The Cango Caves is a natural and cultural landmark located in South Africa. This system of caves is over 20 million years old and is made up of a series of hidden chambers that have been carved deep into a thick layer of limestone rock. The caves are situated in the Swartberg Mountains, which is 30 kilometres north of Oudtshoorn in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. The Cango Caves have been a popular attraction since the 1800s, but unfortunately many of the visitors would damage the caves by breaking off stalagmites and stalactites or writing their names on the walls. Because of this, the then-governor of the Cape, Lord Charles Somerset, published the first Caves Regulation in 1820. The regulation was created to protect the caves as an important environmental resource and banned the collection of souvenirs. The first full-time guide, Johnnie van Wassenaar, made many significant discoveries in the caves and introduced thousands of people to Cango 1, which is the only part of the caves that is open to the public.