The greater Cape area is beautiful and sometimes left unexplored by locals and visitors when they find themselves entranced within the city limits (after all, with all that the Mother City has to offer, it’s pretty inevitable). What many do not know is that the Cape is home to many caves ready to be explored by those brave enough.
Also read: Work begins to restore and re-profile the dunes in Fish Hoek and Glencairn
While it is imperative to remember that we should never enter a cave without a well-versed guide, here are some caves many guides would agree are well worth exploring:
The Cango Caves, Oudtshoorn
The Cango Caves are the only show caves in Africa that offer a choice of an easy Heritage Tour or a slightly more challenging Adventure Tour. The tours are led by experienced, knowledgeable and accredited cave guides and are offered in many different languages, including English, Afrikaans, German and French.
- Location: Cango Valleie Road, Oudtshoorn
Woodstock Cave, Devil’s Peak
The Woodstock Cave hike begins at Rhodes Memorial on the eastern slopes of the Mother City’s Devil’s Peak.
A relatively easy to moderate hike will get you there, but adventurers are advised to be careful during colder days as the clay in the area can become slippery.
The view from the cave will give you a perfect opportunity to appreciate the iconic cityscape. From the cave, you’ll see the ocean, the city centre, Lion’s Head and Table Bay.
- Location: Table Mountain (Nature Reserve), Cape Town
Klipgat Caves, Gaansbaai
The Gaansbaai suburb of De Kelders, which is Dutch for ‘The Cellars’, is named after the presence of several expansive caverns formed in its limestone cliffs.
These caverns were created millions of years ago through erosion caused by underwater aquifers. They were then opened up along the coastal cliffs by rising sea levels and pounding waves, forming huge caves that would later become the homes of Middle Stone Age people and eventually Late Stone Age people (known to us as the Khoikhoi).
The most famous of these caves is Klipgat Cave (translated to ‘Stone Hole’), named after a remarkable window-like opening that showcases mesmerising views over the bay.
- Location: 16 17th Avenue, Hermanus
Elephant’s Eye Cave, Constantiaberg
The name for Elephant’s Eye in Cape Town comes from the shape of the mountainside, which resembles the side of an elephant’s head. The eye section is the cave, which is also the main destination of the hike.
The cave itself is said to have belonged to a very powerful and mighty Hottentot chieftess. Now, it is considered one of the most beautiful hiking trails Table Mountain has to offer.
- Location: Table Mountain National Park (TMNP), Table Mountain (Nature Reserve), Cape Town
Peer’s Cave, Fish Hoek
This beautiful cave is located just above the Fish Hoek dunes and is protected from northeasterly winds. The hike to the cave takes approximately 20 minutes to complete, and it offers hikers spectacular views of Noordhoek.
- Location: Silvermine Road, Fish Hoek
Also read:
Explore the natural beauty of Western Cape’s mountain passes
Picture: @faisal.a1i / Instagram
