The town was named after Baron van Reede van Oudtshoorn, governor designate to the Cape Colony. Oudtshoorn was something of a backwater up to about 1860. From then on, especially from ±1880 it became a boom town, due to ostrich feathers becoming the vogue in Europe. The feathers reached excellent prices with Oudtshoorn being the main supplier.
Merchants soon became so-called feather barons. As symbol of their new found wealth many built extravagant mansions with sandstone, the building material of the day. Many of these beautiful buildings are still around on view for present day visitors. The onset of World War I in 1914 caused the feather market to crash and many of the feather barons went bankrupt overnight. However, ostrich farming is still alive and well in Oudtshoorn. The town is still known to many as the "ostrich capital of the world".
Today tourists from across South Africa and the world flock to Oudtshoorn. The two main attractions are, ostrich show farms and the Cango Caves. Both of these feature among South Africa's top 20 tourist attractions. The town's geographical location is perfect for tourists as it lies virtually on the border of the Garden Route and is located on the popular Route 62.
Discover the main things to do, see and experience in South Africa, including beautiful winelands, majestic mountain ranges, rolling wheat and sugarcane fields, caves, beaches and rocky shorelines, forests and pristine wilderness areas. Explore by game drive vehicle, hike in beautiful environs and enjoy our beloved country’s rich cultural diversity.
Highlights:
Cape Town
,
Cape Winelands
,
Stellenbosch
,
Oudtshoorn
,
Route 62
,
Garden Route
,
Knysna
,
Oudtshoorn ostrich farms
,
Cango Caves
,
Sunshine Coast
,
Wild Coast
,
Transkei
,
KwaZulu-Natal
,
iSimangaliso Wetland Park
,
St. Lucia
,
Kruger National Park
,
Swaziland
,
Panorama Route
.
The German-guided version of our tour that covers the highlights of South Africa (link to English tour provided as well). It provides a mix of cities, countryside, historical sites, scenic drives, nature, wildlife, culture and people. The southbound tour starts in Johannesburg and ends in Cape Town.
Highlights:
Panorama Route
,
Blyde River Canyon
,
Kruger National Park
,
Swaziland
,
Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve
,
St. Lucia
,
iSimangaliso Wetland Park
,
Transkei
,
Garden Route
,
Storm’s River Mouth
,
Knysna
,
Cango Caves
,
Route 62
,
Cape Winelands
,
Stellenbosch
,
Paarl
,
Cape Town
.
This tour covers the highlights of South Africa and is ideal for first time visitors to the country. It provides a mix of cities, countryside, historical sites, scenic drives, nature, wildlife, culture and people. The southbound tour starts in Johannesburg and ends in Cape Town.
Highlights:
Panorama Route
,
Blyde River Canyon
,
Kruger National Park
,
Swaziland
,
Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve
,
St. Lucia
,
iSimangaliso Wetland Park
,
Transkei
,
Garden Route
,
Storm’s River Mouth
,
Knysna
,
Cango Caves
,
Route 62
,
Cape Winelands
,
Stellenbosch
,
Paarl
,
Cape Town
.
This private guided tour covers the highlights of South Africa and is ideal for first time visitors to the country. It provides a mix of cities, countryside, historical sites, scenic drives, nature, wildlife, culture and people. The southbound tour starts in Johannesburg and ends in Cape Town.
Highlights:
Panorama Route
,
Blyde River Canyon
,
Kruger National Park
,
Swaziland
,
Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve
,
St. Lucia
,
iSimangaliso Wetland Park
,
Transkei
,
Garden Route
,
Storm’s River Mouth
,
Knysna
,
Cango Caves
,
Route 62
,
Cape Winelands
,
Stellenbosch
,
Paarl
,
Cape Town
.
The Klein Karoo (Little Karoo) in South Africa is the smaller brother, of the Great Karoo to its North. The Klein Karoo is a hot and dry fairly narrow valley that runs from East to West, bordered to the North by the Swartberg Mountain range and to the South by the Outeniqua Mountains.
Oudtshoorn in the Little Karoo, South Africa, is known as the ostrich capital of the world. Today a visit to one of the ostrich show farms in Oudtshoorn is rated as one of the 20 main tourist attractions in South Africa. These visits are not only very informative, but also highly entertaining.
The Cango Caves are located in the foothills of the Swartberg Mountains, some 28km north of Oudtshoorn in the Klein Karoo near South Africa's popular Garden Route. The Caves, a national monument and one of South Africa's top 20 tourist attractions, feature huge concert-hall sized chambers as well as narrow passages and rooms.