History Cango Caves Jacobus van Zyl 1770\’s Early Stone Age Oldest Tourist Attraction Guide Johnnie van Wassenaar

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General Information

History

Common myth has it that the Caves were first explored by a local farmer named Jacobus van Zyl (after who the first chamber, van Zyl's Hall, was named) – although research fails to reveal anybody by that name in the Cango area in the 1770's. And besides – we now know that the Caves have been known to man since the Early Stone Age.

Still, even if there never was a Jacobus van Zyl, the Cango Caves have been at the forefront of tourism in South Africa since the end of the 18th century: the first to be protected by environmental legislation and the first to employ a full-time tourist guide, they remain South Africa's oldest tourist attraction.

Important Dates

1756: The government awarded the first land grant in the area to Phillip du Pre, whose farm was called Cango-Matjiesrivier.

1760: Hermanus Steyn of Swellendam named another farm grant Combuys aan de Cango (kitchen of the Cango). The entrance to the caves is located on this farm.

1780: Cango Caves is discovered.

1806: The first visit to Cango Caves was recorded.