Surrounded by natural beauty, Oudtshoorn is situated at the foot of the majestic Swartberg Mountain range. Numerous rivers, streams and falls have their origins in the Swartberg, Outeniqua and Kamanassie ranges around the town. Waterfalls abound, and visitors can safely visit two spectacular examples at Rus en Vrede and at Meiringspoort - a narrow, vertical cleft in the Swartberg Mountain, with the road through crossing the Meiring's River no less than 32 times! 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. Each crossing, or drift, has its own name and story - stop at the Waterfall information site to learn more.
Entry to the poort is via Klaarstroom, 55 kms east of Prince Albert en route to Oudtshoorn and the coast. Following spectacular floods which caused great damage, the road has been reconstructed over the past two years at a cost of R70 million. Meiringspoort was officially re-opened by the Western Cape Premier, Gerald Morkel, on 20th October 2000.The first road through the poort was constructed between 1856 and 1858 by Adam de Schmidt. On the morning of 3 March 1858 a colorful procession of about 250 mounted men and 100 distinguished guests in "spiders", carriages and wagons departed through a triumphal arch decorated with flags for the journey to Klaarstroom - where a deputation of important guests from Prince Albert and Beaufort West awaited their arrival under another triumphal arch.
The first freight of wool from the interior was dispatched to Mossel Bay through Meiringspoort in "twaalf lange wolwagens" (12 long ox-drawn wool wagons) on the same day. The road through the poort is a remarkable engineering feat, but the overwhelming features of a drive through Meiringspoort are the wonders of nature. The folds of the Table Mountain sandstone strata tower above the road, constantly changing colour as you move through sunlight and shade. Hardy plants, including indigenous pelargoniums, cling to the precarious rock faces while birds, baboons and smaller fauna abound in the protected kloofs and crevices. Among the most scenic spots is the Skelm tumbling into a dark pool which, legend has it, is bottomless. (In 1938 it stopped flowing for the first time in human memory). A beautiful mermaid was said to live in the pool at the foot of the waterfall. During the 1996 floods a story circulated that she had been washed out of the pool, down the Groot and Oliphants rivers and out to sea. She had been caught in a fisherman's net and taken to the CP Nel Museum in Oudtshoorn, where she was preserved in spirits! The Museum was overwhelmed with telephone calls and visitors keen to see the mermaid!
Look out for Herrie's Stone - there can't be much graffiti that has been declared a National Monument. C.J. Langenhoven carved the name of his famous fictional elephant on a boulder in Meiringspoort in 1929. Meiringspoort has been flooded several times in its 140-year history (the floods of 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.
Amidst the 400 ostrich farms surrounding the town, three have distinguished themselves worthy enough to be named show farms. Get to know this exotic bird species, and, for the more adventurous, take an ostrich ride. The two most famous of these are Cango Ostrich Farm and Highgate Ostrich Farm.
The Swartberg Pass, between Oudtshoorn and Prince Albert, is one of the most sensational drives in southern Africa, declared a national monument. It is the masterpiece of a brilliant engineer, Thomas Bain, and dates from the 1880's, when it was hand-built in 5 years. The 27 km Swartberg Pass is considered one of the most impressive mountain passes in the world: an untarred road that winds to the summit 1583 meters 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 Thomas Charles Bain, the brilliant road engineer of the 19th Century.
Along the way there are relics of old prisons, tollhouses, and Way stations that bear historic testimony to past adventures. Often covered with snow in winter, the mountain's microclimate 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. Those who have crossed the pass will never forget it. Near the summit of the Pass lies the Otto du Plessis road which leads into Gamkaskloof, also known as "The Hell".
One of the world's great natural wonders, the Cango Caves, was sculpted by nature through the ages. Mysterious and breathtaking limestone formations in a wide variety of natural colours, only some 20 odd km from town. With daily guided tours, this is really a trip worth-while. Tucked away in the foothills of the Swartberg Mountains, only 28km from Oudtshoorn, lie the Cango Caves - a place of great natural beauty, and a national monument. 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 limestone to form the vast halls and tunnels of the Cango Cave system. The Cango Caves are open daily, excepting Christmas day. Tours, rated according to length and difficulty, are led by experienced and knowledgeable guides.
The cave extends for 5.3km, in a series of large phreatic chambers connected linearly by low passages and crawls. The main aesthetic attractions, and therefore tourist appeal, of the Caves lie in the large size of many of the chambers, and in the spectacular speleothems. The narrower passages, especially the Devil's Chimney, can be visited by anyone - check with the ticket office. There is a restriction on the amount of visitors, so booking is essential. Absolutely no access to Cango's 2,3,4 & 5.
Then there's the town itself. Exceptional stone masonry through the ages led to that special touch. Admire the grandeur of the numerous ostrich palaces, like Pinehurst, established in the times of the feather boom. Conserved to this day as museums, guesthouses and dwellings for the discerning.
Visit the C.P. Nel Museum, with the theme The Ostrich through the Ages, and relive the booming Ostrich Era. Even if you are not very much interested in the historical side of life, you should experience the C.P.Nel Museum, one of the best country museums in South Africa, situated in Oudtshoorn, the heart of the Klein Karoo. The C.P.Nel Museum is also the only museum with a Synagogue inside - still in use.
Visit the home of the famous C.J. Langenhoven, Arbeidsgenot, or any of the many historical church buildings, or experience a walk over one of the most elegant suspension bridges in the country. And just over the mountains is the world-famous Garden Route!
And still it does not end - visit the Cheetah Breeding Farm, one of the foremost examples of eco-tourism in the world. A superb mixture of conservation and tourism. This is a highly successful breeding station, one of only two in the southern hemisphere. Be photographed cuddling a cheetah, the fastest animal on land.
And on your way (to or from) the Cheetah Farm, why not stop a while at the Angore Rabbit show farm, and the charming Schoemanshoek Valley.
Or gaze with awe at the slithering reptile species from all over the world. Imagine more than 400 crocodiles and alligators in their prehistoric unattractiveness. They're being bred here, and they're awfully nice, as long as you don't get too close!
The Klein Karoo National Arts Festival in Oudtshoorn is the annual gathering in March/April, of more than 100 000 lovers of the various arts, for a week of dancing, films, cabaret, classical music, comedy, contemporary music, open air concerts, plays, literary art and poetry. A momentous event, enjoying international sponsorship.
The eco-tourist, and those thriving on the outdoor life, alike, will be faced with a large selection of challenging opportunities. Hiking and mountain biking trails are in abundance, with choices ranging from lush sub-tropical to semi-arid. You will certainly leave fulfilled. Then there are also some National Parks and private nature reserves.
Even in the sporting field, Oudtshoorn is the hub of the region, offering a challenging modern 18-hole golf course with full amenities, as well as squash courts, bowls, athletics, tennis, cricket, rugby, olympic standard swimming pools, motorsport and miniature aircraft.
Or you can do some horse riding, or one of various 4x4 routes, or what about white-water rafting.
First class hotels, lodges, inns and guesthouses await the visitor. Enjoy the relaxed, friendly, hospitable atmosphere offered in town, or at the various surrounding farms. Experience the joy of life in the country, and breathe in the healthy, unpolluted air.
Taste the art of fine local wines - dine on the excellent cuisine of the restauranteurs, from a five-course meal, which could include ostrich, to a delightful, lighter meal, all exquisitely available to satisfy every taste. |
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