Caving is a fantastic and thrilling sport that requires you to be in excellent physical condition. Cavers also have to be committed to conservational and ecological issues, as caves generally host a variety of ecological systems that should be protected at all costs. Accidents with caving are reasonably rare. However, when accidents do happen, they are very often fatal due to cavers being hard to reach for a rescue operation and because the majority of fatalities in caving occur due to flooding.
In this article, we look at some of the best caving sites in the world.
Kazumura Cavern – Hawaii
Technically, this is a lave tube rather than a cave. It is quite important to know this, as the floor is very rugged and sharp, and appropriate footwear is essential. The cave, or lava tube, is a true marvel of nature, with hardened lava falls and skylights allowing you to see the blue sky. Organized trips through Kazumura Cavern are available.
Waitomo Glow Worm Caves – New Zealand
Caving the Glow Worm Caves is truly an experience of a lifetime. Your trip will start by being dropped into a tiny hole where you will need to abseil to the bottom. From there, you will go on a three-hour black water rafting trip, which is not for the faint of heart as it is very dark inside the cave. Following this, when you look up, you can see the larva that glows in the dark. This was the inspiration for the 80s toy Glo Worms.
Jeita Grotto – Lebanon
This cave has been the inspiration for Gothic cathedrals. Many people throughout history have visited the Jeita Grotto and felt closer to God, almost as though he is present. The cave has two sections, the first only accessible by boat. The upper section can be reached by cable cart. Here, you can see a crystallized structure that looks just like a castle.
Cango Caves – South Africa
This is a magnificent cave located in South Africa. One of its benefits is that it has a very reasonable temperature, around 18 degrees Celsius. Due to conservation issues, the general public cannot visit large parts of the cave. However, the areas that are accessible are a true marvel to see.
Cueva del Gato – Spain
The Cueva del Gato, or Cave of the Cat, has an entrance that looks like a cat’s head. The cave can only be visited if you have a special caving permit. However, for caving enthusiasts, it is most certainly worth trying to get one. Cueva del Gato is by far one of the best caving sites in the world.
There are many other fascinating caving sites, and these are just some of the ones you could take into consideration. Most caves can be visited with organized groups that will be able to provide you with thorough information about the equipment and knowledge you may need before visiting a cave. Being committed to conservation is always a must!
What do you think about the best caving sites described here? Do you have any others you’d add to the list?
