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Best cave destinations in Africa

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Lesotho
Mountain kingdom in the sky
6.1
Families have lived in the Kome Caves in Berea district since the early 1800s. They fled the Lifaqane wars and famine. The caves lie about 25 kilometres east of Teyateyaneng. The Ha Kome community runs the site as a tourist stop. Income goes to community needs in this country.
Highlights:
  • 🏞️ Discover Thaba Bosiu, the birthplace of the Basotho nation
  • 🐎 Ride a Basotho pony through mountain villages and valleys
  • 💦 Visit the majestic Maletsunyane Falls in Semonkong
Madagascar
Unique biodiversity meets diverse landscapes
6.5
The Malagasy word tsingy means where one cannot walk barefoot. Erosion in Ankarana Special Reserve cut sharp limestone ridges and caves above underground rivers. About 100 kilometres of cave passages have been mapped. The massif has the longest cave systems in Madagascar. Blind fish and shrimps live in the caves.
Highlights:
  • 🤿 Dive the coral reefs of Nosy Be Island
  • 🦎 Spot lemurs and chameleons in Andasibe-Mantadia National Park
  • 🌳 Walk the Avenue of the Baobabs at sunset
Morocco
Where desert meets Mediterranean magic
7.7
Seen from the sea, the opening of the Caves of Hercules looks like the outline of Africa. The cave is at Cape Spartel about 14 kilometres west of Tangier. Berber people cut millstones from its walls and enlarged it. Greek myth says Heracles slept here. The caves opened to the public in 1920.
Highlights:
  • 🍵 Sip mint tea on a rooftop overlooking Chefchaouen’s blue streets
  • 🐪 Ride a camel across the golden dunes of the Sahara
  • 🕌 Wander through the colorful souks of Marrakech’s Medina
Cango Caves
Echoing depths reveal ancient stalactite artistry
The foothills of the Swartberg range near Oudtshoorn hold a cave system over 4 kilometres long. Only about a quarter is open to visitors. A local farmer rediscovered it in 1780. Van Zyl Hall is roughly as long as a football field. An adventure tour involves crawling and climbing.
Highlights:
  • 👣 Take guided tour of ancient rock formations
  • 🌊 Witness underground river glow beneath stalagmites
  • 🕳️ Explore stalactite labyrinths in Cango Caves
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