Echo Caves

24°33′41″S 30°36′13″E / 24.56139°S 30.60361°E / -24.56139; 30.60361

Bats inhabit the Echo Caves.
The Samson Chamber.
The enormous Madonna Chamber from below.
The enormous Madonna Chamber from above.

The Echo Caves in Limpopo, South Africa, are set in Precambrian dolomite rock, which was first laid down about 3800 million years ago, when Africa was still part of Gondwana. The caves are considered some of the oldest in the world. The Echo Caves are situated on the farm Klipfonteingrot,[1] some 92 km north of the similar Sudwala Caves.

There are a number of speleothem structures in the cave; two of these are hollow stalactites which when hammered create echoes audible throughout and even outside the caves, thus the name of the caves.[2] The caves are over 40 km long; regular tours are available for about 2 km of the tunnels and chambers.[3]

The caves were used for shelter in recent centuries by the Pedi people; they slept in what is now called the Samson chamber (due to the limestone columns which appear to hold the low roof of the cave up).

  1. ^ Louw-Carstens, Marietie (10 June 2023). "Lewend verbrand: 'Is hulle van die bose?' Ons het baie vrae en min antwoorde, se slagoffer se seun". NUUS. Beeld. p. 6.
  2. ^ Echo Caves on SA-Venues
  3. ^ ShowMe Tourism page