Oudtshoorn: Cango Caves, Ostriches, and the Route 62 Gateway

Oudtshoorn sits in the Klein Karoo, a semi-arid valley wedged between the Outeniqua and Swartberg mountain ranges about 60 km north of George and the Garden Route coast. The town made its fortune in the late 19th century from ostrich feathers - an essential Victorian fashion accessory that generated enough wealth to build the sandstone “feather palaces” that still line the town’s main streets. The feather boom collapsed after the First World War and Oudtshoorn found a second economy in tourism, built around the Cango Caves, the ostrich farms, and more recently the adventure activities and unique landscapes of the surrounding Karoo.

It is a genuinely useful base for exploring the Klein Karoo and the Swartberg range, and different enough from the coastal Garden Route to justify the detour.

Getting There

Oudtshoorn is 60 km north of George on the N12. From Knysna or the Garden Route, the most scenic route is over the Outeniqua Pass from George (N12), which takes about 50 minutes. From Cape Town, the drive is approximately 4 hours via the N2 and N12, or longer via the scenic Route 62 through Robertson and Calitzdorp.

There is no train service. The Baz Bus stops in George but not Oudtshoorn. Self-drive is the practical option for most visitors - hire a car at George Airport (60 km south) for the most convenient pick-up point.

Cango Caves

The Cango Caves are the primary reason most visitors come to Oudtshoorn, and they justify the reputation. Formed over 20 million years in dolomite rock, the caves extend for at least 5 km into the Swartberg foothills, with only the first kilometre open to the public. The main chambers are vast - some exceed 100 metres in length and 30 metres in height - and the calcite formations include stalactites, stalagmites, and flowstone curtains that took tens of thousands of years to form.

Heritage Tour - the standard tour covering the main chambers. Duration approximately 1 hour. Entry approximately R235 per adult (as of 2026). This tour is fully accessible and suitable for all ages. No crawling or squeezing required.

Adventure Tour - extends beyond the Heritage Tour into tighter passages that require crawling, squeezing through narrow slots, and climbing. Duration approximately 1.5 to 2 hours. Entry approximately R365 per adult (as of 2026). The crawl sections are genuinely narrow - one passage requires lying flat and pulling yourself through. Not recommended for anyone with claustrophobia, mobility issues, or anyone over approximately 2 metres tall.

Tours depart on the hour during opening hours (09:00–16:00 daily, last tour at 16:00). The caves maintain a constant temperature of around 18°C regardless of outside conditions - bring a light layer even in summer.

The road to the caves passes through the Cango Valley, a productive farming area with fruit and wine. The journey from Oudtshoorn takes about 30 minutes.

Ostrich Farms

Oudtshoorn has around 400 active ostrich farms, and several operate as visitor attractions. The two most established are:

Safari Ostrich Farm - the most professional of the farm experiences, with guided tours covering ostrich behaviour, breeding, the history of the feather trade, and the various commercial uses of ostriches today (leather, feathers, eggs, meat). The farm offers the option to ride an ostrich - an experience that is brief and somewhat ungainly but popular with visitors who want a story to take home. Tours run approximately every 30 minutes and cost around R120 per adult (as of 2026). The on-site restaurant does good ostrich-based lunches.

Highgate Ostrich Farm - similar format to Safari Ostrich Farm, slightly smaller but with a well-regarded history as one of the original commercial farms in the region. Tour prices approximately R110 per adult.

Cango Ostrich Farm - closest to the caves, which makes it a convenient stop-off on the way to or from Cango. More compact than the other two options.

All three farms allow you to hold an ostrich egg (weighing approximately 1.5 kg) and will sell you ostrich biltong, leather products, and feather dusters. The farms are genuinely interesting if you have not visited before - the scale of Oudtshoorn’s ostrich industry is hard to grasp until you see a working farm.

Meerkat Adventures

The Meerkat Adventures sunrise tour has become one of the most popular activities in the Klein Karoo. A small group is taken pre-dawn to a wild meerkat burrow site in the Karoo scrubland, where habituated meerkats emerge at sunrise to warm themselves in the early light and begin foraging. The meerkats are fully wild but accustomed to human presence - they will climb on photographers for a better vantage point and approach within touching distance without any prompting.

