A visit to the Echo Caves, located 15km west of the Strydom Tunnel in the Molopong Valley, offers a worthwhile experience for historians and adventurers alike. This underground wonderland, stumbled upon in 1923 by the owner of the farm called Klipfonteinhoek, still bears witness to its many inhabitants through the ages – including rock engravings from the Middle Stone Age and ancient San tribes of the area. Finds within the cave also confirm the legend that strangers may years ago in long white robes came to look for gold and to barter with the inhabitants.

The caves feature many impressive stalactite and stalagmite formations, as well as a chamber 100m long and 40m high with dripstone formations that echo eerily when struck.

Officially opened to the public in 1959, the Cave has been declared a National Monument despite ongoing archaeological excavations on the site. The 2km, 45 minutes guided tours are conducted daily from 8h30 to 16h30, along carefully constructed walkways with electric lights, railings and staircases. The most strenuous walk is to the Crystal Palace, which is also one of the most beautiful halls in the cave and definitely worth the extra effort. For the more adventurous, a special tour can be organised to go deeper into the cave.

There are also numerous guided and unguided hiking trails in the surrounding areas, which start at the entrance to the Caves and offer wonderful birdwatching.

Visitors can also browse through the newly opened curio shop and the nearby Museum of Man – an open-air museum depicting archaeological and paleontological artefacts. There are also various animals on the premises for children to view, including emus, llamas, ducks and the odd baboon or monkey scrounging around.

Accommodation on site is available in either rustic double rooms with en-suite bathrooms or a youth hostel.