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History: Among the local communities these caves were and are well-known. The tradition still lives on among them that their ancestors had sought shelter in these caves to escape the Swazi attacks. Moreover, they still give credence to the legend that long ago a small group of sallow-faced people clad in long white dresses, had visited the Ohrig stad valley and because they did not trust these people, they had, after enticing the visitors into a side passage of the caves, walled up the entrance.
The farm on which the caves are situated was purchased by Mr. J. A. Claassen about 1924. It was rather dry at that time and after an elder had told the new owner about a river in a cave, Mr. Claassen went to investigate and so became the first white man to set foot inside the cave. Numerous assegai blades, stabbing spears and such-like implements were found inside the caves. The roofs of some of the subterranean chambers were, and are still covered with soot which points to prolonged occupation.
Visual Description: Twenty-four kilometres from Ohrigstad en route to the Abel Erasmus Pass and the Strijdom Tunnel the road branches off to the left to the Echo Caves which are situated about three kilometres from the parting of the roads.
The rock-walls are composed of dolomite and the stalactites and stalagmites create an enchanted fairyland. Six subterranean chambers, which extend over a distance of 200 metres, are open to visitors. The caves themselves extend for kilometres farther on.
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