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George - Herold - Dysselsdorp - Oudtshoorn - Mossel Bay

George - Take the turn-off onto the historic and scenic Montagu Pass and follow the signs to Herold Wines. Cool mountain mists keep summer temperatures moderate and create a long ripening season for the Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc. Things to do: Cellar tour; wine tasting; tearoom; bring your own picnic; mountain pool; farm and fynbos walks.

From here, travel through Herold, turn right onto the R62 and left onto the gravel road to Dysselsdorp over the Perdepoort Pass. Things to do: Liquorice factory; Via Dolorosa; ostrich feather sorting; dried fruit. Turn right (north-east) onto the N12 to Domein-Doornkraal for their Tickled Pink sparkling or some fortified wines. Things to do: Browse through the country shop with lots of local goodies.

Now towards Oudtshoorn. Kango Wine House has quite a diverse product range and the tasting room in Van der Riet Street is well worth a visit. Things to do: Taste the wines of different cellars in the region. Karusa Vineyards is 15km from town along the R328 in Schoemanshoek. Things to do: Taste the only Cap Classique in the Klein Karoo; deli; relax on the stoep. Reasons to visit Oudtshoorn: Hug, ride or feed an ostrich; stroke a cheetah; dive with crocodiles; Meerkatmagic; feed an elephant; ride a camel; Cango Caves; ostrich products; township tours; Tanttinkies goat’s milk cheese experience; kloofing; horse riding; hot air balloon game viewing; mountain biking; absailing; caving and Klein Karoo cuisine.

The shortest route back to George is the N12 or, if you are more adventurous, stock up with Ruby Port, traditional witblits and liqueur at Grundheim Wines. Travel from there on the R328 over the Robinson Pass to Mossel Bay for a sundowner on the beach.
 

Spend an unforgettable day in the Klein Karoo

Distances: George to Herold (22 km) - Herold to Domein-Doornkraal (39 km) - Domein-Doornkraal to Oudtshoorn (23 km) - Oudtshoorn to Mossel Bay (77 km) - Mossel Bay to George (44 km). Round trip is 205 km.

Reasons to visit Oudtshoorn

Oudtshoorn is a great place for outdoor activities. Surrounded by mountain ranges and blessed with a rich variety of bird and plant life the Klein Karoo reveals its beauty to those who get out and make the effort to explore.


1. Culture and history

Take a township tour. Thando, of Thando and Nandi’s Tours, will take you on an exciting tour through the Bongolethu Township where you will see the most interesting places and meet the warmest people.
Cell: +27 72 321 7947
E-mail: thando@tsamail.co.za

Xhosa Cultural Experience Ma Bettie Jantjies is a prominent resident of Oudtshoorn’s Bongolethu Township and a Xhosa purist. She runs her authentic Xhosa village with pride and diligence. Together with a women’s group she prepares food according to old Xhosa traditions. Entertainment is also offered in the form of energetic dancing by children from Bongolethu and stories told by a traditional healer (sangoma) accompanied by Xhosa singing.
Tel: +27 83 597 5289
E-mail: cdani@vodamail.co.za 

The Wilgewandel Holiday Farm have recreated the era of the 1700 pioneers of Southern Africa with their Wilgewandel Pioneers Experience. See how they lived, dressed, played. Listen to their music. Taste their cuisine. The farm also offer a wide variety of fun activities for young and old, including camel rides, walking trails, animals to feed, donkey cart rides, and a restaurant. Tel: +27 44 272 0878
E-mail: info@wilgewandel.co.za
Website: www.wilgewandel.co.za

2. Ostrich Show Farms

Oudtshoorn is the ostrich capital of the world. Ostriches are found in great numbers and the region produces the best feathers, leather products and ostrich meat in the world.

Buffelsdrift Ostrich Farm Tours
Tel: +27 83 259 1288
E-mail: info@ostrichfarmtours.co.za
Website: www.ostrichfarmtours.co.za

Cango Ostrich Farm
Tel: +27 44 272 4623
E-mail: cango.ostrich@pixie.co.za 
Website: www.cangoostrich.co.za

Chandelier Ostrich Show Farm
Tel: +27 44 272 6794
E-mail: chandelier@absamail.co.za
Website: www.chandelier.co.za

3. Nature

Cape Nature is responsible for the management of two of the Klein Karoo's largest wilderness areas, namely the Swartberg Nature Reserve , which includes the remote Gamkaskloof, or "The Hell" and the Gamkaberg Nature Reserve - a succulent botanist's dream destination in the Red Mountain Range.
E-mail: info@capenature.co.za 
Website: www.capenature.co.za

