Eastern Cape

The cave surveys presented here represent a curated selection rather than a comprehensive inventory of all subterranean features within the Eastern Cape.

Along the coastline, extensive cliffs of quartzitic sandstone are incised by numerous sea caves. These features are predominantly formed through mechanical erosion, where wave action exploits fractures, joints, and bedding planes in otherwise relatively insoluble rock. Inland, within the Suurberg range near Addo, similar structural weaknesses give rise to mechanically formed fissure caves, developed primarily through tectonic fracturing rather than chemical dissolution. The bat guano deposits in some of these caves have been exploited in the past.

Of particular significance are the cave systems associated with the Klasies River coastal cliffs. These sites, formed within sandstone but locally capped by calcareous deposits, display limited speleothem development due to the presence of overlying limestone. Beyond their geological interest, these caves are internationally recognised for their archaeological importance, preserving key evidence of early human occupation along the southern African coast.

Areas