Cango Caves
South Africa's best-known limestone caves, with huge chambers full of stalagmites and columns. The adventure route requires squeezing through gaps only 27 cm high.
The Cango Caves lie about 29 km north of Oudtshoorn at the foot of the Swartberg Mountains. This cave system formed in Precambrian limestone. It was discovered by local farmers around 1780, came under legal protection in 1938, and is one of South Africa's oldest tourist attractions. The opened 'Cango Cave 1' is about 760 m long (the whole system is about 4 km). Its first chamber, Van Zyl Hall, is about 90 m long and 17 m high, filled with huge stalagmites, columns and curtain formations that glow in colourful lighting. Some of the stalactites are hundreds of thousands to millions of years old. Visitors must follow a guide on one of two tours. The Heritage Tour, about 1 hour, follows a gentle route suitable for everyone. The Adventure Tour, about 1.5 hours, involves climbing, crawling and squeezing through narrow gaps. The narrowest, the 'Postbox', is only about 27 cm high at its exit, and the 'Devil's Chimney' requires climbing upward. It is not suitable for larger people or those with claustrophobia. The Heritage Tour runs hourly, while the Adventure Tour runs less often, so booking online in advance is recommended. Admission is several hundred rand (check the official website for current prices). The cave is slippery, so wear non-slip sports shoes, and wear clothes you don't mind getting dirty on the Adventure Tour.
Opening hours
Daily approx. 09:00–16:00 (guided tours depart on the hour)
Nearby sights
- Cango Wildlife Ranch
- Swartberg Pass
- CP Nel Museum
- Meerkat Adventures
- Oudtshoorn Ostrich Farms
- Meiringspoort
- Outeniqua Pass
- Montagu Pass