Come and visit South Africa’s oldest tourist attraction
(The Cango Caves). The caves have been open to the public since
1891 and offered the visitor a guided tour by South Africa’s
first appointed tour guide.
The caves are situated 29km’s North of Oudtshoorn in a
limestone ridge parallel to the Swartberg Mountains. A tour of the
caves will reveal some of the finest dripstone caverns, with their
vast halls and towering formations.
These formations have been formed over millions of years by
rainwater that has seeped through cracks in the rocks. As it passed
through organic material, has picked up carbon dioxide gas,
creating carbonic acid. This weak acid passed through cracks in
dolomite. The mineral calcite was dissolved from the limestone that
the cave is formed from. When this water that held the dissolved
rock was exposed to the air in the cave, it released the carbon
dioxide gas, much like when a bottle of soda is opened. As the
carbon dioxide was released, calcite was precipitated
(re-deposited) on cave walls, ceilings and floors. Depending on the
speed at which the rainwater has flown and the shape of the cracks
in the rocks. This has given rise to the many spectacular
formations to be found at Cango.
Cango Caves is the only show cave in Africa which offers a
choice of Standard (easy) or Adventure Tours. All tours are lead by
experienced, knowledgeable and accredited Caves Guides. All tours
are offered in English but Afrikaans, German, French and other
language guide may be available. The standard tour operates 09:00 -
16:00 departing every hour on the hour. Price Adults: R R52.00 /
Children: R 28.00 Duration: 60 min. The adventure tour operates
09:30 - 15:30 departing every hour on the half hour. Price Adults:
R 66.00 / Children: R 43.00 Duration: 90 min or longer depending on
the size of the group. Please note that if you opt for the
adventure tour you can upgrade the cache terrain rating to a 4
star.
To qualify for finding this cache please email
(adrianbowman@gmail.com) me the following information.
1). A photo of your group / yourself displaying a GPS taken in
front of the (Welcome to Cango Caves) sign (Near the Listed
co-ordinates).
2). The name of the person who eligibly rediscovered the caves
in 1780 and whom the first camber is named after.
3). The name of the first guide appointed in 1891 and who was
responsible for discovering most of the significant areas of the
cave. Including the route through to Cango 2 and on.
4). Briefly describe the differences between a stalactite and a
stalagmite and how each is formed.
5) In the first chamber you’ll find the longest formation
found in the cave. What type of formation is this and what is
it’s name.
6) At the end of the Standard tour and start of the adventure
tour you’ll come across the drum room. What makes the
crystals in the African drum formation give off the unique sound of
the African drum.
Listen carefully to your tour guide and you should be able to
gain all the knowledge to answer the above questions. If
you’re not sure on some of the answers, info can be found
within the building before leaving.