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CENTRAL & KLEIN KAROO
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Klein & Central Karoo Attractions
and Destinations: The Little or Klein Karoo, which is a long valley bordered by
the Swartberg and the Langeberg Mountains in the Western Cape, forms the southern sibling
of the larger Karoo - the Great or Groot Karoo occupies the northern part thereof. This is
the land of succulents - their thick, fleshy diversity unparalleled anywhere else in the
world - peppered only by the odd bush and tree that gives the Karoo, at first glance, the
appearance of arid, dry and very flat land devoid of living matter and given over to hot
days and cold nights.
Herds of buffalo, elephant and kudu once dominated these plains only to be hunted or
driven out by modern development. Today the mainly visible animal in the area is the
ostrich, farmed for his meat, eggs and feathers, but stay awhile and you’ll hear the
rustlings of the bat-eared fox, the suricate or meerkat and the common barking gecko. |
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This bleak landscape is, on second glance, an
area of towering cliffs, clear streams and a unique biome dominated by the aloe and dwarf
baobab tree with its yellow peeling bark and midsummer red tubular flowers. Majestic
mountains lend a blue haze to the distant horizon and spring flowers draw huge numbers of
tourists from all over the world for a few weeks every year when sand becomes a tapestry
of flowers.
This semi-arid climate with a winter rainfall gives rise to various microclimates that
allow Klein Karoo winemakers to produce a wide variety of quality wines from vines grown
typically along the fertile river banks. Little villages and hamlets make intermittent
appearances and towns like Calitzdorp, Ladismith, Van Wyksdorp and Uniondale give the
visitor a good idea of a typical South African dorp or town.
The Cango Caves, just west of Oudtshoorn, were discovered by a young Hottentot looking for
missing cattle and extend underground for over two kilometres. Formed as a result of 20
million years of rainwater scouring and dissolving rock and limestone to form halls and
passageways, the caves were declared a National Monument in 1938 and include the Wonder
Cave that has some superb examples of drip stone formations and a resident bat population.
And last but not least, the Klein Karoo National Arts Festival at Oudtshoorn showcases
South African art forms from serious drama to farce and includes music, fine arts, festive
food, poetry, theatre for the little people and dancing. Some have described it as a
‘boere bazaar’ (farmers’ market) rather than an arts festival, but one is
seriously spoiled for choice here when it comes to catching up on the local art scene. |
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KLEIN KAROO DESTINATIONS
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  This quirky town - the oldest in the Central Karoo - is rich in history that
holds intrigue for the scientist, the historian and the eco-tourist. Not only was the
first reptile fossil discovered near here, in what has subsequently been described as the
world’s richest collecting ground for these fossils ... more about » Beaufort
West Info » |
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 Driving east on Route 62, from Ladismith via the striking Huisrivier
mountain pass, travelers suddenly encounter the little town of Calitzdorp, once renowned
as the Port Wine Capital of South Africa, but now more commonly known to be the Heart of
The Klein Karoo. No less than five wine cellars ... more about » Calitzdorp Info » |
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 The quaint little Victorian town of De Rust, on Route 62, is conveniently
positioned at the southern entrance to Meiringspoort - a magnificent gorge through the
Swartberg Mountain Range - and just a few kilometres from Oudtshoorn, the ostrich capital of
the country. De Rust might be small ... more about » De Rust Info » |
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 Herold doesn’t need much by way of imaginative writing to inspire a
visit. The little hamlet of Herold lies right on the Montagu Pass cradled by
some of the most majestic mountain scenery in the country on the R62, (Route 62) one of South Africa’s newest and most
scenic travel routes that meanders between » Herold Info » |
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 The tiny hamlet of Klaarstroom, positioned at the foot of the Swartberg
Mountains at the Great Karoo entrance to Meiringspoort, is the genuine article when it
comes to Victorian working farm villages – little affected by time and change in South Africa. Meaning ‘clear
stream’ ... more about » Klaarstroom Info » |
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 The little town of Ladismith lies in the shadow of the Towerkop Mountain
peak on Route 62, 300 km from Cape Town in the Karoo. The pretty town is unique in a
number of senses, not least of which is its unique ‘Ladismith’ style of
architecture that has evolved from the hotchpotch mixture ... more about » Ladismith Info
» |
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 A small, modern Karoo village, Laingsburg lies at the confluence of two
rivers in one of the driest parts of the country, 280 km from Cape Town just off the N1
highway that travels through the Great Karoo. Despite its aridness, Laingsburg is well
known for the freak flood that devastated the town in ... more about » Laingsburg » |
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 Know as
"The Feather Capital of the World" because of the flourishing ostrich industry.
Oudtshoorn's attraction include three show farms: Highgate, Safari and Cango Ostrich Farm.
