There is just something about caves. When I see one in the side of a mountain, I can’t help but wonder what it looks like inside ─ Are there animals residing inside it? Did people ever live there? Are there any traces of their presence?
If you are half as interested in caves as I am, but you don’t have any caving experience yet (yes, caving is a thing), you probably want to explore without having to worry about your safety, but also without having to deal with hordes of tourists. Well, in that case, let me be of service. We did some digging and found 6 lesser known caves in South Africa that you can safely explore without getting trampled by other visitors.
Stadsaal Caves, Cederberg
Due to the several small passageways that lead to a huge domed cave, something like a city hall, the name Stadsaal Caves seems fitting. This spot boasts several caves and passageways with excellent examples of San rock art to explore that will keep you fascinated for hours.
Entrance fee: R60 per adult; R35 per scholar. The area is protected by Cape Nature and you can buy a permit with a combination for the lock from the Algeria office in the Cederberg.
Visiting hours: 07:30–16:00 Monday to Friday
Contact: Algeria office 027 482 2403
Difficulty: Easy
Directions: Take the road towards Ceres, 8 km from Dwarsrivier, until you see a Nature Conservation sign indicating the way to the Stadsaal Caves.
Did you know: Rumour has it the National Party met in these caves before coming into power in 1948 and the members’ names appear on some of the walls, including DF Malan’s.
Accommodation: Mount Ceder | Enjo Nature Farm | Rondegat Cottages
Makapansgat, Mokopane
Paleontologists found fossils in the Makapansgat Valley that date back over 3 million years to a time when the valley was a tropical paradise. A tour guide will show you where the fossils were discovered, evidence of the earliest use of fire, and tell you about the tragic outcome of hostilities between the Voortrekkers and local Ndebele tribes.
Entrance fee: R25 per adult; R15 per child under 12 years
Visiting hours: 08:00 – 16:30 Monday to Sunday
Contact: Arend Dieperink Museum 015 491 9735
Difficulty: Moderate
Directions: Mokopane is about 215 km north of Pretoria and the caves are about 10 minutes east of the town.
Did you know: Australopithecus africanus, or the ‘ape man’, was found here.
Accommodation: The Platinum Guesthouse | Tibani Lodge | Bendito Ranch
Fertility Caves (Motouleng Caves), Clarens
Motouleng is not a typical tourist destination and is considered to be a sacred place. It is often visited to consult problems with fertility, hence the name. The sheer size of the caves is a good reason to visit – some of the largest in the southern hemisphere, but there are several other reasons as well. Motouleng is also home to a San burial ground, a sacred spring, prayer areas where you can light candles and leave gifts of food for the ancestors, traditional Sangoma huts and a fountain of life.
Entrance fee: You must respectfully ask permission from the Sangoma to enter the cave, a small offering is expected for his blessing and it serves as an entrance fee. Women must cover up with long skirts in order to enter.
Visiting hours: Open daily during daylight hours.
Contact: Clarens Xtreme 058 256 1260 (Out of respect for the Sangomas, their ancestors and others who live there, visiting the caves should be done with a tour guide.)
Difficulty: Moderate
Directions: Take the Clarens/Fouriesburg Road and turn off onto the dirt road where the sign indicates Surrender Hill. Follow this road until you see a gate on your right and the Heritage Site sign. You may have to wait for a few minutes for someone to open the gate.
Did you know: There are 25 traditional herbalists and healers residing in traditional huts inside the cave.
Accommodation: De Lusthof Guest Farm (the caves are located on this farm – how convenient!) | De Molen Farm | Royal Coachman
Echo Caves, Ohrigstad
In 1923 a farmer stumbled upon these caves when he realised that some of his cattle have been disappearing mysteriously. It was named after a stalactite (those icicle-shaped things hanging from the cave ceiling) that makes an echo sound when tapped that can be heard outside the cave. Cavers can expect impressive stalactites and stalagmites (the ones on the cave floor). There is also an additional tour for the brave (definitely not for the claustrophobic types) that allows you to explore the deeper parts of the cave – the end of which hasn’t been discovered yet!
