Also check out the pictures of CANGO II cave near Oudtshoorn.

The Kalkbay caves are somewhat unique in South Africa because they have been formed by mechanical erosion in sandstone.  (Most caves are found in limeston and are formed through chemical reaction with the water.)

There are well over 100 caves documented by the Cape Peninsula Speleaological Association (previously known as the Cape Section of the South African Speleaological Association - or SASA). Here are some pictures from the ones that I like to take people to.

This is the relatively easy Boomslang Cave, where you basically walk about 80 meters from the one side of the mountain through to the other side, with only a short crawl at the end. Here on the left you see Caroline peeping thru one hole.

Dougie Rossouw, Jean-Paul, Dougie's son and Jonathan inspecting a smaller chamber in Boomslang.

Oread Halls: Dougie is making a valiant effort to small at the entrance ("Deliverance").

Jonathan on a(n optional) ledge towards the end of Oread Hall - about 150 meters down.

Dougie Rossouw loosing some sweat trying to get out of Robin Hood's entrance series near the Amphitheatre. A good thing we didn't try the optional "Narrows" at the other entrance! BTW: no that's not someone's bald head at the bottom of the picture, that's my knee which I refuse to crop out!

Jonathan is not too happy after what is a little squeeze even for someone his size...

but Jonathan seems to be a lot happier when Caroline is holding his hand. The whole cave is just under one kilometre long (including side passages). It is not a technical cave but quite challenging for novices.

Also check out the pictures of CANGO II cave near Oudtshoorn.

(c) Jean-Paul Van Belle