Bale Zone, 120 km east of zonal capital Goba. With over 15 km of passages, Sof Omar is Ethiopia’s longest cave system. The Weyb river flows from its source in the Bale mountains, through the caves, finally joining the Genale river at Dolo on the border with Somalia. Before entering the caves, the river passes through a valley cut into the limestone. The sides of the valley, which comprise large fossil-rich limestone blocks, are covered with a wide variety of small trees, bushes and climbers. The more level areas and border of the river are covered in fine black soil that supports some larger
Acacia and fig trees. The vegetation-type is described as
Commiphora–Kirkia–Acacia woodland and bushland. Many species, such as the shrubs
Commiphora monoica and
Euphorbia baleënsis, and a crustacean are only known from this area (some also occurring at Shek Husein, site ET043). There are almost certainly as-yet- undescribed species in this isolated limestone area. The caves and the entrance area are a shrine named after the Muslim saint Shek Sof Omar. The shrine is well-visited by pilgrims, and is becoming increasingly popular with tourists. Many of the trees in the area, although small, produce hardwood prized for making charcoal, or coloured woods that are carved into household items. There is some cultivation, particularly in the higher-rainfall areas towards Ginir.
See Box and Table 3 for key species. Sof Omar is an important site for
Serinus xantholaema. The narrow limestone gorge adjacent to the cave entrance is where most recent records of this rare species originate. Records (between 1989 and 1996) of up to eight birds both from within the gorge and up to 8 km west of the bottom of the gorge suggest that the population is stable. Other species include the biome-restricted
Spreo fischeri and
Onychognathus salvadori (the first breeding record of which came from this site), and the uncommon
Cercomela scotocerca.
Non-bird biodiversity: None known to BirdLife International.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
Muslim pilgrims have been coming to Sof Omar for many centuries and the paths down to and around the cave entrance are well worn. However, the pilgrims and the local people share a common lifestyle that has not made excessive demands on the local resources. With increasing numbers of tourists this status quo is changing. Apart from camping, there is no provision for tourists to stay in the valley. Should a hotel or similar facility be planned for the area it will need to be carefully sited to avoid interfering with the habitats of the rare birds and plants found in the area.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Sof Omar (Ethiopia). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/sof-omar-iba-ethiopia on 23/12/2024.