Entrance fee: Phone for the latest tariffs
Visiting hours: 08:30 – 16:30 Monday to Sunday
Contact: Echo Caves reception 013 2380 015
Difficulty: Easy
Directions: The Caves are 15 km west of the Strijdom Tunnel (Abel Erasmus Pass) and 26 km north of Ohrigstad on the Lydenburg/Tzaneen Road.
Did you know: One of the caves is 60 m high!
Accommodation: The Shoe Guest House | Forever Resort – Blyde Canyon | Shikwari Game Reserve
Wonderwerk Cave, Kuruman
Fascinating artefacts were found here, including stone tools, engravings, decorated ostrich eggshells, human hair, pollen from about 400 000 years ago and the 8 000-year-old teeth of a now extinct species of horse. There is abundant rock art from around 1 500 years ago of animals such as eland and elephant.
Entrance fee: R20 per adult; R10 per child
Visiting hours: 08:00 to 17:00 Monday to Friday
Contact: Tour guide 087 310 4356
Difficulty: Easy (wheelchair-friendly)
Directions: The Wonderwerk Cave is 43 km south of Kuruman in the Northern Cape. The road is marked with clear signs.
Did you know: This cave stretches 193 m into the mountain and is so large that legend has it an ox-wagon with all oxen spanned in can turn around in its entrance.
Accommodation: Sisibala Game Lodge | Cas Da Willa Lodge | Be Our Guest @ Kramersfontein
Main Cave at Giant’s Castle, Drakensberg
This cave is actually a museum, The San Art Museum, and is one of the biggest and best preserved rock art sites in Southern Africa. After a short hike from the Giant’s Castle main camp you get to see an astounding 500 or more rock paintings, some of which are around 800 years old.
Entrance fee: Entrance to park R25 per adult, R13 per child; Cave tour R30 per adult, R15 per child
Visiting hours: 09:00 to 15:00 Monday to Sunday
Contact: Giant’s Castle reception 036 353 3718
Difficulty: Easy
Directions: Visitors from the north turn off the N3 into Estcourt. At the intersection of Conner and Lorne street, turn onto Ntabamhlophe Road and follow the signs to Giant’s Castle. Visitors from the south turn off the N3 into Mooi River, drive through the town and follow the Giant’s Castle signs to the reserve 64 km away.
Did you know: The Main Cave is but one of the uKhahlamba Drakensberg Park’s 600 caves and shelters.
The uKhahlamba Drakensberg Park is the first Cultural and Natural World Heritage Site in South Africa. These mountains contain more than 40 000 rock art paintings in 600 caves and shelters. The Bear Grylls types who are prepared to rough it can experience mountain life by spending the night in a cave. Ezemvelo KwaZulu-Natal Wildlife will give you a list of caves you can overnight in.
Accommodation: Cleopatra Mountain Farmhouse | Brides Veil Chalet | Antbear Drakensberg Lodge
After you’ve explored these guys, you may feel inspired to cave in more remote locations. Please remember to cave responsibly and keep the following guidelines in mind:
* Never cave alone
* Check on the caver behind you – your group should only move as fast as the slowest caver
* Make sure someone knows where you are
* Know your limits – caving is tiring
* Carry 2 or even 3 torches in case one fails
* If something goes wrong, stay put until help arrives – someone knows where you are, right?
* Never run or jump in the cave
* Wear non-slippery hiking boots with ankle support and a helmet if necessary
* Caves can get quite cold, so layering is important
* Carry a small first aid kit – a moon bag always comes in handy
* Bring high-energy food and lots of water
* Don’t litter
So what are you waiting for? Book a stay at one of TravelGround’s many accommodation options near the caves, pack your hiking boots and torches, and be a cave man or woman for the weekend!
Feature image: “stadsaal 2” by Malcolm Cerfonteyn (Flickr)
