The cango caves boasts a number of pioneering firsts. Exploring the cango caves in south africa focused travels. Cango caves oudtshoorn is the only show cave in africa which. Oudtshoorn the capital of the klein karoo western cape gl. The cango caves became a popular attraction during the 1800s. We want to ensure that your guests receive excellent service upon their arrival and encourage all tour operators to book their tours at least 2 days in advance. Many visitors broke off stalagmites and stalactites and wrote their names on the walls. Situated near to the wellknown swartberg mountains, the cango caves are decidedly huge dripstone caverns, with vast halls and towering formations, known as the biggest in africa. The first tour was conducted in 1891 and its been a favourite tourist attraction ever since. This taster to the karoo desert is a beautiful place, not quite as harsh or barren as the karoo, but still stark and impressive.
Book your tickets online for the cango caves, oudtshoorn. This tour starts off in the same hall as the standard tour but takes you on an adventure that will have you climbing up iron ladders and crawling through the tunnel of love, all the while learning about these mystical formations. Within 30km of the town, there are several interesting attractions, including the worldfamous cango caves, one of the worlds leading show caves be sure to book ahead for a tour. Our turtles restaurant and the wallow evening venue has special menus for tour operators and their guests. From excursions to flights to hotels, weve got you covered. It was a farmer in 1780 named jacobus van zyl who discovered the cango caves. The cango caves are located in precambrian limestones at the foothills of the swartberg range near the town of oudtshoorn, in the western cape province of south africa. Cango caves, oudtshoorn ticket price timings address. Situated in a limestone ridge parallel to the well known swartberg mountains, you will find the finest dripstone caverns, with their vast halls and towering formations. The cango caves are open throughout the year, except for christmas day. The cango caves were inhabited since the early stone age, which makes them about 20 million years old and the oldest tourist attraction in south africa. All tours are lead by experienced, knowledgeable and accredited caves guides. The cango caves of south africa adventure and claustrophobia.
The standard tour will take you to the main chambers and front parts of the cave, however. Yes, you squeezed through 27 cm of pure solid rock. Oudtshoorn is visited by thousands of tourists each year to see the iconic cango caves. The cango caves are entrenched in south africa history, with their discovery in 1780 by a local farmer in the area. In an effort to preserve this natural wonder, there are no facilities in the caves so it is advised that you take care of. Oudtshoorn the capital of the klein karoo western cape. Visit a sparkling ancient african cave system in the karoo. We did the heritage tour the adventure tour takes you through the chimney which is the smallest space to crawl through which was perfect. The cango caves will always be beautiful my family and i recently visited the caves, something which my wife and i did almost 15 years ago, and it was amazing then as it was now. One of the major attractions in the garden route and oudtshoorn area is the cango caves, which extend for kilometres into the extensive limestone hills. They are right at the foothills of the beautiful swartberg mountain range and feature spacious halls and impressive limestone formations. Cango, the story of the cango caves of south africa about 77 pp, 14 plates. Although there are many chambers in the cango caves, only cango 1 is open to the public. Baron van reede street on road to cango caves oudtshoorn south africa.
The cango caves offer two guided tours to choose from. Oudtshoorn is known as the ostrich capital of the world, so on your way to the caves, make sure to visit the cango ostrich farm. The cango caves oudtshoorn 2020 all you need to know. The first 4 chambers are exceptional and easily accessible. Cango caves oudtshoorn is the only show cave in africa which offers a choice of heritage easy or adventure tours. The cango caves oudtshoorn all you need to know before. All tours are offered in english but afrikaans, german, french and other language options may be available please check language availability when. Overnight at 4star buffelsdrift game lodge, resting at the foothills of the majestic swartberg mountains in one of their secluded, freestanding luxury tents overlooking a nearby waterhole.
