Human History and Caves

Humans have a special relationship with caves. Various peoples over the years have sought shelter in these natural hollows in the earth. This is no different for the famous Sudwala caves in Mpumalanga South Africa. Here, people of the various kingdoms across the Southern African landscape sought shelter in times of wars and the natural cave system provided them with, amongst other things, a natural alarm system. Some of the unique rocks provided a natural alarm system when you hit on the rocks. You can hear the sounds of the low thump noise throughout the whole cave. These caves are also the oldest in the world.

So please join me on this virtual tour as I take you through the cave. I will also show you the dinosaur park which is just a walk distance away and the random butterfly labyrinth tucked away in the bush below the caves. I also show you a farmstall that is close by where we stopped to grab some much-needed refreshments. Please enjoy this piece of South African history with me!

The Sudwala Caves

After an enormous amount of steps, you arrive at the cave opening. A buck/deer skeleton (the image above) and this little caveman greet you. The cave opening is huge but well hidden, one can understand why it was tactical to occupy.

The caves are dark, but specific features are lit up. This makes for amazing features to look at. These massive structures were formed over countless years, with slow dripping calcuim-rich water. If the drip/flow rate is not slow enough, the water erodes these massive structures. With a couple of good rain seasons, this is what is happening. Apparently, the water droplets should fall at a rate of three drops every day or so, but it is much faster than this today. So in a couple of hundred years, these massive and old structures will be gone.

It is really scary but at the same time a wonderful sight.

Massive amounts of water is in the cave, it was the water source for the people who hid in the caves.

Various pots and artefacts have been found in the caves. It was probably used for water, food and beer.

The above two photographs are from the structure that is called the "Three crying nuns".

This apparently looks like a giant monster trying to punch the ceiling.

And this black structure looks like a magnum icecream that is dripping from the roof.

An interesting phenomenon with the introduction of these lights that light up the formations in the cave, is the invasion of plants. Various spots have these plants, but if the lights where not there, they would have died. Also, the ground in the cave is littered with bat poop. Early prospectors in the caves dug up all of the bat poop to sell it to local farmers. This act almost destroyed the caves. Luckily, it did not.

This is called the Weeping Madonna. She is one of the fastest eroding structures due to the heavy dripping of water. You can see how much water is falling over her.

Deep inside of the cave is Fairy Land. The only way to see it is to fill a cavety with water (as they did) and to shine a light on it. You see the reflection on the water.

This is a Rocket launcing into space!

And on the roof, you can see the shape of Southern Africa.

And this is a roof/mouth of some reptile, a snake of crocodile.

If you turn on your creative mind, this might look like a horse's head.

Throughout the cave, you can see various of these structures on the roof.

The cave is amazing, and there are a number of shows (orchestras and choirs) that are held there. I can only imagine how beautiful that would be to experience.

The Dinosaur Park

Just around the corner, there is a dinosaur park. Life-size animals are hidden between the thicket, and there are some live crocodiles!

Our history is fascinating and rich. We can only imagine what life must have been like a hundred, a thousand, or a million years ago.

In a sense they are scary, but one can easily see they are not alive. But the crocodile below is alive!

You are treated with some spectacular views when you walk on some of the pathways.

Walking towards the restuarant, you walk past this cute sad hippo structure.

When you sit down for a breakfast after the two tours, you are also treated with a beautiful view.

A Butterfly Labyrinth

It is not butterfly season, they prefer warmer temperatures. But you can still walk through the labyrinth.

Deep in the bush, there is a nymph watching you!

All along the pathway there are musical instruments. You can play this and meditate a bit.

A Much Needed Pit Stop

About 20 kilometers away from the caves, there is a farmstall that sells fresh orange juice. It is a must stop. But the shop also sells massive wood tables and they have some weird statues outside and inside for you to wonder at.

Postscriptum, or Jump on the Bandwagon!

So our trip ends. Hopefully, you enjoyed this virtual trip with me to the oldest caves in the world. It is fascinating to see how these structures resemble things in our everyday life. It is also sad to know that they will be gone in the future. What a time to be alive in.

All of the photographs are my own, taken either with my iPhone or Nikon D300. All of the musings are my own unless credited otherwise. Some of the information in this post is also verbal knowledge as given to me by the tour guide. He was such a nice guy! I hope you enjoyed this trip, and safe travels!