In the countryside, over breathtakingly beautiful mountain passes, magnificent red rocks and the wide open spaces of the Klein Karoo, you’ll find Oudtshoorn, the town once glorified as the Ostrich Capital of the World. In the late 1800s, ostrich feathers were at the height of fashion, sought after by royalty, maharajahs, emperors, fashionistas and costume-makers from all over. Nowadays these ostrich show farms offer feathers, meat, eggs and even rides!

Oudtshoorn has since become an exciting tourist destination with wildlife parks and unique activities, such as exploring the vast system of underground caverns that make up the Congo Caves.

Other natural splendours in this area include the Swartberg mountain range, which is part of the Cape Floral World Heritage site. Here you can explore the exceptional ecological hotspot where 3 distinct plant biomes, namely Succulent Karoo, Cape Thicket and Fynbos, converge, or simply grab a glass of local wine at one of the many surrounding wine farms.