Come explore the Echo Caves
The Echo Caves located 26 km outside the small town of Ohrigstad holds great historical significance.
LIMPOPO – Very few people are aware of these unique caves, which offer a great journey of discovery…
Tour guide, Liza Maseko, recently took visitors of the Lilizela Tourism Awards on a gruelling yet informative tour of the astonishing structures and their age-old secrets. Historical records suggest this underground wonderland was stumbled upon in 1923 by the owner of the farm Klipfonteinhoek when he was searching for a water source. Great was his surprise when he realised some of his cattle had wandered into the caves. After exploring the caves, he soon realised this dark underworld carries the most beautiful gems of nature.
On completion of the Abel Erasmus Pass and the Strijdom Tunnel in 1959, the caves opened as a tourist attraction. Later they were declared a national monument. The name “Echo” was given to the caves, as a certain stalactite formation within the caves produces a distinctive echoing sound when tapped on. Although the caves stretch over a distance of 40 km, nobody knows their full extent. There are two tours of 45 minutes and 75 minutes respectively which give visitors a glimpse of this underground wonderland.
On the 75 minute tour, visitors explore the 2 km cave network open to the public from well-lit walkways showcasing the beautiful dripstone formations. Visitors are afforded the opportunity to tour the beautiful Crystal Palace and Madonna Room to find out how the caves came by their name as there is a large stalactite that, when struck, makes a sound that resonates even beyond the cave walls.
The caves have further historical significance in that prehistoric items and artifacts dating back to the Stone Age have been found there. These are now housed in the nearby Museum of Man which is also worth a visit. If you stay in one of the rustic rondavels on the farm, you can also hike in the surrounding mountains which are part of the northern Drakensberg range and home to rare birds such as the elusive blue swallow.
The caves are open to the public from 08:30 to 16:30 from Monday to Saturday but closes at 16:00 on Sundays.
Other sites in the area worth a visit include the Ohrigstad Dam Nature Reserve, Blyde River Canyon, Drakensberg Mountains, Panorama Route and the Gustav Klingbiel Nature Reserve. A guided tour costs R60 per adult and R25 for children under 12.
Accommodation for up to 140 people is available at the caves, including dormitory-style rooms and 11 chalets.
