Cango Caves

The Cango Caves are a show cave system carved in limestone in the Swartberg range of the Western Cape, South Africa, known for extensive stalactite and stalagmite formations and developed visitor routes. The caves form one of South Africa’s best-known accessible cave complexes.

A lit, developed main route takes visitors through large chambers and corridors with large calcite formations; the show-cave section is reached on guided tours and features broad caverns and decorated walls. For experienced visitors there are also adventure tours that traverse tighter passages and less-developed sections of the system.

The caves are solutional features formed in limestone over long geological timescales; they were opened to visitors in the 19th and 20th centuries and have been progressively developed with walkways and lighting. The site has long been a regional tourist attraction and is managed to balance access with conservation of the speleothems.

The caves lie on the south side of the Swartberg mountains, near the town of Oudtshoorn in the Western Cape, roughly 25-30 kilometres north of the town centre.

• Location and access: Located in the foothills of the Swartberg Mountains, about 25-30 km north of Oudtshoorn; guided tours are required to enter the main chambers.
• Tours: Multiple tour options include a standard illuminated tour and more demanding adventure routes that involve narrow passages and steps.

What to See #

• Show-cave tours: The developed, lit show-cave sections with guided walkways and interpretation that form the standard visitor route.
• Adventure routes: Shorter guided routes that require scrambling and narrow passages, marketed as adventure or spelunking tours for fit visitors.
• Visitor centre: On-site visitor centre with ticketing, basic facilities and educational displays about cave formation and local geology.