Cango Caves reopen after rockfall road closure near Oudtshoorn

update 23 July 2026

The Cango Caves management announced on 22 July 2026 that the Adventure Tour at Cango Caves has been suspended until further notice due to elevated water levels in the tunnels following recent conditions. The Heritage Tour remains open and operates as normal. 

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Travellers exploring the Garden Route and Klein Karoo can once again include the Cango Caves near Oudtshoorn in their itinerary. The popular attraction has reopened after a temporary closure caused by rockfalls and storm-related damage along the access roads. Following clearance work and safety assessments, access via the main access road has now been restored, although traffic controls remain in place while further work continues.
The temporary closure affected visitors from 09 May 2026, but access has now been restored and cave tours have resumed.

Road to the Cango Caves reopened

The Cango Caves Road (R328), the main access route to one of Oudtshoorn’s most popular attractions, was affected by a major rockfall in early May 2026. The damage followed a period of severe weather in the Western Cape, which contributed to erosion, slope instability and further risks along the mountain road.

Rock debris blocked sections of the route, and the road was closed while specialist teams removed fallen material, stabilised the affected slopes and carried out safety assessments. Because of the unstable rock face, clearing the road was not simply a matter of removing debris — further work was needed to reduce the risk of additional rockfalls.

After the necessary safety work was completed, the road reopened on 10 July 2026, with visitors able to return to the Cango Caves from Saturday, 11 July 2026.

A stop-and-go traffic system remains in place along the affected section of the R328, so travellers should allow extra time when driving to the caves. The route is open, but motorists should drive carefully and follow instructions from traffic officials.

Visiting the Cango Caves near Oudtshoorn

Located around 30 km north of Oudtshoorn at the foothills of the Swartberg Mountains, the Cango Caves are one of the Western Cape’s most popular attractions and South Africa’s oldest tourist attraction.

The caves form part of an extensive limestone cave system created over millions of years. Inside, visitors discover enormous chambers, dramatic rock formations, towering stalactites and stalagmites, and fascinating underground landscapes hidden beneath the Klein Karoo.

Guided tours offer different ways to experience the caves. The Heritage Tour explores the impressive main chambers and is suitable for most visitors, while the Adventure Tour provides a more challenging experience through narrow passages for those looking for something more adventurous.

A highlight of any Oudtshoorn itinerary

The Cango Caves are one of the must-see attractions when visiting Oudtshoorn, a town best known for its ostrich farms, Karoo landscapes and access to the spectacular Swartberg Pass.

A visit to the caves can easily be combined with other Klein Karoo experiences, from exploring local farms and mountain scenery to discovering the region’s food, wine and wildlife attractions.

For travellers driving between Cape Town, the Garden Route and the Eastern Cape, the Cango Caves remain a worthwhile stop — offering a completely different perspective on the Western Cape’s landscapes, far below the surface.

Travel tips for visitors

• Allow additional time for the stop-and-go traffic system currently operating on the R328.
• Check local weather conditions before travelling, particularly after periods of heavy rain.
• Wear comfortable footwear for cave tours, as some sections involve uneven surfaces.
• Combine your visit with other Oudtshoorn attractions to make the most of your time in theKlein Karoo.

With access restored, the Cango Caves are once again ready to welcome travellers looking for one of South Africa’s most unique natural experiences.

 

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Western Cape: Meiringspoort Pass remains closed until further notice! [update]

update (13 June 2024): The Greater Oudtshoorn Municipality in South Africa's Western Cape has anniunced that Meiringspoort will be opened at 17:00, 13 June 2024. The restrooms will remain closed due to damage. Travelling through Meiringspoort must be done at a lowered speed and with utmost caution.

The Greater Oudtshoorn Municipality in South Africa's Western Cape has announced that the Meiringspoort Pass, one of the most scenic mountain passes in South Africa, remains closed until further notice due to extensive construction works. Significant repairs are underway, including the rebuilding of sections of the road as well as addressing hazardous ditches formed along the riverbanks. These conditions pose a serious danger to motorists, necessitating the closure. The Pass and other roads in and around Oudtshoorn were closed due to heavy rains which caused flooding and rockfalls last week.

Meiringspoort is a mountain pass on the N12 in South Africa's Western Cape, where it crosses the Swartberg mountain range. The pass is a gateway that connects the Little Karoo and the Great Karoo, through a gorge with a 25 km road crossing the same river 25 times in the span of the 25 km.

This town in the Western Cape has the cleanest air in South Africa!

Swiss air quality technology company IQAir yesterday (14 March 2023) released the 5th Annual World Air Quality Report, which reveals details of the world’s most polluted countries, territories, and regions in 2022. For this year’s report, data from more than 30,000 air quality monitoring stations across 7,323 locations in 131 countries, territories, and regions was analyzed by the company’s air quality scientists. According to the Report, Oudtshoorn in the Western Cape is not only the city with the cleanest air (PM2.5* concentration 0.8 µg/m³) in South Africa, but also on the African continent. Grabouw (2.6 µg/m³), also located in the Western Cape, comes in second followed by Nieuwoudtville (3.4 µg/m³) in the Northern Cape, Knysna (5.2 µg/m³) and Cape Town (6.7 µg/m³). On the downside, two South African cities are among the most polluted cities on the African continent. Thabazimbi* (42.2 µg/m³) in Limpopo is the city in South Africa with the worst air quality (Africa #7) followed by Ekurhuleni (31.0 µg/m³ | Africa #13) in Gauteng. South Africa as a whole has the 39th worst air of the 131 countries in the report. The country had an average PM2.5 concentration of 23.40.8 µg/m³ in 2022.