Cango Caves 29km from Oudtshoorn, at the head of the picturesque Cango Valley, lays the spectacular underground wonder of the Klein Karoo - the Cango Caves. Situated in a limestone ridge parallel to the well known Swartberg Mountains, you will find the finest dripstone caverns, with their vast halls and towering formations.
Tel: +27 44 272 7410
E-mail: reservations@cangocaves.co.za 
Website: www.cangocaves.co.za

Forest and fynbos tours Join Leon and Tilla Nell for a variety of fascinating excursions to the Klein Karoo and Knysna Forest.
Tel: +27 44 241 2086
E-mail: leonnell@cyberperk.co.za 
Website: www.forestandfynbostours.co.za
 

4. Wildlife Activities

Cango Wildlife Ranch Tucked away in the Klein Karoo you will find a place offering sanctuary to a number of endangered species such as cheetah and Bengal tiger. The ranch originated as a crocodile farm, but developed to a full-scale conservancy. Today they instigate a totally new experience in interactive tourism combined with conservation. Activities include stroking a cheetah or diving with crocodiles!
Tel: +27 44 272 5593
E-mail: marketing@cango.co.za 
Website: www.cango.co.za

Birding The Klein Karoo, and particularly the Oudtshoorn area, offers a large variety of bird-friendly habitats. This ensures that a diverse variety of birds can be observed within a relatively short drive from hotels and guest houses in the area. These habitats include vegetation along permanent streams, the thickets on the slopes of hills, the fynbos which is found on the tops of hills and on the Swartberg itself, the open karroid veldt with its succulent shrubs and man-made habitats such as dams and tree rich local gardens. 
Tel: +27 72 903 3707
E-mail: reinderd@swartbergexplore.co.za

Meerkatmagic Discover the succulent Karoo – walk with wild meerkats and view other shy, secretive wildlife from the “shy 5”. Meerkatmagic is the only wild meerkat conservation project in the world.
E-mail: meerkatman@meerkatmagic.com
Website: www.meerkatmagic.com

Buffelsdrift Game Lodge is a sprawling game farm in the Cango Valley at the foot of the Swartberg Mountains. Pristine bushveld, lush vegetation and a 5 ha dam provides a haven for 20 game species and more than 217 bird species.
Tel: +27 44 272 0106
E-mail: info@buffelsdrift.com
Website: www.buffelsdrift.com

Chandelier Game Lodge & Ostrich Show Farm Relax, sit back and become part of nature, while enjoying game viewing from our open-top Landcruiser or take part in our wide range of other activities including quad bike trails.
Tel: + 27 44 272 6794
E-mail: chandelier@absamail.co.za
Website: www.chandelier.co.za


5. Adventure Activities

4X4 Routes The Klein Karoo is criss-crossed with secondary roads (dirt or gravel) which provide a large variety of interesting and scenic drives as well as the highest concentration of 4x4 routes in the country. Several options exist with differently graded routes suitable for all types of off-road vehicles and drivers with different levels of experience.
Website: www.4X4ineden.co.za

Nico Hesterman             Tel: +27 44 695 3175    Oxwagon tracks
Katot Meyer                  Tel: +27 44 272 5114    Combining Historical & Scenic Routes
Louis Jordaan                Tel: +27 44 279 1285    Eco Tours & Plant Identification
Karoo 4 X 4 Safaris        Tel: +27 44 272 0936    Klein Karoo & Baviaans
Swartberg Eco Explore   Tel: +27 82 461 8253    4 X 4 Routes in Swartberg Reserve
Tracks for Africa            Tel: +27 83 262 0964    GPS Maps


Ballooning Experience the unique sensation of Hot Air Ballooning in the Klein Karoo. Drifting on a gentle breeze, you will enjoy a sense of peace and tranquility and enjoy the panoramic view of Oudtshoorn and the majestic Swartberg Mountain range.
Tel +27 44 279 4045
E-mail: charl@oudtshoornballooning.co.za 
Website: www.oudtshoornballooning.co.za

Hiking Some people just love the wide open spaces of the Klein Karoo, others appreciate the fact that they are hiking a world heritage site, still others appreciate the beauty of walking through an ecological hotspot where three plant biomes (succulent karoo, cape thicket and fynbos) converge. Tel: +27 21 659 3500
E-mail: bookings@capenature.co.za 
Website: www.capenature.co.za

Horse riding Kango Horse Riding invites you to come and experience the unspoiled natural beauty of the Klein Karoo's wide open spaces on horseback.
Cell: +27 72 272 8709

Quad biking Try the quad bike trail to the beatiful, 80 m high Rust-en-Vrede Waterfall; the fantastic quad biking trips over the Swartberg Pass, to "The Hell”; a sunset cruise or quad bike game viewing at Chandelier Game & Ostrich Farm.

