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29km from Oudtshoorn, at the head of the picturesque Cango Valley,
lies the spectacular underground wonder of the Klein Karoo - the Cango Caves.
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.
Lost in absolute darkness, a deep stillness, a constant temperature and high humidity,
it is a world with its own unique scenery of calcite masterpieces formed by gently
dripping water.
The tour includes a few natural chambers and takes one
(standard) or
one-and-a-half hours (adventure) to explore. Each chamber displays a limestone masterpiece;
created by the forces of nature. There are five basic limestone deposits found along
this route namely Dripstone, Flowstone, Rimstone, Roof Crystals, and Shelfstone.
Over a period of 20 million years, this 24 km limestone band with cracks and fissures
formed in the ridge. The water percolated into the fissures, gradually dissolving
limestone and forming the incredible formations that we see today.
When they opened the cave entrance, the water and air drained out, leaving the chambers
silent and empty.
Rainwater, seeping through the upper-surface of the cave absorbed carbon dioxide,
producing a mild carbonic acid, which is able to dissolve small quantities of the
calcium carbonate in limestone, changing it into soluble calcium bicarbonate.
In the cave it encounters air with a lower carbon dioxide partial pressure. To restore
its balance, a water droplet discharges carbon dioxide. As the calcium bicarbonate can
no longer be retained in the solution, it is deposited in the form of tiny limestone
crystals known as calcite. This ongoing process builds up calcite deposits, which in turn
produce the cave formations.
Dripstone is the most commonly found. With slow droplet formation calcite is deposited
against the ceiling, resulting in the growth of stalactites hanging downwards.
With more rapid droplet formation, water containing calcite in solution falls to the
floor, resulting in the building up of a stalagmite from below. Scientific tests showed
that stalagmites in the Cango Caves grow at a rate of 5 to 6 millimeters per 100
years and stalactites 2 to 5 millimeters per 100 years and still tourists visiting this
natural beauty continue to damage these formations.
Stalactites and stalagmites that form vertically opposite each other, may eventually
unite to form beautiful Completed Columns.
What to expect when visiting the Cango Caves
Upon entering the entrance chamber one is immediately conscious of the increased
humidity and pleasantly warm temperature. A faint musty odour may point to the
presence of a small colony of bats which still make the cave their home.
You catch your breat as the first view of VAN ZYL'S HALL opens up before you. Ancient
stalactites, aptly known as The Dried Tobacco leaves of Oudtshoorn, festoon the
grey-blue of the limestone ceiling. This spacious hall is over 90 metres long, 50
metres wide at its widest point, and between 14 and 18 metres high. Nearly 100 metres
of solid limestone roof separates the cavern from the ridgecrest above.
Van Zyl's Hall is dominated by the giant Organ
Pipes, a spectacular dripstone/flowstone combination.
Your eyes are drawn to a tall, slender
stalagmite which rises nearly 10 metres towards the
ceiling - Cleopatra's Needle. Still active and growing,
the Needle is estimated to be in excess of 150 000
years old.
Near the base of the staircase stands an impressive formation known as
The Pulpit of a Great Cathedral, replete with angel's wings, sculptured
by nature's own chisel. At the base of this formation imaginative eyes may
make out the shape of The Kneeling Camel, against the side of which nature's
artist has left an unusual stain known as The Moses Figure. It represents
the biblical Moses, dressed in a flowing, brown robe, his arms outstretched in blessing.
Leaving Van Zyl's Hall through a wide passageway, you enter the spectacular Botha's Hall,
with its decorative side-chamber, The Throne Room. Glancing to the left as we enter
Botha's Hall, we see a formation resembling the beak of a Giant Eagle, feeding its chick.
Botha's Hall is dominated by two completed columns soaring upwards to the ceiling.
The largest, an ancient formation some 500 000 years old, is known as
The Leaning Tower of Pisa. Beyond it stands a soaring column some 13 metres high and
approximately 250 000 years old.
To your right you will see the cavern's most famous formation, The Madonna and Child, depicting
the birth of Christ. Mary cradles a baby in her arms. Alongside her stand the Three Wise
Men and, with a little more imagination, two shepherds kneel in silent adoration to her right.
Completing the drama, to the left of the main staircase is a trio of formations known
as The Temple Presentation, depicting Joseph, Mary with head bowed, and the gaunt figure
of the prophet Simeon. Further left, high in a dark alcove, one can glimpse the stark
figure of a crucified man.
Moving through the Botha Hall to the
left, you climb an open platform flanked by two huge formations: The Heavy Stage Curtains,
on the right, and The Petrified Weeping Willow Tree on the left.
Ahead of you is the majesty of The Throne Room, dominated by a huge, tapering
stalagmite known as the Throne. Dried up rimstone pools rise from the floor to
meet the richly fluted walls, resplendent in iron-oxide colours of ochre, russet
and brown. The right hand side of the Throne Room is
dominated by an exquisite white flowstone formation: The Frozen Victoria Waterfall.
Singular smaller formations in the Throne Room are: The Bust of an ancient Cave Man; a Hairy Mammoth
Elephant behind the Throne, and a petrified fish swimming against the ceiling above the throne.
