Stadsaal Caves — Attraction in Cederberg Local Municipality

Its another world out there... like Mars, but with a few bushes!!

If you are in the area, and never been, don't miss it!

Get your permit (and gate code) from Algeria camp Cape Nature Permit office. Stadsaal is another 40km down the (scenic) road.

Started at the Rock art area to see the Bushman paintings, after exploring around the main "boulder base" we found a few more less fantastic...

Then went on to the Stadsaal Caves a little drive around the corner. (You can walk... but its hot) and more sand road.

We started out walking towards the "toilets" before beginning the adventure (biodegradable chemical toilets and there was toilet paper) well managed and clean.

Then took whatever path led off from there ... literally got "lost" in all the magnificent rocks, exploring and climbing in and out of the caves. Meandering through well marked out paths, so we never felt like we were actually lost....

Pretty sure we discovered a few fossils in the rocks as well...

The big cave with all the "graffiti" in it had me so angry at first seeing it, I thought now why would someone deface such a historical landmark.... and then I read them... When I got home I looked into it, and found out they date back to 1945 about, and all the dates on the walls are birth dates... not visit dates There were a few tags in amongst however... I guess humans just cant resist a wall.....

We had our daughters with us, ages 7 and 9... and the heat eventually got the better of us (even though we had water with us) so we headed back to the car. Not being able to find the path back directly, we ended up using my husband's GPS on his watch to find our way.

Incredible morning and experience... all in all I would say we were out there exploring for about 1,5 hours... (excluding the drive out and back). But you can keep exploring as long...

Whilst staying at Sanddrift campsite in the Cedarberg for few days in Nov 20 we picked up a permit to see the caves with no great expectation but were we pleasantly surprised. Well worth a visit if in the area.

The numerous caves from large to small, great views & bushman paintings make it a photographers delight ( especially if you visit in late afternoon when the colours become so warm) & the children have a blast. There's tunnels they can squeeze through, rock formations they can clamber over, hiding places & many a foot path to explore. Besides that there is much they can learn & you will probably have to drag the exploring types away once immersed in the experience. Pack a picnic lunch or snacks and enjoy in one of the larger caves over looking some...

You visit this place at the same time as the rock painting 15 mins walk away... These caves are just breathtaking. It is a labyrinth of beautifully marked and easy to walk trails between and under and through the most stunning rock formations. We literally needed two hours because we stop at every little turn to admire the light, shapes, views etc. Very powerful spot. And the nature is just wow.... I am not a big connoisseur of flora but every bush was a new flower, leaf and aroma... Suddenly understand why they say that this tiny speck of land is one of the most diverse habitats in the world in terms of flora.

Absolutely loved it and had we not been focused on hiking in the area we would have come...