Star gazing Be blown away by our clear, starlit Karoo night skies by taking a tour through the Southern Hemisphere's Celestial "High Five". Learn more about the most prominent stars, planets, constellations, galaxies and clusters.
Tel: +27 82 461 8253
E-mail: info@swartbergexplore.co.za   
Website: www.swartbergexplore.co.za

6. Local tour operatours

Civair Helicopters Experience the wonder of the Klein Karoo from the air and indulge in an adventure of a life time, never to be forgotten. Civair Helicopters, based at the Oudtshoorn airport can offer you scenic flights over the Swartberg, the Outeniquas as well as personalized tours.
Cell: 082 446 3809
E-mail: marketing@civair.co.za 
Website: www.civair.co.za

Colourful Africa Marketing Daily circle route tours of the Oudtshoorn area – even for one guest. This guided tour includes a visit to and ostrich show farm; the Cango caves; the Swartberg Pass; lunch at Prince Albert; a visit to the Meiringspoort waterfall; a trip through De Rust and back to Oudtshoorn.
Tel: +27 79 105 4000
E-mail: colourfulafrica@gmail.com  
Website: www.colourfulafrica.co.za

Footprints in the Southern Cape Tour operator offering educational tours of the Southern Cape at affordable prices. Accommodate all age groups. Tours include a circle route of Oudtshoorn. Minimum of 10 and maximum of 20 people per tour. Discover the beauty and jewels of the Klein Karoo.
Tel: +27 044 272 6893
E-mail: info@footprint.org.za 
Website: www.footprint.org.za

Min Water Eco Adventures Get back to Nature. Learn more about biodiversity and the Succulent Karoo. Choose from a variety of 4x4 or hiking trails. Stay in a bushcamp and see unbelievable night skies.
Tel: +27 (0) 44 279 1285
E-mail: minwater@absamail.co.za
Website: www.minwater.co.za

MoT Adventure Centre One day mountain bike tours. Multi day, customised bike tours. Mountain biking workshops. Professional race-coaching.
Tel: +27 44 272 2901
E-mail: info@mot-oudtshoorn.com
Website: www.mot-oudtshoorn.com

Swartberg Eco Explore provides you with unique opportunities to explore the historical, geological and natural treasures offered by the Swartberg Mountains and the Klein Karoo. They do specialised Eco Tours focusing on among others hiking trails in the Swartberg Mountains.
Tel: +27 82 461 8253
E-mail: info@swartbergexplore.co.za 
Website: www.swartbergexplore.co.za

TBI Adventures Adventure centre for adventure activities as well as Professional Team Building. Adventure activities includes abseiling, rock climbing, kayaking, wild-caving, hiking and quad biking. Tel: +27 44 272 6696
E-mail: info@tbiadventures.co.za
Website: www.tbiadventures.co.za

7. More activities ...

Cheese Tantinki is the market leader in South Africa when it comes to goat milk cheese, yoghurt, ice cream, fudge and other related products. They make a variety of 13 different cheeses in 17 flavours. On their farm 130 Swiss Saanen goats ensure that you only get the best milk possible. A farm stall was recently opened in Oudtshoorn where all the milk is processed.
Tel: +27 83 340 5821

Chocolate Inspired by the decadent 18th century French period, la chocolaterie ROCOCO defines the ultimate in chocolate indulgence. Handcrafted from finely selected ingredients, it’s a delight that brings heaven one step closer.
Tel: +27 84 232 5991

8. Local tourism information

To find out more about Oudtshoorn and its surround, places to stay, where to eat or to get the contact details of the activities mentioned, please contact the Oudtshoorn Info or the Oudtshoorn Tourism Bureau. Contact details:

Oudtshoorn Info
Telephone: +27 44 272 0041
E-mail: info@oudtshoorninfo.com 
Website: www.oudtshoorninfo.com 

Oudtshoorn Tourism Bureau
Telephone: +27 44 279 2532
E-mail: info@oudtshoorn.com 
Website: www.oudtshoorn.com

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