Cango Caves

For more information, visit the Cango Caves Website: http://www.cangocaves.co.za/

The Cango Caves lie in the Swartberg Mountain Range in a limestone belt measuring 1,5km in width and almost 16km in length. The limestone layer was formed by the deposit of 'oolites' which are loosely-bound calcium carbonate crystals. Due to the age of the limestone (750 million years) no fossils have been found.

This part of the continent was once below the ocean. As the continent rose and upliftment occurred, the Little Karoo finally found itself above the water level.

The caves only started to form some 20 million years ago, when the water level dropped to such an extent that the ground water could start to seep into the limestone. As the water seeped into the ground it absorbed carbon dioxide from the decaying plant and animal matter in the soil and this made it fairly acidic.

As it seeped into the limestone, cavities were created that filled with water. Rivers also formed on the surface and cut deeply enough into the limestone to allow them to reach the level of the water pockets. This caused the water to flow out about 4 million years ago. The cave was then, for the first time, exposed to air and the speleothems or cave formations could begin forming.

For thousands of years, the caves were unknown, except to animals. However, about 10 000 years ago, the Khoisan used the entrance area of the cave as shelter. They never wandered deeper into the cave though due to their superstitious nature. The entrance area to the Caves was originally rich in bushman paintings though with time these have been damaged. The San left this area and their cave approximately 500 years ago.

It was not until 1780 that the Cango Caves were again discovered. A herder, Klaas Windvogel, in search of lost cattle stumbled upon the cave entrance. He left the cave to get help from a Mr. Barend Oppel who was a teacher to a Mr. Jacobus van Zyl's children. On the 11th July 1780, Mr. van Zyl, Mr. Oppel and Mr. Windvogel entered the cave and lowered Mr. van Zyl down a precipice into the cave. The first chamber, now appropriately named Van Zyl's Hall, was estimated by Mr. van Zyl to be 5 miles long, 3 miles wide and 1 mile high. He was, however, exploring the cave with nothing more than a candle and his calculations were thus very inaccurate.

Slowly, over the years, more and more chambers and tunnels were discovered and in 1891 the first tour was conducted through the Cango Caves. It was only between 1972 and 1975 that Cango 2, 3, 4 and 5 were discovered.

The present tourist route extends for 1,2km into the cave, with a further 4,1km being kept closed to the public for conservation reasons.

The Caves are open to the public every day of the year except on Christmas Day.

Special Attractions in Oudtshoorn

Warm, dry summers and sunny winter days make it the ideal breeding ground for the world's biggest bird, the Ostrich. Before the arrival of the first settlers Ostrich roamed wild in this area. Amid the current 400 Ostrich farms surrounding the town, three have distinguished themselves worthy to be named 'show farms'. Interact with this exotic bird species, the largest in the world. For the more adventurous take an ostrich ride.

A Wildlife Ranch with more than 300 animals like crocodiles, cheetahs and many more to see. Gaze with awe at slithering reptile species from all over the world. Imagine more than 400 crocodiles and alligators in their prehistoric unattractiveness. Be photographed cuddling a cheetah, the fastest animal on land.

There are several historical buildings and monuments to see, like the fascinating architecture of the old Ostrich Palaces established during the fashionable feather boom of the 1880's, during which Oudtshoorn became the undisputed Ostrich Capital of the world. Many of these buildings have been conserved to this day as museums, such as the C.P.Nel museum designed by Charles Bullock and built in 1906, as well as guesthouses and dwellings for the discerning. Local arts and crafts as well as a host of ostrich products are some of the wonderful things on offer in the many shops. (Left: C.P. Nel Museum).

The Klein Karoo National Arts Festival is the annual gathering in March/April of more than one hundred thousand lovers of various arts, for a week of dancing, film, cabaret, classical music, comedy, contemporary music, open air concerts, plays, literary art and poetry. This is a momentous event currently enjoying international sponsorship

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