South Africa’s landscape harbors some of the world’s most significant caves, offering windows into both Earth’s geological past and humanity’s earliest chapters. These natural majestic wonders have preserved evidence of ancient human habitation, evolutionary milestones, and spectacular formations created over millions of years.

From archaeological treasures to breathtaking stalactite galleries, we bring you these eight oldest and most remarkable caves in South Africa.

8. Sudwala Caves

Among the oldest known cave systems on Earth, the Sudwala Caves in Mpumalanga Province near Nelspruit were formed approximately 240 million years ago within Precambrian dolomite rock. This astonishing timeline places their formation before the African continent separated from other landmasses.

The caves feature spectacular dripstone formations and remarkably preserved microbial fossils of cyanobacteria dating back an estimated 2 billion years. Throughout history, the caves have served multiple purposes, including as a fortress and shelter during tribal conflicts.

Today, visitors can explore these ancient chambers through guided tours that reveal the cave’s stunning limestone formations, including the “Screaming Monster” and the amphitheater-like “PR Owen Hall,” which occasionally hosts concerts due to its exceptional acoustics.

Discover more fascinating insights into Africa’s rich past in our guide to the Oldest African Countries.

7. Sterkfontein Caves

Located about 40 kilometers northwest of Johannesburg near Krugersdorp in Gauteng Province, the Sterkfontein Caves represent one of the richest hominin fossil sites in the world. As part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site known as the Cradle of Humankind, these limestone caves have fundamentally altered our understanding of human evolution.

The caves gained international fame following the discovery of “Mrs. Ples” (a nearly complete Australopithecus africanus skull dating back 2.1-2.6 million years) and “Little Foot,” an almost entire Australopithecus skeleton estimated to be around 3.67 million years old. These findings have provided critical insights into human ancestors and their development.

Visitors can explore an excellent interpretive center before touring the caves themselves, learning about the ongoing paleoanthropological research that continues to yield groundbreaking discoveries about human origins.

6. Wonderwerk Cave

The aptly named Wonderwerk Cave (meaning “miracle” in Afrikaans) extends approximately 140 meters into the Kuruman Hills in the Northern Cape Province. This extraordinary site holds the distinction of being one of the longest continuously inhabited natural caves in the world, with sediment layers suggesting nearly 2 million years of human or hominin presence.

Wonderwerk has yielded evidence of early hominin use of fire dated to nearly 1 million years ago—among the oldest confirmed instances of controlled fire use in the archaeological record. Stone tools from both the Acheulean and Oldowan periods provide tangible connections to our distant ancestors.

While public access may be limited due to ongoing research, the cave’s significance in understanding human cognitive and cultural evolution cannot be overstated, offering glimpses into how early humans began mastering their environment.

5. Blombos Cave

Situated in a limestone cliff approximately 35 meters above sea level in the Blombos Private Nature Reserve, about 300 kilometers east of Cape Town, Blombos Cave has fundamentally challenged previous understanding of when modern human behavior emerged.

Excavations beginning in 1991 revealed Middle Stone Age deposits dating between 100,000 and 70,000 years ago that contained revolutionary evidence of symbolic thinking. The cave yielded geometrically engraved ochre pieces dating to about 75,000 years ago, representing some of the earliest known symbolic expression by Homo sapiens.

Perhaps most remarkably, archaeologists discovered what amounts to the world’s oldest known art studio—a toolkit for mixing ochre-based paint, including grindstones and storage containers, dated to 100,000 years ago. Additionally, over 60 perforated Nassarius shell beads found at the site provide some of the earliest evidence of personal adornment.

While the cave itself remains closed to the public as a protected archaeological site, some artifacts are displayed at the Blombos Museum of Archaeology in Still Bay.

4. Pinnacle Point Caves

The Pinnacle Point cave system near Mossel Bay on South Africa’s southern coast has yielded extraordinary evidence of coastal adaptation and symbolic behavior dating between 170,000 and 40,000 years ago. These caves have provided critical insights into early modern human development during a period when our species nearly faced extinction.

Archaeological findings demonstrate that early humans at Pinnacle Point were harvesting marine resources and using red ochre for symbolic purposes—behaviors previously thought to have emerged much later. Evidence suggests these early inhabitants possessed sophisticated cognitive abilities, including complex planning and technological innovation.

The caves remain primarily a research site rather than a tourist destination, but their scientific significance is immeasurable, offering crucial data about human resilience and adaptation during climatically challenging periods.

3. Cango Caves

Nestled in the foothills of the Swartberg range near Oudtshoorn in the Western Cape Province, the Cango Caves represent one of South Africa’s most spectacular natural wonders. Formed in Precambrian limestone, this extensive system extends over 4 kilometers, though only about a quarter is accessible to visitors.

The caves have been inhabited since the Early Stone Age, with rock art and artifacts indicating long-term human presence. Their impressive chambers feature dramatic dripstone formations, massive stalactites, and stalagmites that have developed over countless millennia.

As one of South Africa’s oldest tourist attractions, the caves offer both standard tours for casual visitors and adventure tours for those willing to crawl through narrow passages and climb steep formations, providing different perspectives on this geological marvel.

Explore the earliest evidence of human innovation in our feature on the world’s most ancient stone tool discoveries.

2. Bothongo Wonder Cave

Located in Kromdraai, Gauteng, within the Bothongo Rhino & Lion Nature Reserve (part of the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site), this impressive cave is estimated to be between 5 and 10 million years old. As the third-largest cave chamber in South Africa, measuring 125 by 154 meters with an area of 46,000 square meters, it offers an immersive glimpse into Earth’s distant past.

The cave’s magnificent stalactites and stalagmites create an otherworldly landscape, while its paleontological significance adds another dimension to the experience. Visitors descend into the cave via a lift, then explore wooden walkways that provide access to the dramatic formations while protecting the cave environment.

Guided tours highlight both the geological processes that created these magnificent structures and the historical significance of the surrounding area in human evolution.

1. Waenhuiskrans Cave

Near the picturesque fishing village of Arniston in the Western Cape lies Waenhuiskrans Cave, whose name translates to “wagon house cliff,” referencing its impressive size—supposedly large enough to accommodate a wagon with its full team of oxen.

This dramatic sea cave, carved by the relentless action of waves over thousands of years, is accessible only during low tide. Visitors must navigate through a small opening before the cave’s vast chamber reveals itself, opening to magnificent views of the ocean.

Unlike some of South Africa’s other ancient caves, Waenhuiskrans offers more of a natural adventure experience than an archaeological one. Its dramatic setting, with waves crashing nearby and sunlight filtering through openings in the rock, creates an atmosphere of primal beauty that connects visitors to the raw power of geological processes.

Conclusion

South Africa’s ancient caves stand as monuments to both natural processes and human development, preserving evidence of our species’ earliest innovations while showcasing Earth’s geological artistry. 

From the oldest evidence of fire use to the earliest known art studio, these caves continue to shed light on humanity’s journey while offering breathtaking glimpses into worlds formed over millions of years.