Historical Description of the Echo Caves
- -
- 1 day ago
- 4 min read
The Echo Caves is another well known cave system on the Panorama Route (The other being the more famous and more visited Sudwala Caves).
This amazing description of the Echo Caves dates from 1963 but still captures it’s appeal and history.
The Echo Caves byJ. A. Coffee
Tour buses of the South African Railways stop at these spectacular caves, which are believed to be approximately fifty million years old.
Mysterious, deep, dark caverns; labyrinths and side passages in which grotesque long-legged hairy monsters with large shining eyes roam; where fluttering bats continuously rush back and forth above the naked stalagmites and stalactites; where clear streams flow softly into the unknown depths of the earth — this is the picture most of us imagine when we think of a cave.
For some, caves are synonymous with adventure and intrigue. In the Republic there are many interesting caves, some associated with the activities of bandits and smugglers who hid their loot beneath cliffs and in caves on remote islands. For the scientist, however, caves are among the most important sources of research into the origins of early humans, because long before modern building techniques existed, early humans found shelter in nature’s own refuge. In such caves many signs of early life have been discovered — rock paintings, tools, clay objects, and other artifacts uncovered through excavations are among the most important means of determining early human existence and civilization.
Throughout the world, caves are today widely developed as tourist attractions. Visitors can admire the remarkable stalactite and stalagmite formations, which often resemble unbelievable shapes. These formations sometimes take on the appearance of draperies, curtains, organ pipes, or the limbs of animals and humans.
In southern Africa the world-famous Cango Caves are well known and among the most celebrated, but there are many others.
The name used by the Black people for the caves is “M’Pumeng,” meaning “Exit.” It was a well-known hiding place, and near the entrance of the caves there are still remains of an old fort that was allegedly used by the Swazis. The local people probably never knew of any other entrance or exit to the caves, and to this day no additional opening has been discovered.
There is a legend among the local people that white men wearing long white robes arrived in the area long ago to trade — undoubtedly a reference to the early Arab traders. The local people did not trust them and lured them into one of the side passages, where they were sealed inside.
Some historians believe that the Queen of Sheba obtained her alluvial gold riches from this part of the northeastern Transvaal, and it is by no means impossible that these caves were known to those ancient peoples. The districts of Pilgrim’s Rest, Lydenburg, and Sabie are indeed the areas that have produced the richest alluvial gold yields in South Africa. Since the discovery of gold in this region in 1875, more than R40,000,000 worth of gold has already been extracted.
The Echo Caves contain many chambers displaying a wide variety of fantastic stalactite and grotesque stalagmite formations and are believed to extend for more than 20 miles. They were undoubtedly known to hunters and early white adventurers of bygone times.
The present owner used the caves for many years as a tobacco storage facility and fertilised his lands with the rich soft soil and bat guano found in the numerous chambers. No one, however, considered the caves a tourist attraction until interest was sparked when the Abel Erasmus Pass and the Strijdom Tunnel were developed and constructed.
Beneath the overhanging cliffs in front of the cave entrance, a modern restaurant was then built, offering full facilities, and where dancing and other entertainment are presented every Saturday evening. The caves are now visited annually by thousands of tourists, and during the winter season the South African Railways’ weekly five-day tour buses and other tour groups regularly stop here.
Although adventurers have wandered as far as about 19 miles into the labyrinth, only approximately one mile has been properly developed and illuminated so that tourists can visit it comfortably and safely. There are, however, still unlimited possibilities, as the most fascinating crystal formations occur much deeper within the caves.
The cave entrance is situated behind the restaurant, and the first chamber, consisting of a solid dolomite formation, measures 100 by 150 feet, with a ceiling 30 feet high. The surface of the walls and roof is ribbed and resembles the skin of an elephant.
The second chamber, known as “The Palace,” is dominated by beautifully decorated limestone formations. A priest with a long robe stands before an organ, and when the “organ pipes” are tapped, clear organ-like tones resonate, fading away only to echo back moments later from the seemingly endless depths of the cave — hence the name Echo Caves.
In this chamber there is also a typical waterfall with thousands of sparkling trickles, and a short distance away the image of a grotesque “monster” is clearly visible. Distinct shapes resembling “tobacco leaves” and an almost perfect “beehive heart” can also be seen.
The passage leading to the third chamber, where the most beautiful stalactite and stalagmite formations are found, passes between the aforementioned “monster” and lifelike pillars. It is believed to take centuries for a pillar of reasonable size to form, and according to geologists the Echo Caves are more than 50 million years old.
The fourth chamber is known as “Samson’s Chamber,” because of two enormous pillars. In the fifth chamber, called “The Bath of the Queen of Sheba,” the stalactites are exceptionally translucent, and an almost perfect bath is adorned with sparkling trickles of water.
In the sixth chamber, tree roots twist across the cave floor, and in some places roots of a wild fig tree extend up to 900 feet into the depths of the earth. One is overcome by a sense of wonder while walking through the many passages, caverns, and chambers, as the cool, damp air brushes your face and your imagination attempts to relive the lives and movements of the ancient earth-dwellers whose generations once walked these same labyrinths.
Who knows what archaeological treasures may still be preserved in the deepest passages of these caves.
No description of this remarkable natural phenomenon can truly do justice to the incredible wonder that has formed here over the ages — it is far better to experience it in person.