For hundreds of years the San have been using ostriches for their meat and eggs. The eggs are used firstly as a source of food and then, when the shell is empty, as a handy container for carrying or storing water - by burying a cache of water-filled eggs for emergencies. Ostriches were highly valued in other cultures, like the Zulus. As a result of the hunting by man the ostriches retreated into the dry, harsh deserts. This, combined with natural predation meant that ostriches became harder to find - and the price of their feathers rose.
Northeast of Cape Town, a 3.5 hour scenic drive encompassing the towns of Worcester, Robertson, Montagu and Barrydale will culminate in the recently developed 54 000ha Sanbona Wildlife Reserve in the Klein Karoo, where rock art and wilderness combine with big game.
The R62 wine route offers first class ports and other fortified wines, as well as witblits or white lighting, so called because of its high alcohol content - 50% proof.
The town of Montagu is famous for its warm and soothing mineral springs. Other attractions are the tractor/trailer ride that carries guests to the summit of the Langeberg Mountains, and the 23 proclaimed monuments found here. Activities include hot air balloon flights, horse riding, star gazing, and some of the best rock climbing in South Africa.
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Enquiry Form or call us on +44 (0)1483 425 533
Klein Karoo
Accommodation
Luxury
Hotels
Sanbona Wildlife Reserve This 54 000 ha nature reserve in the Klein Karoo boasts an expanse of scenic valleys and mountains, 650 plant species, 160 bird species, rock art, the Big Five and a variety of wildlife.>>
Quality
Hotels
Mimosa Lodge Firmly established in Montagu, a small, picturesque town, where the pace of life is a slower one. This oasis in the rough landscape of the Little Karoo is located on 'Route 62' connecting Cape Town and the Garden Route. >>
Swartberg Manor Nestled on the farm "Voorbedacht" Swartberg manor issituated in the Cango Valley at the foot of the world-renowned
Swartberg Pass. The picturesque panoramic views of the Swartberg
Mountains will bring tranquility to anyone that wants to "have break
for the hustle and bustle of the city" and rejuvenate in these peaceful
surroundings.>>
Value
Hotels
Matoppo Inn - Beaufort West Situated in the heart of the Great Karoo, this hotel is an ideal sop-over between Johannesburg and Cape Town and is 225km from George Airport and 460km from Cape Town International Airport. >>
Montagu Country Hotel Montagu is a historical village, situated halfway between Oudtshoorn and Cape Town, on the legendary 'Route 62', which is the longest wine route in South Africa - a road of scenic splendour. >>
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Enquiry Form or call us on +44 (0)1483 425 533
More
about Klein Karoo
The Klein Karoo is an area of magnificent landscapes and towering cliffs, crystal clear streams and the abundance of trees and indigenous flora - all contribute to making the Klein Karoo one of the Western Cape's most diverse regions.
The ever changing colours of the majestic mountains, scenic passes, rivers, vineyards and orchards, as well as the multitude of attractions, will offer you an unforgettable adventure.
Highlights of the region include the cango caves and ostrich farms at Oudtshoorn, the Swartberg Pass, Meiringspoort Gorge at De Rust and the wine route.
The Klein Karoo is situated between majestic mountains to the south and north. Visitors testifies of the region's distinctive gastrology, the friendliness of its people and the mystique of the Klein Karoo's landscape.
Birding / Botanical South Africa has one of the widest diversity of bird types in the world, boasting more than 900 different species and is very...
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Conservation In recent years there has been a marked increase in the demand for hands on participatory conservation experiences. Detailed...
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Cultural If the history of Southern Africa is in large part one of increasing racial divisiveness, today it can also be seen as the story...
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Karoo Desert Botanical Garden This Garden is totally unique in that it is the only truly succulent garden in the southern hemisphere and on the African continent. One of the floral highlights of the year is spring, when thousands of annuals and brightly coloured vygies come into flower - from mid-August to the end of September.
A must for succulent lovers, the Garden lies on the outskirts of...
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National Arts & Theatre For art lovers in SA, the month of July has become synonymous with the National Arts Festival. Each year the festival is staged for a few days in mid-winter in Grahamstown in the Eastern Cape.
The festival has grown across cultural, social and political borders to become an important shaping influence on SA arts and culture. Also popular is the annual Klein Karoo...
>>
SOUTHERN AFRICA TRAVEL The Oak Suite, Guardian House,
Borough Road, Godalming, Surrey, GU7 2AE Tel: 01483 425533 Fax: 01483 860391 The air holiday packages on this website are ATOL protected
by the Civil Aviation Authority. Our ATOL number is 4795. Please see our booking
conditions for more information. Click on the ATOL logo above for more information.
Many thanks and credit to the following
photographers whose images have been used in this site: Michael Poliza, Colin
Bell, Dana Allen, David Ross, Nick Melidonas and Wilderness Safaris.
Fill in our Online
Enquiry Form or call us on +44 (0)1483 425 533
