02/04/2022
SUDWALA CAVES AND SUDWALA ZIPLINE & DINOSAUR PARK
The Sudwala Caves is the oldest known caves in the world and lie in the Drakensberg escarpment. Regular guided tours take you 600 meters in and 150 meters underground. Tours leave every 10 min (approx) and take about 30 minutes. The caves have some amazing formations including stalactites, stalagmites, flow stones and pre cambrian fossils. The most famous formation is the Screaming Monster. This is actually a stalactite that has joined with a stalagmite and has formed a column that is 200 million years old.
COST FOR ZIPLINE
WE ARE OPEN 365 DAYS A YEAR 8:30AM – 4:30PM
ADULTS R100
PENSIONERS R80
KIDS R60
KIDS UNDER 4 FREE
ZIP-LINE R280 BUTTERFLY PARK FREE
CRYSTAL TOUR R450 ADVANCE BOOKING ONLY
Sudwala Caves tickets can only be purchased at the cave entrance.
https://sudwalacaves.com/ -times
THE BUTTERFLY EFFECT
The Sudwala Butterfly Effect Nature Garden has been developed as part of a long term conservation project to provide host plants and flowers specifically aimed at increasing our local butterfly, bee and antelope populations.
Butterfly and bee numbers have declined dramaticly in recent years due to an increase in agricultural activity, pesticides and habitat loss.
This project aims to educate and bring people and nature together.
THE BUTTERFLY DOME
This is a butterfly conservation project to help increase butterfly numbers in nature. We do not buy butterflies in or release non local butterflies. When there are butterflies, we collect the eggs and caterpillars of the available species and place them in the dome on their specific host plant.
Adult butterflies are allowed to mate and lay their eggs on their host plants and then they are released. They will continue to mate and lay eggs in the wild for the next few weeks of their lives. In Nature from 500 eggs laid, only 2 adults usually survive.
In the dome we protect the fragile eggs and larve then we release the adults, thereby increasing the local adult butterfly population.
Please go in and look carefully for the different butterfly stages. There may be eggs and larva on the plants and if you are lucky some adults flying before they are released.
Find out more about the amazing butterfly life cycle.
THE UNITY LABYRINTH
The Unity Labyrinth is a journey of discovery, growth and change.
Walk the Labyrinth to find balance, to pray, to answer a question or see what comes up. Set an intention, forgive, meditate reduce stress, share or find peace
You can simply walk in wonder or wonder as you walk
The experience of walking a labyrinth is different for everyone and different each time you walk it .
There is no right or wrong way to walk a labyrinth. Do what ever feels right for you. Children love to run the labyrinth. Try, it can be liberating!!!
The unity labyrinth may also be walked by two people, one from each side who meet in the middle. A symbolic unity. At the center the two can exit on one path or leave on different paths.
AQUAPONICS
Sudwala Caves recently introduced a very exciting new feature to their already elaborate list of amenities: an aquaponics system. This system combines aquaculture (like the Koi fish seen in the image) with hydroponics (cultivating plants in water). Wondering how this system works?
In aquaponics, the fish excretions and by-products form ammonia in the water. The ammonia is broken down by nitrifying bacteria, produced by algae, which is initially turned into nitrites and subsequently into nitrates. The nitrates are then utilized by the plants as nutrients, and in this process the plants ‘clean’ the water of ammonia. The water is circulated throughout the process; in the end, ammonia-free water gets pumped back into the fish-tank.
Be sure to check this new feature out, near the Sudwala Caves entrance, on your next visit!
FISH SPA:
Why not try a Fish Spa pedicure on your next trip? This unusual experience where fish exfoliate and clean your skin is a favourite among our visitors. At first, this might feel a bit uncomfortable and slightly ticklish, but as you get used to this weird sensation it becomes rejuvenating and absolutely relaxing. The dozens of tiny toothless Garra Rufu fish, in this almost natural-looking freshwater pool, almost instantly gather together to soothe and nibble on your feet.
SUDWALA DINOSAUR PARK
The Dinosaur Park is situated next to the Sudwala Caves, 30 minutes drive from Nelspruit, Mpumalanga, South Africa.
The museum displays life size models of pre-historic animals, ranging from amphibious reptiles, ancient reptiles, dinosaurs, pre-historic mammals, pre-historic man and more. The models were artistically and realistically sculpted by Jan van Zijl (also responsible for the black wildebeest on the old South African 2c coin).
Also on display are live Nile Crocodiles, perfectly adapted to survival and not much changed from their ancient relatives.
The park is set in a lush sub-tropical forest garden, where monkeys and red-breasted cuckoos abound. New is a magnificent ‘viewing deck’ from where the Rainforest Valley (National Heritage Site # 167) can be observed – with occasional glimpses of wild chacma baboons.
The park was the initiative of Mr. Theo Owen (1927 – 2013). The project was launched in 1972, and the park was officially opened in 1977. Many models were sculpeted near Johannesburg, and some were displayed at the Rand Easter Show in April 1976. The park was named after Mr. P.R. Owen (1900 – 1972) who was responsible for constructing the road up to the Sudwala Caves in the late 1950’s.
ENTRANCE FEES
The Entrance fees for the Sudwala Dinosaur Park are as follows:
Adults: R70
Children: R40
Under 5's: Free of Charge
Distance from Crystal Springs Mountain Lodge - 92kms - about 90 minutes drive.
Distance From Hazyview Cabanas - 80kms - about 1 hour's drive
Distance From Sudwala Lodge - 1.5kms - about 5mins drive
Distance From Sabie - 49kms - about 42 mins drive
Distance from Johannesburg - 331kms - about 3hours 's drive
Distance from Verlorenkloof - 80kms - about 1 hour drive