Tours depart from Oudtshoorn approximately 45 minutes before sunrise and typically run for two to three hours. Cost approximately R450–R550 per person (as of 2026). Numbers are strictly limited - usually eight to twelve people per group. Booking well in advance is essential in peak season (June to September, when the light is best and groups tend to be largest).

The same operator (Meerkat Adventures) also offers sunset tours that capture the meerkats returning to the burrow, though the sunrise experience is considered the superior option for both wildlife observation and photography.

Swartberg Pass and Swartberg Nature Reserve

The Swartberg Pass is one of the great mountain passes in South Africa - a National Monument built by Thomas Bain between 1881 and 1888 using convict labour, climbing over the Swartberg range via a series of perfectly engineered dry-stone retaining walls and hairpin bends. The pass summit reaches approximately 1,583 metres above sea level.

The road over the pass is gravel above the lower reaches and in good condition for a standard passenger vehicle in dry conditions. Allow 45 minutes to an hour for the ascent from Oudtshoorn. Visibility conditions can change quickly and the road becomes treacherous after heavy rain - check local conditions if you are visiting in winter.

At the top of the pass, the Swartberg Nature Reserve stretches across the plateau. The reserve protects a remarkable diversity of fynbos including proteas and ericas. Several hiking trails are maintained through the reserve; the Ou Tol Trail (a two-day circular trail with overnight hut) is the most popular multi-day option. Day hikes from the top of the pass range from 2 to 8 km.

From the northern side of the pass, the road descends to the village of Prince Albert - a well-preserved Karoo town with a small artisan food scene that makes a good lunch stop before returning over the pass.

The Feather Palaces

The sandstone mansions built by wealthy ostrich farmers between the 1890s and 1910s are scattered through the residential streets of Oudtshoorn. The CP Nel Museum on Baron van Reede Street is housed in one of the finest examples and is the best starting point for understanding the feather boom history - entry approximately R40 per adult (as of 2026). The museum also covers the Afrikaner history of the Klein Karoo and holds an interesting collection of historical farm equipment.

The Arbeidsgenot historic home of poet and author C. J. Langenhoven (who wrote the original Afrikaans words to Die Stem, now incorporated in South Africa’s national anthem) is open to visitors on Queen’s Street.

Route 62

The R62 connecting Cape Town through Robertson, Montagu, Barrydale, Calitzdorp, and Oudtshoorn to the Garden Route is marketed as “Route 62” - a wine and scenic route alternative to the coastal N2. If you have the time, driving the full Route 62 from Cape Town takes two to three days and reveals a different, drier South Africa - Karoo scrubland, fruit orchards, cellar doors, and small farming towns. Calitzdorp, about 60 km west of Oudtshoorn, is the port wine capital of South Africa; the local fortified wines are worth seeking out.

Where to Stay

Budget - from approximately R500/night: Aan de Oewer on Voortrekker Road offers comfortable rooms close to the centre. Backpackers and self-catering options on the outskirts run from approximately R200 per person in dorms.

Mid-range - R900 to R2,000/night: Rosenhof Country Lodge on Baron van Reede Street is the established mid-range choice - a well-run guesthouse with a garden and pool, ten minutes’ walk from the main street. Altes Landhaus Country Lodge in a farm setting 8 km outside Oudtshoorn offers good space and quiet for a similar price.

Luxury - from approximately R2,500/night: Cango Hills Farm in the foothills above the town offers Cape Dutch farmhouse accommodation with mountain views. The Hlangana Lodge on the edge of town occupies converted feather palace outbuildings with a pool and good in-house restaurant.

What to Know Before You Go

• Malaria risk: none. Oudtshoorn and the entire Klein Karoo are malaria-free.
• Best time to visit: April to October for hiking and outdoor activities. Summer (December to February) is very hot - temperatures regularly exceed 38°C. Winter nights can be cold (near freezing), but days are clear and mild.
• Water: the Karoo is dry. Carry water for hikes and cave visits.
• Driving: most sights are within 45 minutes of the town centre by car. Without a car, organised tours are the most practical option.
• Nearest airport: George (60 km). Regular flights from Cape Town and Johannesburg with FlySafair, Airlink, and Cemair.

Oudtshoorn works well as a standalone destination on the Route 62 or as an inland detour from the Garden Route via the Outeniqua Pass. Either way, allow at least two nights to cover the caves, an ostrich farm, and the Swartberg properly.