Oudtshoorn
Knysna
March 4, 2020
Plettenberg Bay
March 4, 2020
Oudtshoorn is the principal town of the Little Karoo, where you will be welcomed with hospitality which has become synonymous with the people of the Klein Karoo. Experience the home of the Ostrich, the Cango Caves and excellent cuisine.
Oudtshoorn is a unique town in the Klein Karoo region of the Western Cape flanked by the Swartberg Mountains to the north and Outenique Mountains to the south. Oudtshoorn is well-known as the Ostrich capital of the World.
Oudtshoorn is a short drive from either Mossel Bay or George with unbelievable views as you reach the crest of the mountain passes. The region of wonderful contrasts and natural beauty has many attractions like the Cango Caves, Africa's largest show cave system, Ostrich Farms and the Cape Floral World Heritage site to name a few.
Outdshoorn is a town with the most sunny days per year in the whole country, 365 sunshine days, 4 summers and sunny, dry winters await the visitor to the Klein Karoo. Shielded from the coastal belt by the mountain ranges the Klein Karoo also enjoys many windless days.
First class hotels, lodges, inns and guesthouses await the visitor. Enjoy the relaxed, friendly, hospitable atmosphere offered in town or at various surrounding farms.
Located on the world-famous Garden Route, Oudtshoorn is around 430km east of Cape Town, 360km west of Port Elizabeth or an hour north by road from George. As part of a Tailormade Africa itinerary, we will give you all the tools you need to get to Oudtshoorn as part of a wider itinerary, be that a wonderfully comfortable rental car with a Garmin to direct you, or indeed a private vehicle complete with your very own driver/guide. The journey is beautiful no matter which way you go, but one thing is for certain – we will take care of the logistics so you don’t have to!
Oudsthoorn is a fantastic stop along the Garden Route, and has plenty of exciting things on offer. The most obvious reason to visit this area, which we are sure you’ll have heard, is to see ostriches up close. This area is often called the ‘Ostrich Capital of the World’ and with good reason. There are vast numbers of ostrich farms which thrive here. Although in recent times the demand for ostrich feathers has drastically decreased, their skins are now used to produced high-end fashion accessories, such as handbags, belts and shoes, while their meat has become a popular, leaner red meat alternative to beef or lamb. And, tours are available all year around! That said, it would be a real shame for those visiting to miss out on the incredible Cango Caves or the spectacular Swartberg Mountains which are part of a wider UNESCO World Heritage Site. As part of a Tailormade Africa itinerary, we’ll guide you and help to plan the most perfect itinerary for you and your loved ones.
Oudtshoorn benefits from lovely weather all year round, with a couple of hotter months and a relatively mild winter. Although the night-time can drop to single digits, the day-time temperatures will always be much more pleasant given the sun will be out! The driest and coldest months are June and July and you can expect fairly warm to hot weather from November through to March. In the summer months, this heat can bring about the odd thunderstorm but this only brings the temperatures down before the sun comes back out again, and it makes for some amazing photography!
It is indeed! Route 62 is a tourist route which spans from the Western to the Eastern Cape and meanders between Cape Town and Oudtshoorn, the Langkloof and Port Elizabeth – essentially offering a shorter scenic alternative to the N2 highway. Most striking about the R62 is the unbeatable scenery. This unique part of South Africa is characterised by red soil, stark cliff faces, rivers, orchards, and indigenous scrub, and there are no less than 500 succulents which can be found along the way. For those keen on a glass or three or wine, you’ll also be delighted to learn that Route 62 is reputed to be the longest wine route in the world!
This gorgeous town is rich with places to grab a bite to eat, particularly for those adventurous types around who are interested in trying a little ‘local’ cuisine – like ostrich! The Old Mill Restaurant, Su Casa and Bello Cibo are three delicious restaurants where you can all sorts of ‘different’ delicacies. Of course not everyone has a taste for game meat, so you’re in luck. The fresh veggies here are SO delicious you will likely want to visit every eatery in town, and you’ll have some really interesting veggie options so don’t you worry if you are particularly squeamish.
Oudtshoorn is indeed well known for being the ostrich capital of the world, particularly because of the large number of ostrich farms which make up this area as it is the heart of the ostrich industry! That said, the area is also well known for the Cango Caves which are a 20-million-year old network of limestone chambers. The caves are actually Africa’s largest show cave system and magnificent to behold. Oudtshoorn is also well known as an ecological hotspot where three distinct plant biomes thrive (the succulent karoo, cape thicket and fynbos), and we highly recommend doing a scenic drive up the Swartberg Pass which has views which go on for miles and miles, and the route is likely one of the most spectacular in the world! No matter what, you’ll be in for a treat when you visit Oudtshoorn.
OudtshoornAccommodation
Rosenhof Country House is situated in Oudtshoorn, en route to the Cango Caves, Ostrich Farm and the Swartberg Pass. The carefully renovated homestead (Circa 1852), with its yellowwood beams and ceilings and a tasteful collection of antique furniture, exudes an aura of authenticity. Rosenhof has a cosy pub and several luxury lounges with fireplaces where visitors can relax and admire works from well-known South African artists... Learn more