Members of the south african speleological association 1970. The caves were the first to be protected by environmental legislation and remain south africas oldest tourist attraction. Since then, archaeologists have found cave paintings and rock art formations dating back to the middle stone ages, making the caves and their artwork of. In response, the then governor of the cape, lord charles somerset, published the first caves regulation in 1820. Oudtshoorn is the most surprising litvak shtetl of them all. The caves were later used as a tourist attraction and people from all over the world still. There are several means to reach cango caves in south africa. The principal cave is one of the countrys finest, best known, and most popular tourist caves and attracts many visitors from overseas. Situated in the swartberg mountains, 30km north of oudtshoorn are the 20 million yearold precambrian caves. In an effort to preserve this natural wonder, there are no.
The cango caves, or klein karoo, are located less than 30 km from oudtshoorn, at the head of the spectacular cango valley. Cango caves, oudtshoorn south african history online. It has been estimated that current stalactite formations were begun over 20 million years ago and that more continue to form even today. In 1956 the south african spelaeological association was tasked to draw up an accurate mapping of the cango caves, and look for alternative entrances. In fact, you can only visit the caves today as part of a tour group. After being collected from your hotel, be driven over the spectacular outeniqua mountain pass and enter the little karoo. An easy walk through the first six largest and most spectacular halls and continuing through to the african drum room. Since then, archaeologists have found cave paintings and rock art formations dating back to the middle stone ages, making the caves and their artwork of much interest for historians and archaeologylovers. The cango caves were discovered in the 1700s by a farmworker who told his boss about his discovery. The cango caves in south africa is one of the worlds great natural wonders. You will get the opportunity to see the mysterious and strangely beautiful underground. Lemur falls is the only interactive lemur exhibit on the south african continent the exhibit themed to replicate a madagascan forest is entered by crossing a large river teaming with bird life such as spoonbills and whistling ducks which are native to the exotic islandwhile volcanic rock waterfalls provide an impressive backdrop to the indigenous betselio village bordering the. Practicalities of a visit to the cango caves south africa. In 1820 lord charles somerset published the first caves regulation.
We did the heritage tour the adventure tour takes you through the chimney which is the. A popular attraction just off the garden route, the cango caves are often included on multiday tours of south africa. Oudtshoorn, a small town in south africas cape province, became the new home for a thriving litvak community, including solomon gillis who made his way from kretinga to make his fortune during the ostrich feather boom during the last two decades of the nineteenth century and up until world war i. Your guide to the picturesque cango caves in south africa. There results indicated that the caves were 775m long in a single line, and that they never rise nor fell more than 16m. The cango wildlife ranch would like to welcome you to our unique facility. See south africas wildlife on with this overnight glamping safari adventure trip from cape town. Apr 09, 2017 the cango caves were discovered in the 1700s by a farmworker who told his boss about his discovery.
The survey is in afrikaans, but the rest of the book is in english. Enhanced lights effect and bewildering natural beauty of cango caves makes it a popular tourist. A cave or cavern is a natural underground space large enough for a human to enter. The quaint town of oudtshoorn makes a great base for exploring the cango caves and other area attractions. The largest showcave operation in africa and the pride of the klein karoo. The caves offer adventure and heritage tour that displays the rich natural history of south africa.
Cango caves oudtshoorn, south africa atlas obscura. The cango caves are a series of dripstone caverns that open into vast halls of towering stalagmite formations with names like the bridal couple, glass flower fantasy, weird cango candle and the hanging shawl. Cango caves, south africs was worried about going into the caves as there are small spaces to crawl through when you view their page but you dont have to do those parts of the caves. It was the first to be protected by environmental legislation. Impressive limestone and dripstone formations developed from calcite under the influence of water in pitch darkness, for more than 150. The following is a list of caves of in south africa.
Everything you should know about the stunning cango caves. The caves are situated 29km from oudtshoorn at the head of the beautiful cango valley. The cango caves was the first tourist attraction in south africa to employ a fulltime tour guide, ensuring that each person who visited the caves could do so with a professional. Museums in south africa that one should visit to walk through the historical past. Cango caves adventure tour all adventure tours are led by experienced, knowledgeable, accredited cave guides. Due to a recent increase in visitors, it is essential to book either tour in. Theyve opened up the passageways by clearing out all of the packed clay left over from the underground rivers, so todays tours are much more comfortable than the early explorers of the cango caves. Cango caves africamps boutique glamping in south africa.
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