Wonder Cave, Natural limestone cave in Kromdraai, South Africa.

Wonder Cave is a natural limestone show cave near Kromdraai, South Africa, built around a single large main chamber filled with stalactites and stalagmites. The chamber is tall enough to walk through comfortably, and the formations cover both the floor and the ceiling in dense clusters.

The cave was found in the late nineteenth century by miners who used dynamite to excavate limestone for cement making. Work stopped during the Second Boer War and was never resumed, leaving the chamber as it was. The site now lies within the Bothongo Rhino & Lion Nature Reserve in the Cradle of Humankind.

The cave lies inside the Bothongo Rhino & Lion Nature Reserve, within the Cradle of Humankind UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its name, Wonder Cave, is used alongside the Afrikaans-derived Kromdraai for the surrounding area. Visitors reach the chamber by elevator and can see the limestone that miners once extracted for cement.

Getting down to the main chamber involves a staircase followed by an elevator, so visitors with limited mobility should check access options before arriving. The cave is cool inside regardless of the season, so bringing a light layer is a good idea.

Most of the stalactites and stalagmites inside are still actively growing as water seeps through the rock and deposits minerals over time. This means the cave today looks slightly different from how it appeared when first discovered, and will continue to change.