The Wonder Cave

Description

The Wonder Cave is a natural limestone cave located in the Rhino and Lion Nature Reserve in the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site, just over an hour’s drive from Johannesburg and Pretoria. The cave was discovered by gold prospectors in the late 1890s, and is the third largest cave in South Africa, measuring 125m long, 54m wide and 60m deep.

Formed between 5 – 10 million years ago, the single chamber Wonder Cave is located deep under Witwatersrand and is one of the richest hominid fossil sites in the world, home to fossils of rodents, frogs, lizards, and birds. The cave also has magnificent dripstone formations that are still growing today! You will also see natural flowstone sculptures such as stalagmites and stalactites with the largest formation measuring 15m in length and weighing 50 tons. In the Northern Chamber, you will find a natural pool that looks like the font you’d expect to find at a shrine.

You will need reasonable fitness to explore the cave. While no crawling is required, the 88 steps that lead in and out of the cave can be rather strenuous. Tours include a visit to the Bat Cave.