Oudtshoorn

Oudtshoorn, known best as the world’s ostrich capital, lies in a fertile valley in the heart of the Klein Karoo surrounded by the imposing Swartberg and Outeniqua Mountains. With the country’s most sunshine days per year and dry winters, the Karoo town offers exciting outdoor activities and is always a great stop-over for visitors off the popular Garden Route. Try riding one of the most majestic of flightless birds on one of the various ostrich show farms, taste a delicious ostrich steak or browse for ostrich souvenirs. In the famous Cango Caves, one of South Africa’s biggest tourist draws, visitors can find fascinating dripstone caverns with some of the world’s biggest stalagmite formations. Get close to a cheetah or dare to check out one of the latest extreme wildlife activities: the world’s only crocodile cage diving opportunity at the Cango Wildlife Ranch. For a less adrenalin-fuelled activity, spend some quality time with the meerkats on the Meerkat Magic Tour guided by a leading meerkat biologist. Culture fundis can experience diverse South African art forms at the annual Klein Karoo National Arts Festival.