Cave sights in Africa
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Gcwihaba Caverns
Also known as Drotsky's Cave, this cavern system and its stalagmites and stalactites, which reach heights and lengths of up to 10m (33ft), were formed by water seeping through and dissolving the dolomite rock. The dripping water deposited minerals and built up the cavern decorations from the ceiling and floor. The !Kung people first showed these caves to a European, Martinus Drotsky, in the mid 1930s. Buried treasure from the late 19th century is said to be hidden somewhere in the caves.
There are two entrances to the caves but no guides, no lighting and no indication of which route to take. With absolutely no natural light sneaking in, spelunkers must carry several…
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Las Cuevas del Conventico
The Calle de la Concepción continues up to the baroque Iglesia de la Concepción and, just below it, the entrance to Las Cuevas del Conventico. A short film and guided tour (both in Spanish) detail the history of the caves and tunnels that lead to the cliff face. The Phoenicians first excavated the tunnels; later occupiers took turns enlarging them and they now extend over three levels. They are meticulously maintained and well lit, which sadly eliminates much of their mystery.
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Cango Caves
Named after the Khoe-San word for ‘a wet place’, the Cango Caves are heavily commercialised but impressive. The one-hour tour gives you just a glimpse, while the 90-minute Adventure Tour (adult/child R90/55) lets you explore deeper into the caves. It does involve crawling through tight and damp places though, so is not recommended for the claustrophobic or unfit. Advance booking for both tours is highly recommended. The caves are 30km north of Oudtshoorn.
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Matsieng Rock Carvings
The Batswana people regard this spot as one of the four 'creation sites'. According to legend, the footprint and rock carvings belonged to Matsieng, who marched out of a hole followed by wild and domestic animals. There is a small information board at the gate and, on the other side of the fence from the car park, a tiny room with some explanations. The site lies at the end of a well-signed 1km-long (0.6mi) 2WD track that starts about 6km (3.7mi) north of Pilane.
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Mangapwani Caves
The Mangapwani caves are located about 20km north of Zanzibar Town along the coast. There are actually two locations. The first is a large natural cave with a freshwater pool, supposedly used in connection with the slave trade.
North of here is the sobering slave cave, a dank, dark cell that was used as a holding pen to hide slaves after the legal trade was abolished in the late 19th century.
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Cango Caves
Named after the Khoisan word for 'a wet place', the Cango Caves are heavily commercialised but still impressive. There's a choice of tours on offer, although it's fun to choose one of the longer tours which can involve crawling through tight spaces; the claustrophobic or unfit may wish to opt for a gentler excursion.
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Cave d'Ali Berbere
Ali is an endearing old guy who claims that the cave, supported by a series of stone arches, dates back to Roman times. He'll demonstrate pottery-making as it used to be done, climb into a massive amphora to show how Ali Baba and his 40 thieves were able to hide, and take you to an ancient underground olive press.
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