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An underground adventure in Africa’s largest cave system
Cango Caves Adventure Tour
The Cango Caves – an underground wonderland.
© South African Tourism
Did you know?
The 9m tall Cleopatra's Needle rock formation is more than 150 000 years old.
The Cango Caves Adventure Tour is not for the fainthearted, but if you're reasonably fit and healthy, steady your nerves, hold your breath, tuck that tummy in and go deep into Africa’s largest cave.
An accredited, experienced and knowledgeable caving guide will take you deep inside the cave, which, when it was first discovered, would have taken about 9 hours to explore. Today, it’s a mere 2 hours, but 2 hours that you’ll never forget! Explore underground wonders such as bizarre rock formations, stunningly beautiful helictites and crystals, cave pools and peaceful grottos.
The Cango Caves lie in a Precambrian limestone ridge adjacent to the Swartberg Mountains in the Cango valley, just 29km from the small town of Oudtshoorn in the Klein Karoo.
Thousands of visitors a year take the standard tour into Cango 1, which comprises just 1,2km of the entire 5,3km-long cave. On the standard tour you will see the star attractions – Cleopatra’s Needle, the Leaning Tower of Pisa and the Madonna and Child – but when the standard tour is over, the adventure tour begins.
First tackle the 200 steps of Jacob’s Ladder to the Grand Hall before passing through Lot’s Chamber where natural rock formations mimic the biblical Lot and his wife, who were turned into pillars of salt.
The names of attractions along the route give a clue as to what lies in store. There’s Lumbago Alley, the Crystal Palace, King Solomon’s Mines and the Devil’s Chimney. Then into and through the Coffin, the Ice-Cream Parlour, the Devil’s Workshop, and then – hold that breath even tighter – it’s time to wriggle through the 27cm-high Leopard Crawl, the only exit route.
Phew! Then it’s daylight and back to the real world.
Travel tips & Planning info
Who to contact
Cango Caves
Steve Mouton, Head Guide
Tel: +27 (0) 44 272 7410
Email: steve@cangocaves.co.za
Web: www.cangocaves.co.za
How to get here
The caves are 29km north of Oudtshoorn on the R328. George, 50km away, has the closest airport.
Around the area
Oudsthoorn is part of the famous Garden Route, so attractions such as the Tsitsikamma Forest, Wilderness, Knysna, Plettenberg Bay and Mossel Bay are all within easy driving distance.
Get around
On foot, on your tummy, on your bum and by the tips of your fingers.
What will it cost
Approx. R90 per person; R55 per child under 15. No children under 6 permitted on the tour.
Length of stay
The tour takes approx. 2 hours.
What to pack
Your nerve, along with some comfortable walking shoes.
Where to stay
There's a variety of accommodation available in Oudtshoorn ranging from cosy B&Bs to guest farms and hotels.
What to eat
As little as possible - you will want to be thin for this tour!