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The Klein Karoo
is the centre of the Ostrich industry in South Africa and
Oudtshoorn, the principal town of the area was known all over the
world as the Ostrich capital of the world.
At the height
of the feather boom, which began in 1870 there were more than 750
000 birds in the area providing 450 000 kilograms of feathers per
year for export.
The area is
rich in natural beauty, but there is also much to interest those
in search of entertainment and culture. Some excellent restaurants
offer the local specialty, Ostrich Steaks, and the town really
comes alive during the annual Klein Karoo Arts Festival in
March/April or the Ostrich Festival in early October.
Not far from
the caves the road climbs over the Swartberg mountain range in the
spectacular Swartberg pass.
The
last pass built by famous road builder Thomas Bain, and probably
the most spectacular, the Swartberg Pass was built between 1881
and 1887. From Oudtshoorn, the pass climbs to an altitude of
1585m, before plunging through an spectacular series of hairpin
bends, squeezing through narrow kloofs, mountains towering above
on either side, to begin the descent into the Great Karoo, and the
town of Prince Albert.
The
pass is 27 km of gravel road, though well maintained and is
suitable for all types of vehicles, provided they have good brakes
and the driver a head for heights. Snow covered in winter, the
pass is also the basis of some excellent hiking trails.
Continue along
the well maintained road through the lush green Breede River
Valley past the towns of Bonnievalle, Robertson and Worcester with
their vineyards and mountains and instead of turning onto the N1
highway, south towards Cape Town or north towards Johannesburg,
continue westwards into the mountains.
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Across the
Outeniqua mountains from George and the Garden Route lies the
Klein Karoo. In a plain, 250 km east to west and 60 km north to
south, confined by the Outeniqua mountains in the south and the
Swartberg in the north lies a different world. This is the Klein
Karoo the San name for the Swartberg mountains was "Cango",
meaning a place rich in water and this is indeed a fertile
place.
Today there
is still a thriving ostrich industry in the Klein Karoo and many
of the magnificent houses built by the "Ostrich
Barons" now cater for the tourist market, with hotels, bed
and breakfast accommodation and guided tours through working
ostrich farms being available.
Ostriches are
not the only attraction in Oudtshoorn however, the crocodile
farm on the outskirts of town, and the Cango Wildlife Ranch
nearby with its lions, cheetahs, leopards and other African game
are not to be missed.
Surely one of
the natural wonders of the world, the Cango Caves are a scenic
30 km drive from town.
The
caves first came to the attention of modern man in 1780 when a
slave by the name of "Klaas" happened upon the
entrance while searching for stray cattle belonging to his
master, one Jacobus van Zyl. There is however evidence of
bushmen having inhabited the outer chambers of the caves as long
ago as 13 000 years.
Although
not yet fully explored, a significant portion of the caves are
open to visitors, with professional guides, lights and steps
over the more difficult sections, there is also a restaurant and
gift shop for the convenience of visitors.
The road west
towards Cape Town passes a variety of towns, each with their own
charm and character. The hot water springs at Calitzdorp,
Crystal clear streams at the top of the Tradouw Pass and the
rustic village of Barrydale flash past. But why not take it slow
and pass the night in one of the many bed and breakfasts along
the route, meet the local people and sample the wines of the
area. The lovely town of Montagu is surrounded by rugged
mountains and is well known for its hot mineral springs.
This area can
be a winter-wonderland of snow covered mountains and rushing
rivers. It is also a land of soaring mountain peaks and mountain
passes squeezing through impossible gaps and breathtaking drops
to the river thundering hundreds of metres below.
Beautiful
towns along the way beckon the passing motorist to stop over and
sample the local hospitality. Tulbagh, with its historic Cape
Dutch architecture and the town of Ceres surrounded by mountains
on all sides is home to cherry farms and fruit
plantations, have excellent accommodation and restaurants.
Many of the
farms in the area also provide bed and breakfast or self
catering accommodation. The rivers of these valleys are well
known for their Trout fishing. Trout were introduced towards the
end of the last century and have thrived to the extent that they
are now self sustaining. |
Klein
Karoo & Breede River Valley
