PLEASE NOTE: Where applicable, select &complete pensioner discount option and/or Infant no-charge option, for each activity!
History of the Bothongo Wonder Cave:
This is a Self-Drive activity, the facility is situated inside the Bothongo Rhino & Lion Nature Reserve and cannot be accessed by foot. We do not offer or provide transport and you need your own transport to reach the WonderCave.
The cave was discovered by Italian miners in 1898. They mined out approximately 15% from the formation and brought them to the surface. The formation consists of calcite which they placed in a self-built oven for 2 weeks at about 1100 degrees. This formed a powder which was taken by ox wagon to Pretoria & Johannesburg to make cement, toothpaste, use to extract gold, and the like. Mining was stopped in 1902 due to the outbreak of war and low productivity.
This is the 3rd largest chamber in South Africa, the largest being Cango Caves and the second largest Sudwala Caves.
• Food and beverages,
• Game Drive
• Accommodation
• Souvenirs
• Braai grid
Bothongo WonderCave Entrance
This is a Self-Drive activity, the facility is situated inside the Bothongo Rhino & Lion Nature Reserve and cannot be accessed by foot. We do not offer or provide transport and you need your own transport to reach the WonderCave.
The entrance to the cave is going down 87 stairs at a 45degrees angle dropping 22 meters below the surface. You will then go down in an elevator with a drop of a further 18 meters into the cave.
The total drop down is 40 meters
Health & Safety Warning: Risk of Histoplasmosis – WonderCave
Visitors to the WonderCave should be aware of the potential risk of Histoplasmosis, a respiratory infection caused by inhaling spores of the Histoplasma fungus. This fungus thrives in environments with bat or bird droppings, which may be present in caves. While the risk of infection is generally low, individuals with weakened immune systems, respiratory conditions, or pre-existing lung diseases should take extra precautions.
Safety Recommendations:
- Avoid disturbing soil, bat guano, or bird droppings inside the cave.
- Wear protective masks if you have respiratory concerns.
- If you experience flu-like symptoms (fever, cough, fatigue) after your visit, seek medical attention and inform your healthcare provider of your cave visit.
By entering the WonderCave, visitors acknowledge and accept any potential health risks and agree that the management is not liable for any health-related issues arising from exposure to environmental elements within the cave.
Bothongo Rhino & Lion Nature Reserve
The wondercave at Bothongo is fantastic! We had a great time visiting the caves and learned so much from the very informative guide. The drive through the reserve was an added bonus and lunch was delicious. - Andrew
What a great experience, we did the Lion feed self drive and cave exploration with an international guest. He absolutely loved it. Seeing South Africa's lion, cheeta, wild dogs was a highlight of his trip, unfortunately we missed the giraffe. The staff at the cave were fantastic and welcoming, knowledgeable and had that unique brand of South African bush humour that completes these kinds of experiences for local and a visitors. The whole setup was very professional end to end. - Doug
An amazing experience - Marcelle
The Wonder Cave visit was excellent. Didi our guide gave us a lot of insightful information about the cave and answered all the questions well. The self drive was a let down as we only saw the wild dogs and none of the other dangerous game in the predator's area which we actually wanted to see. The rest of the drive we saw enough wild life to keep the kids entertained and excited. - Jan-Albert
Amazing experience at the cave. The guides were friendly, welcoming and provided for a memorable experience. The white lions and wild dogs was the highlight of the day for the self drive. - Alta
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