Cango Caves Adventure Tour - (Swartberg - Cango/Oudtshoorn)

Please note this recording was done without GPS signal as its obviously underground all the way therefore accuracy in terms of positioning and distances are undoubtedly questionable at best relying only on compass and step instruments. Actual walking distance within the caves is about 1.6km both ways so 3.2 kilometers in total. This recording was done as part of a guided adventure tour so please note that there is no need to download or rely on this GPS recording in any way, if attempted a trained guide will ensure that directions are followed and obstacles navigated. Furthermore please note that this is not true adventure spelunking, experienced cave exploring enthusiasts should consult other sources if aiming to Spelunk in the area, this is very much an activity for novices and tourists alike.
After purchasing tickets at the ticket office (if a prebooking is not made, this is advisable) and visiting the shops at the cave entrance complex (please note only water is allowed in the cave) the adventure tour begins by entering a medium sized chamber with a hunter gather San scene, even from this first chamber it becomes obvious that the caves are impressive and limestone formations appear early on. The guide usually gives a briefing in this entrance chamber or hall. The group proceeds ahead by turning a corner and proceeding to a passage followed by a staircase. As soon as the top of the staircase is reached the Massive Van Zyl’s Hall comes into view and the scale is simply surreal no matter how many times you’ve visited the caves. Once down on the cave floor the guides will usually give a small history lesson showing how Van Zyl lowered himself down on a rope with little more than a candle’s light in order to stand in the massive chamber. At this point the guides might test the chamber’s acoustics and switch off all the lights to show you just how dark this chamber would have appeared when Van Zyl first entered. I have to admit that the sheer darkness used to be impressive years ago, but these days cell phones and smart watches carried by the droves of tourists don’t give your eyes any time to adjust, thus you probably won’t get much of an idea of what that dark world would be like. With the display lights back on you can see impressive stalactites hanging from the cave ceiling as well as the organ pipes and cleopatras needle which is a prominent 9m high stalagmite in the chamber. There’s plenty to see and marvel at here and the group is encouraged to look around without touching any of the formations. This is a very necessary rule because the acids and oils naturally found on our skin damage the delicate formations which took thousands of years to form and are likely no longer growing. Even the carbon dioxide we breathe is in fact harmful to the cave and stimulates the growth of algae and mold but there’s no getting around that unless visitor numbers are drastically reduced, or the cave is closed for a while. Leaving Van Zyl’s Chamber at the opposite end Botha’s Hall is next up and although smaller than Van Zyl’s chamber its still gigantic and the limestone features in this chamber are some of the cave’s most impressive. On the bottom end of the chamber features like the throne room and the frozen waterfall appear well lit right in front of you, it’s worth jostling to the front to get a picture of the throne room. It was at this point that our large group was split to make a bit of extra room. About 25% of the original group were adventure tour ticket holders and we proceeded ahead leaving the vast majority behind to carry on with their shorter but far more in depth (in terms of information) tour. We quickly covered ground through the cave whizzing past the Rainbow Chamber, Bridal Chamber, Fairy Land and Drum Room. After the Drum Room the official Adventure tour only section of the caves begins, the crowds behind wont venture past this point. You may be on a single tour up until this point if the cave is not too busy. It should also be noted that from here the rule of not touching the cave formations becomes impossible as you will be climbing, squeezing, sliding and balancing all over the place. The ask is to only touch in necessary and obvious places or holds, nothing else. Passing the Grand Hall, Lot’s Chamber and the Avenue eventually Jacob’s ladder is reached. Some sources site Jacob’s ladder as the obvious large metal staircase ladder and others site it as the section of 200 steps in the cave leading up to the staircase. Either way once the slippery metal staircase is climbed the cave begins to narrow and the adventure atmosphere begins to truly take effect. The claustrophobic amongst you might begin to start feeling a little uncomfortable from this section, but then why go on a caving adventure tour, right? At the top of the metal step ladder is the Lumbago Walk which involves bending or crouching down for a couple of meters and this may test your lower back as you navigate the somewhat narrow corridor. Thereafter its navigating sections known as the Crystal Palace and the better-known tunnel of love. As the name suggest it can be quite a squeeze if the festive season was not kind to your waistline, but the vast majority can mange this without problems. Our guide delighted in telling us about how a larger woman who separated illegally from a standard tour got stuck in this section a few years ago and it required the use of soap and a couple of hours’ worth of maneuvering to slide her out of there. After the Tunnel of Love, the Ice Chamber and King Solomon’s Mine is reached, at this point you feel as though the outside world is miles away with the cave’s humidity taking its toll on you, it can get sticky at times. Fortunately, oxygen is pumped into the cave and the temperature remains a cool 20 degrees Celsius but the humidity is definitely felt. A few paces on the Devil’s workshop is reached. At this point you are the furthest into Cango 1 which the tour will visit. A dark corner in this section apparently leads to another small chamber known as the banqueting hall and from there onward Cango 2 or the “Wonder Cave” filled with Crystals begins. Cango 2 & 3 are not open to the public, vast rooms of Crystals and even narrower sections as well a obstacles far more daunting than those found in Cango 1 don’t permit ordinary members of the public to access. This would be reserved only for spelunking scientists and researchers; permissions haven’t been granted for over 10 years according to our guide. If you find the idea of Cango 2 & 3 intriguing, I can highly recommend going to the short film screening at the small cinema in the cave entrance complex building. The film gives an informative narrative on the caves and shows remarkable footage of exploration into Cango 2 and 3. The small museum display section also has fascinating features on the subject, you can do these activities before or after your tour if pressed for time. At the one end of the Devils workshop is the famous Devil’s Chimney, this nearly three-meter tight squeeze climb often turns a few on the adventure tour away when sighted. At this point if you continue up the Chimney there is no turning back. It’s a tight squeeze up and it will require you to pull yourself up in order to be able to lift a leg in that tight space, your guide will most likely suggest foot holds to use to ease the process. This tour does require a small degree of fitness and ability, but it is not extremely physically demanding., its manageable for most who attempt it. After exiting the Devils Chimney it’s a wait in a medium sized chamber (lookout for strangely shaped crystals on the roof) before climbing into the rear end of the letterbox. The letterbox is the narrowest passage that will need to be passed through on the tour but personally I find it easier than the chimney. You slide through hands first facing forward, this helps to compress those beer boeps and if needed the guide will give your arms a pull from the other end. You gather in a chamber on the other side (after being posted) before looping back around and quickly meeting familiar sections covered before. A squeeze back through the Tunnel of Love and the testing of your lower back in the Lumbago Walk are done in reverse when exiting. Thereafter down the ladder and then its a straightforward and well lit path with exit signs back to the sunlight and fresh air. On returning take time to appreciate the sections you may have zipped past in haste or if your tour was at pace like ours was. Doing the trip in reverse gives a whole new perspective. Right at the end of the cave the path splits to an exit only path and then shortly thereafter you’re back at the caves entrance complex building where you set out earlier. Although extremely popular a visit to this cave system is a must in the area at least once in your lifetime!