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Sudwala Caves and Dinosaur Park

Where is it?

The Sudwala Caves and Dinosaur Park are situated about 50 km from Sabie in Mmpumalanga.

Directions: Drive from Sabie towards Lydenburg on the R532 and take the R37 turnoff to Nelspruit, 9 km from Sabie. Continue along the R37 for 20 km before turning off on the R539 at Rosehaugh. Follow the R539 for 16 km and turn right at the T-junction. The Sudwala Caves and Dinosaur Park is a further 2 km.

The caves are open 7 days a week with guided tours every half hour from 08:00 to17:00. By prior arrangement a half-day tour to the Crystal Chamber - much deeper into the caves - can be arranged. Phone the Sudwala caves on telephone number (013) 733-4152.

What can be seen?

The Sudwala caves consist of a series of caverns. Interconnected chambers over a distance of some 600 m are open to the public. The caves contain the largest dolomite chamber in the world. Visitors can walk past weirdly shaped, illuminated stalagmites and stalactites, while enjoying the cool fresh air that circulates through the passages and spacious halls of the caves.

The caves also contain the fossilised remains of "collenia" a form of algae that it is believed life on earth evolved from. These 'stromatolites' were alive when the earth's atmosphere was composed of nitrogen and carbon dioxide.

The Dinosaur Park alongside the entrance is a museum of life-size replicas of prehistoric creatures that lived 100 million years ago. It is open daily from 08:00 to 17:30. The Park, with its collection of animals, tells the story of the development of life on earth. It hosts animals as diverse as the ancient amphibious and mammal-like reptiles, dinosaurs, extinct mammals, pre-historic man and more.

Interesting facts

• The caves are said to be about 2 000 million years old.
• Prehistoric people discovered the caves and used the entrance as a shelter.
• Swazi people used the caves as a retreat during the years of tribal upheaval and is named after a Swazi officer named Sudwala.
• There is a constant flow of fresh air in the caves, but no one knows where it comes from.
• The tallest stalagmite in the caves is about 11 m high.
• Legend has it that there is no end to these caves; they may extend for more than 40 km under the mountains as far as Lydenburg!