Karoo, Western Cape
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.
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.
Destinations / Town & Suburbs of the Karoo
Barrydale
Where to Stay: Accommodation in Barrydale
The little town of Barrydale lies nestled at the foot of the beautiful Langeberge in the heart of the Tradouw Valley, close to where the northern exit of the Tradouw Pass winds through the mountains to meet Route 62, the longest ... barrydale information
Beaufort West
Where to Stay: Accommodation in Beaufort West
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 ... beaufort west information
Calitzdorp
Where to Stay: Accommodation in Calitzdorp
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 ... calitzdorp information
De Rust
Where to Stay: Accommodation in De Rust
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 ... de rust information
Herold
Where to Stay: Accommodation in Herold
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 ... herold information
Klaarstroom
Where to Stay: Accommodation in Klaarstroom
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 ... klaarstroom information
Ladismith
Where to Stay: Accommodation in Ladismith
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 ... ladismith information
Laingsburg
Where to Stay: Accommodation in Laingsburg
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 ... laingsburg information
Oudtshoorn
Where to Stay: Accommodation in Oudtshoorn
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" ... oudtshoorn information
Prince Albert
Where to Stay: Accommodation in Prince Albert
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 ... prince albert information
Touws River
Where to Stay: Accommodation in Touws River
The pretty little railway town of Touws River, between Barrydale and Ladismith in the little Karoo, lies some 185 kilometres east of Cape Town. Touws River is set on the fringes of the Klein Karoo, basically a valley ... touws river information
Uniondale
Where to Stay: Accommodation in Uniondale
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 ... uniondale information
Karoo
Featured and "Must See" Attractions in the Karoo
Cango Caves
Almost 30 kilometres outside of Outshoorn in the Klein Karoo, and certainly one of the main reasons for placing this little town on your itinerary, other than the prospect of riding an ostrich, lie the Cango Caves, some of the biggest stalagmite formations in the world set in Precambrian times ... more information
Aquila Game Reserve
Aquila is a private Nature Reserve lying outside the town of Touwsriver; just less than two hours drive from Cape Town along a particularly scenic route on the N1. The reserve is named after the Black Eagle found in the area that is today rarely encountered and regarded as an endangered species. Aquila, whilst ... more information
Sanbona Wildlife Reserve
At the foot of the Warmwaterberg, in the heart of the Little Karoo, between Montagu and Barrydale on the famous Route 62, the vision of the San is becoming a reality. Sanbona Wildlife Reserve, 54 000 hectares of undulating mountains and plains, indigenous fauna and flora, rock formations and rock ... more information
Karoo National Park
The Karoo National Park is situated close to the N1 highway between Cape Town and the hinterland, approximately 1000 km south of Johannesburg and 500 km north of Cape Town. Because of the sparse vegetation game viewing in the Karoo National Park is easily facilitated. Best viewing is ... more information
Anysberg Nature Reserve
Anysberg Nature Reserve lies in the Little Karoo between Ladismith, Laingsburg, Touwsrivier and Montagu, and is approximately four hours drive from Cape Town. The Anysberg reserve offers the visitor some of the most striking scenery in the Karoo as well as fascinating wildlife and plants and various ... more information
Gamkaberg Nature Reserve
Lying in the Little Karoo is the remote Gamka mountain range, isolated because of the conduit of the Gouritz River that slices between the Gamkaberg, and its nearest neighbour, the Rooiberg. The Gamkaberg Nature Reserve encompasses almost the whole mountain range, established in 1974 to ... more information
Little Karoo Wine Route
A little surprising, perhaps - that grapes can grow in a semi-arid area - but grow they do in this region, renowned for its extremes in soils and climate. Despite the low rainfall for the area, viticulture happens in the riverine sites, kloofs and valleys of its spectacularly rugged mountains and produces ... more information
Karoo Desert National Botanical Garden
In Roux Road on the outskirts of Worcester, some 120 kilometres from Cape Town, lies a unique gem of a garden - the only truly succulent garden in the southern hemisphere, and indeed Africa, that displays one of the largest collection of indigenous succulents in South Africa. 155 hectares of ... more information
Karoo
Featured Things To Do in the Karoo
Hiking in the Swartberg Pass
Where: Prince Albert
How much (per person): R1 to R100
Lindsay arranges a hiking permit and then drives you into the Swartberg Pass with a picnic lunch, a bird list and map and you hike back down ... more information
Ride an Ostrich at Ostrich Show Farm
Where: Oudtshoorn
How much (per person): On Request
To ride an Ostrich, visit one of the Ostrich Show Farms in Oudtshoorn, South Africa. Here you can observe large flocks of Ostriches at diffe ... more information
Karoo
Holiday Accommodation in Karoo
For accommodation in the Karoo see:
• Barrydale Accommodation • Beaufort West Accommodation • Calitzdorp Accommodation
• De Rust Accommodation • Herold Accommodation • Klaarstroom Accommodation
• Ladismith Accommodation • Oudtshoorn Accommodation • Prince Albert Accommodation
• Sanbona Accommodation • Touws River Accommodation
Or to see all accommodation in this region at once, visit Karoo Accommodation.
Visiting the Karoo?
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destinations / attractions in the western cape