Please note: Only 19 out of 54 countries in Africa had sufficient data available to be included in the 5th Annual World Air Quality Report, leaving 35 countries unaccounted for.

* The World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines for PM2.5 concentrations is five micrograms per cubic meter or 5 µg/m³ annually.
** Thabazimbi experienced several fire breakouts and a shortage of operational firefighting in 2022 observed annual PM2.5 levels around 42.2 µg/m³, a 50% increase in comparison to 2021.

Western Cape: Gamkaskloof (Die Hel) temporarily closed! [update]

update (12 December 2019): Gamkaskloof (Die Hel) will be closed from 03 December 2019 to 29 February 2020 as a result of damage to infrastructure during the recent fire. 

update (03 December 2019): Gamkaskloof (Die Hel) is closed until further notice as a result of a recent fire. The adjacent private landowners restaurant at Fontein Plaas is still operational and can be entered at own risk.

CapeNature, the public institution with the responsibility for biodiversity conservation in South Africa's Western Cape, has announced that Gamkaskloof (also known as "Die Hel") in the Swartberg Nature Reserve will be closed from today (26 November 2019) to 02 December 2019 as a result of an outbreak of fire. The fire is under control but the reserve will be closed to allow for mopping up operations.
Gamkaskloof (Die Hel), a narrow valley about 32 km long with a maximum of 180 m wide, lies isolated within the Swartberg Nature Reserve in the wedge of the Gamkaskloof valley south of the Gamkapoort Dam. The Swartberg Nature Reserve stretches 121 000 hectares between the Klein Karoo and the Groot Karoo, bordering the Gamkapoort Nature Reserve to the north and the Towerkop Nature Reserve to the west. The town of Oudtshoorn is 40 km away.

Western Cape: Swartberg Pass to reopen in both directions on 17 November 2017!

The Swartberg Pass, considered one of the most spectacular mountain passes in the world, is set to reopen in both directions on 17 November 2017. The repair work is not completely finished, so that, at times, the untarred pass will only be open on a monitored stop/go basis.


The 27km Swartberg Pass, which runs through the Swartberg mountain range between Oudtshoorn in the south and Prince Albert in the north, was badly damaged by devastating floods in April 2017.

Oudtshoorn: Two major ostrich show farms stopped ostrich rides!

Two major ostrich farms in the Oudtshoorn area, the Cango Ostrich Farm and the Safari Ostrich Show Farm, have stopped offering ostrich rides. According to statements on their websites, both farms recognise a trend towards a more ethical interaction with animals and decided therefore to stop the sitting and riding of their ostriches. Two other ostrich show farms in the Oudtshoorn area, the Highgate Ostrich Show Farm and the Chandelier Game Lodge & Ostrich Show Farm, are sticking to the feature and are still offering ostrich rides.

Oudtshoorn, known to be the "ostrich capital of the world", is located in the Klein Karoo region of South Africa's Western Cape. The town is home to the world's largest ostrich population.

The De Zeekoe Guest Farm in Oudtshoorn (Western Cape) receives FTTSA certification

The De Zeekoe Guest Farm the first establishment in Oudtshoorn to be certified by the Fair Trade in Tourism South Africa (FTTSA). De Zeekoe is an owner-managed African farm that offers a variety of accommodation types, with both catered and self-catering options.
The 2000-hectare bio-diversified farm, which puts a very strong focus on environmental conservation as well as community upliftment, is nestled between the majestic Swartberg and Outeniqua Mountains on the banks of the Olifants River. The De Zeekoe Guest Farm is located only 7 km from Oudtshoorn on the R328.
The Fair Trade in Tourism South Africa (FTTSA) certification is an independent endorsement of fair and responsible tourism practice in South Africa. It is based on adherence to specific criteria including fair wages and working conditions, fair distribution of benefits, ethical business practice, and respect for human rights, culture and the environment. Certification is offered on a voluntary basis to providers of tourist accommodation, activities and attractions.

Video: The Cango Caves in Oudtshoorn, South Africa

One of the top tourist destinations in South Africa's Western Cape are the Cango Caves, located about 30km from Oudtshoorn. The cave system at the foothills of the Swartberg range is the only show cave in Africa offering its visitors spectacular halls and grand limestone formations. The caves are open to visitors, who may proceed into the cave only in groups supervised by a guide. Tours are conducted at regular intervals on most days. A team from from South Africa's outdoor & travel magazine "Go!" visited the caves and released a very informative video. Watch it below! Kudos "Go!"!

awesome backpackers in South Africa - Backpackers Paradise & Joyrides in Oudtshoorn

If you are going to visit Oudtshoorn Backpackers Paradise & Joyrides should be the accommodation of your choice! Great place, brilliant vibe and amazing people from around the world! Check it out!

Backpackers Paradise on hostelworld.com >>

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Oudtshoorn tour (incl. Cango Caves, Ostrich farm) >>

An ostrich's eye is bigger than its brain!

The brain of an Ostrich is not only smaller than one of its eyes, but also very small in proportion to the size of the actual bird. Their eyes normaly measure about 5cm and are largest of any land animal. In comparison, the average human eye is about 2.4cm in diameter. Vision is very important in all birds and large eyes allow them to see more of their environment (avoiding predators, searching for prey, flying/running quickly).

btw - More than 65% of the world’s ostriches are being found in South Africa and South Africa also accounts for 90% of ostrich products in the world. Oudtshoorn in the Western Cape is known to be the "Ostrich Capital of the World".

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