Palatial homes known as "feather palaces" which sprang up during the boom years
are a distinctive ... more about » Oudtshoorn
Info
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 Prince Albert
had its origins in 1762 when a loan farm named Kweeckvalleij "the valley of
cultivation and plenty" was established in a green and fertile valley at the foot of
the awesome Swartberg Mountains. Today, the town is one of the prettiest in the country -
a place of great ... more about » Prince Albert Info
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 This charming little town with its quirky
individuals and leisurely way of life is about an hour’s drive from George and only
80 km from Knysna and Plettenberg Bay. Uniondale lies adjacent to the Langkloof, which
winds its way through the foothills of the of the Tsitsikamma Mountain range in an ...
more about » Uniondale Info
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KLEIN KAROO ATTRACTIONS
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 155 hectares of semi-desert vegetation, 11 of which are cultivated, present
the plants of the drier parts of the country that invariably don’t get a ‘look
in’ in other gardens. Spring is a veritable carpet of vivid vygies that come into
bloom. The garden has over 400 naturally occurring plant species ... Karoo Desert National Botanical Garden |
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CANGO CAVES |
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 The Cango Caves :
Tucked away in the foothills of the Swartberg Mountains, the limestone Cango
Caves are a place of great natural beauty. For more than 20 million years, rainwater has
flowed through fissures and seeped through cracks in the earth's face, scouring and
dissolving rock and .... More > |
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Anysberg
Nature Reserve |
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 Anysberg
Nature Reserve : Anysberg Nature Reserve lies in the Little Karoo
between Ladysmith, Laingsburg, Touwsrivier and Montagu, and is
approximately four hours drive from Cape Town. The reserve offers the visitor some of the most striking
scenery in the Karoo as well as fascinating ... More > |
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| Karoo
National Park : Noted for plains game and a rich bird
life, the Karoo National Park also supports black rhino
and the riverine rabbit. Among a number of short walks and hiking trails, the park has the
world's first fossil trail for the blind. Especially designed for the adventurous, the
strenuous .... More > |
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Gamkasberg
Nature Reserve |
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Scenic beauty
is a major feature of this reserve which is home to golden mimetes (a recently discovered
plant species), mountain zebra, baboon
and a number of antelope species. Spring, when the wild flowers are in bloom, is the best
time to visit the reserve. The duration of hiking trails varies from two hours to three
days. |
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Klein
Karoo Wine Route |
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The route
starts in Montagu and leads through Barrydale, Ladismith and Calitzdorp, ending in
Oudtshoorn and De Rust. Annual event: Klein Karoo Food and Wine Festival in December. |
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Seweweekspoort |
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This is one
of the most scenic river passes in the Great Karoo. Almost a mirror image of
Meiringspoort, it is perhaps more beautiful and rugged. The untarred road closely follows
the course of the river. At the beginning a road through Boschluiskloof leads to
Gamkapoort Dam. |
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Swartberg
Mountains |
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The Swartberg
Mountains are a magnificent backdrop to the village of Prince Albert. Once considered
almost impenetrable, there are now three major gateways – the Swartberg Pass,
Meiringspoort and Seweweekspoort - linking the Great Karoo with the Little Karoo and the
coast. Meiringspoort and the Swartberg Pass are almost on Prince Albert’s doorstep,
and with their awesome beauty and many opportunities for recreation, should be on every
visitor’s itinerary. |
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Meiringspoort |
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Soaring cliff
walls with spectacular rock formations line the 25 km tarred road which winds along the
floor of the gorge, crossing the Groot River 25 times. Entry to the poort is via
Klaarstroom, 55 kms east of Prince Albert en route to Oudtshoorn and the coast. Hardy
plants cling to the precarious rockfaces while birds, baboons and smaller fauna abound in
the protected kloofs and crevices. Among the most scenic spots is the waterfall tumbling
into a dark pool which, legend has it, is bottomless. Meiringspoort has been flooded
several times in its 140-year history – 1885, 1968 and 1996 were devastating –
and so the idea for building a high road over the mountains was born. The Swartberg Pass
was opened in 1888. |
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The Swartberg
Pass |
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The 27km
Swartberg Pass is considered one of the finest mountain passes in the world: an untarred
road that winds to the summit 1583 metres above sea level in steep zigzags and sudden
switchbacks with breathtaking views at every turn. The road is supported in places by
hand-packed stone walls, a trademark of brilliant road engineer Thomas Charles Bain. Along
the way there are relics of an old prison, toll hut and other intersting historical sites.
Often covered with snow in winter, the mountain’s unique micro-climate supports
fynbos and a rich bird life in contrast with the arid zone flora and fauna outside its
cool shady kloofs. The Swartberg Pass was declared a National Monument in its Centenary
year, 1988. |
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Gamkaskloof |
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Gamkaskloof
(also known as "The Hell") is a fascinating valley near Prince Albert where a
small, proud community lived in isolation for more than 100 years. Access was only on foot
or horseback, and harvests of dried fruit and wild honey were carried out by pack animals.
When a road was carved into the valley in 1962, a gradual exodus began, with the last
farmer, Piet Swanepoel, leaving in 1991. Their modest homes and relics of fruit orchards
can still be seen. |
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Robinson Pass |
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From
Oudtshoorn, where the road to Mossel Bay reaches the top of the Robinson Pass, there are views of a
richly forested coastal plain, providing a striking contrast to the semi-arid landscape of
the Klein Karoo. |
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