Leaving the Throne Room and Botha Hall, you ascend a staircase, pass a hollowed out stalagmite
known as The Pulpit, then proceed through a narrow passageway into The Rainbow Chamber.
Against the back wall, in the eerie glow of lights, we make out the head of Old Nick, the
tame Cave Devil, posed in profile. Immediately above the viewing platform, bathed in soft,
blue light, is the cavern's Biblical Section. High against the wall we may see an open
Family Bible. Beside it, the Outstretched Lost Wing of an Angel. Below, directly in
front of the viewing platform, is another hollowed-out stalagmite known as
The Christening Font.
A flight of steps leads into the Bridal Chamber with its fourteen-post bridal bed.
The bride may be spotted in the kitchen to the rear, sitting on a low stool and weeping quietly
to herself. A clue to her tears may be found in the Peach Brandy Bottle, prominently displayed
on a rock mantlepiece. Active stalactites drip constantly from the low roof above.
Fairyland, the next chamber, provides fantasy for the younger generation. Coloured lights
illumine the Fairy Queen's Palace (or Cathedral), The Fairy Castle,
an inverted Sunflower,
and even the bizarre 'upper plate' of an enormous set of dentures. Here, too, the
first helictites
may be observed, twisting against the ceiling in frozen motion.
The Drum Room, 500 metres from the entrance, provides the first major turn-back point
on tour. Here you may be startled to hear the resonant beat of African Drums, created by your
guide striking a curtain-like shield. In this chamber there is also a
striking example of a transluscent formation. Alongside it a stalagmite resembling a Bushman
hut lends fantasy to the presentation of "Sunrise and Sunset over darkest Africa."
From this point the tour becomes progressively more
difficult. Jacob's Ladder, with its over 2OO steps,
leads through The Grand Hall into The Avenue, and then the low
confines of Lumbago Alley.
Towards the end of the Grand Hall you will pass
Lot's Chamber, where a group of stalagmites represent
the biblical Lot, his two daughters, and his wife, who
turned into a pillar of salt. Alongside the viewing
platform is another hollowed-out stalagmite known as
King Arthur's Throne.
Beyond The Avenue you enter Lumbago Alley. It is 85 metres long. For the most part the
roof is low and for 28 metres of the Lumbago Walk the roof height seldom exceeds 1,2 metres.
Emerging from this tunnel you can glimpse delicate roof crystals and get to view some of
the lovely smaller grottos.
The roof of the Crystal Palace is decorated with "Hanging crystal gardens", adorned with
ice-like crystals and weirdly contorted helictites. A light to the left reveals a
translucent crystal wall.
Moving on to the next chamber, you pass an active candle-wax column in delicate golden hues.
Steps lead downwards into the cellar-like chambers of King Solomon's Mines.
The cavern gets its name from a formation high up near the roof, resembling a rotund king
with a bearded face, wearing a crystal crown. His throne is mounted on an inverted Protea,
South Africa's national flower.
Alongside the throne, much to the children's delight, hangs a
gigantic ice-cream cone. The roof of this chamber is decorated
with a fantasy of amazing helictites.
An iron ladder ascends from King Solomon's Mines into the unique caving adventure
of The Devil's Chimney section. First you have to crawl through The Tunnel of Love, a
low passageway some 74 centimetres high, narrowing at one point to about 3O
centimetres, where stouter cavers are apt to receive a loving squeeze!
This tunnel brings you to The Ice Chamber, with its fascinating shelfstone ledge high around
the outer wall. This ledge indicates the level of a cave pool from a bygone age. The pool's
level ultimately subsided, leaving only a shallow pool in the cavern today.
Next comes The Coffin, a hexagonally-shaped hole in the shelfstone, which is the beginning and
end of the final circular route. The cave opens out again as we pass through the Ice-cream Parlour
into the colourful beauty of the Devil's Workshop. The brilliantly-coloured ceiling is decorated
with many delicate helictites.
The way ahead leads over a steep hump, which leads you into the Devil's Kitchen, with it's
notorious Devil's Chimney. The guide points to a narrow crack in the wall - surely
someone's idea of a joke! But no; this is the Chimney. Peering in you see a steep shaft about
45 centimetres wide which leads upwards for some 3,5 metres. There is a light at the top. Amidst an
assortment of grunts, groans and, usually, hysterical laughter you squirm through the chimney into
another larger chamber, only to be confronted by an even smaller opening.
This is the DEVIL'S POST BOX. Using 'Leopard Crawl' to wriggle forward
you approach a low, wide slot - the only exit route. It is only 27 centimetres high.
Some guides recommend a head-first 'posting', which may be likened to a rebirth experience, as one
emerges infant-like from the narrow crevice. The alternative of feet-first results in an easy slide
(depending on girth or chest-size) down the smooth, sloping wall and being deposited on the flowstone
floor below. You have now reached the furthest point of the tour.
A short scramble leads you back to the Coffin, through the Ice Chamber and Tunnel of Love and back
down the iron ladder into King Solomon's Mines and back along the previous route, emerging into the
welcome light of day at the cave entrance.
Website: www.cango-caves.co.za
Contact Number: +27 44 272 7410
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