The temperatures in the Cango Caves is a warm and humid 18 degrees Celsius. Sensible footwear and light clothing are recommended.  Ample lighting makes uneven pathways and stairs easy to negotiate, and provides opportunities for memorable photographs.  Tours are lead by experienced and knowledgeable guides.  There are three different types of tours that you can choose. 

• Scenic Tour: An easy walk with two stairways, taking in the two biggest and most spectacular halls. 
• Standard Tour:  A moderate walk through the first tow magnificent halls, continuing to the "African Drum  Chamber"  Several stairways are included in the standard tour.  
• Adventure Tour:  A challenging tour, with exciting passages and narrow chimneys, requiring a good degree of fitness. 

About the Cango Caves

The Cango Caves lie in the Swartberg Mountain Range in a limestone belt measuring 0,5km 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, however, 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.

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 limestone beds of the Cango Group are, through movement in the Earth's crust, no longer in a horizontal plane. The layers of strata are also displaced laterally, forming dykes. Rainwater, combined with acidic carbon dioxide from decomposing plant material 

on the surface, flows through a fracture zone. Limestone, i.e., calcium carbonate plus water and carbon dioxide = Calcium Bicarbonate - which dissolves in water, flows out. This process of `cave making' takes millions of years.

Calcium bicarbonate gives off carbon dioxide and reverts back to Calcium Carbonate, and the solution crystallises and evolves into the various formations which can be seen in the Caves (Stalactites, etc.).

The time in making the many formations, depends on the supply of water and carbon dioxide, and in the case of the Cango Caves, may have started several millions of years ago, whilst many are still in the making.

The Cango Caves is one of the worlds great natural wonders, sculptured by nature through the ages - fascinating limestone formations in a wide variety of colours. An underground wonderworld. Trained guides are at hand to conduct visitors along the magic paths of the world's finest stalactite cave.

According to legend the caves were discovered during 1780. Early visitors had to brave the pitch darkness of the vast caverns from the poor light of self made candles.

Over the years improvements took place and today modern technology makes it possible that all the wonders of the cave are skillfully illuminated for the benefit of visitors.

The Cango Caves are an absolute must for all domestic and/or foreign tourists - if you miss the Caves, you might as well have stayed home.

A few Tourist Guidelines for the Cango Caves

• Please wear comfortable footwear and light clothing - it's a warm cave at around 18 degrees Celsius (around 65 Fahrenheit)
• Please arrive at least 10 minutes early - there are no facilities on tour.
• It's a one kilometer walk, with 416 stairs on a full tour, and lasts about one and a half hours.
• The tunnel section at the back (devil's chimney) borders an extreme adventure, please reserve it for the fit and adventurous. Not advisable for small children. You may turn round at the halfway mark (drum chamber), or leave the small ones in the creche.
• Feel free to take photos.

Please do not -