Oudtshoorn: the small town with big appeal

If you like exploring under your own steam, Oudtshoorn has plenty of treasures waiting to be discovered. It’s known as ‘the ostrich capital of the world’, and the trade has definitely left its mark on this little agricultural town in the heart of the Little Karoo. Thanks to booms in the late 19th and early 20th century, the wealthy ‘feather barons’ were able to build mini palaces in different, but equally lavish styles – you’ll find some fine examples if you head along Baron van Rheede Street. The initial boom also attracted about 100 Lithuanian Jewish families, and there’s still a small synagogue here today. Nowadays, the area’s ostrich farms produce meat and leather rather than feathers for fashion accessories, and several of them welcome visitors, too. Safari Ostrich Farm, for instance, which is only 6km from town, offers a range of tours where you can interact with the biggest birds on the planet.

Some of my favourite attractions, and perhaps a bit overlooked thanks to Oudtshoorn being on a wine route, are the olive estates. There’s something very peaceful about their landscapes. These gorgeous farms host daily tours which take you through the history of olives, growing, production and harvesting. The day wouldn’t be complete without the tasting where you get to explore fruity, bitter and pungent notes that really change one’s views of an olive.

I love being outdoors, especially if I have a generously filled picnic basket and a blanket in tow. If you’re the same, try taking yours to Meiringspoort Waterfalls; the Prince of Wales made the effort to visit this spot in 1925, so you know that it’s worth the time to pop in and just relax. There are several legends linked to it; it’s said that a mermaid lives in the pool at the bottom of the waterfall halfway through the Poort. Aside from the tales, the area is truly picturesque and will definitely appeal to photographers and birdwatchers. 

Then, of course, there are the Cango Caves, one of the country’s most impressive cultural and natural landmarks. This 20-million-year-old cave system at the foot of the Swartberg Mountains consists of a series of underground chambers cut into a thick layer of limestone. It’s the biggest show cave system yet discovered in Africa – and it’s a magnificent spectacle.