Oudtshoorn is best known for ostrich farming, which became famous at the close of the 19th century as feathers became fashionable in Europe. To this day Oudtshoorn is a market leader in ostrich farming on account of the dry climate of the Little Karoo. Many farmers offer tourists guided tours, including a ride on an ostrich.
Another popular activity is a visit to the Cango Caves, a group of limestone caves containing countless stalactite formations. They were discovered in prehistoric times and were partially inhabited by the San (Bushman) people, who painted pictures of animals on the walls.
This town with its wide open spaces and broad streets is the capital of the Klein Karoo. The town is spread along both banks of the Grobbelaars River, a tributary of the Oliphant's River, and its fertile valleys are encompassed by the Swartberg mountains to the north and the Outeniqua Mountains to the south. Warm, dry summers and sunny winter days make it the ideal breeding ground for the most majestic of flightless birds - synonymous with Oudtshoorn - the ostrich.
To the north, a spectacular mountain pass through the Swartberg mountain range offers magnificent views of the Karoo landscape.
Our Tours to This Region
 Special Offer: From Cape Town to the Garden Route
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| Centre of ostrich farming in South Africa |
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