The Garden Route and Klein Karoo - Pt2: Klein Karoo

The Garden Route and Klein Karoo are one region belonging to the most beautiful province  the Western Cape. This is part 2 or the regional profile for the Garden Route and Klein Karoo, with the focus on the Klein Karoo.

Klein Karoo

The Klein or "little" Karoo is a semi-arid region nestled between the town of Ladismith and the border to the Eastern Cape province. The area is most famous for ostriches, caves, some of the most breath-taking mountain passes in the country.

In days gone by buffalo, elephant and kudu roamed these plains, but have since been hunted and driven out by modern day developments. Many years ago the area was also inhabited by the native San, Khoi  and Hottentots, who were driven out by European settlers who came to the area in the late 1600s. 

The area is home to the world renowned Cango Caves that was discovered by a Hottentot boy looking for his lost cattle in the 1780s. Declared a World Heritage Sight, the caves, with its magnificent stalactite and stalagmite formations, extends over 5km underground and has evidence that humans may have lived and sheltered there at least 80 000 years ago. The history of the Cango caves are intriguing, well worth a visit especially for those interested in the many mysteries the caves have to offer. These mysterious occurrences include fossils, skeletons, ghosts, cave drawings and secret entrances to name a few!

Cango Caves

Well known towns in the region:

Oudtshoorn - probably the most famous town of the region, the town is renowned for its ostrich, crocodile and cheetah farms and the Cango caves which are situated outside of the town. Oudtshoorn comes alive during the annual Klein Karoo National Arts Festival which attracts many tourists during March/April to this rural gem.

Crocodile Cage Diving in Oudtshoorn

Ladismith - above the town is the peak Towerkop, local legend has it that that a witch, flying overhead, struck the peak in anger with her wand because it obstructed her passage over the mountain and resulted in the split  between the peak. Ladismith is well known for its cheese as well as apricots, a staggering 30% of apricot production in the country comes from this region.

Calitzdorp - known as the Port Wine Capital and its extensive array of succulent plants with 200 species not found anywhere else on earth. Evidence of the early indigenous San and Khoi people are found in the rock painting in the surrounding mountains. The first cement road in South Africa was erected between Calitzdorp and Oustshoorn in the early 1900s.

De Rust - famous for its donkey taxis, the initiative was actually started to educate donkey handlers in the correct way to harness and handle donkeys and not as a tourism project. The town is also known as home to many artists who have taken up residence in De Rust for its tranquil and inspiring setting.

Uniondale - a quaint farming village that predominantly farms sheep, goat, seed and apples. The town was formed in 1856 when the towns of Hopedale and Lyons were joined. Uniondale is famous or rather infamous for the The Uniondale Ghost, a legend claiming that the ghost of Marie Charlotte Roux haunts the road outside of the town. As the story goes, she was tragically killed in an accident in 1968, people who travel the road come a across a female hitchhiker, after they offer her a lift she disappears a few kilometres down the road!

Uniondale Church

Route 62, the world'd longest wine route passes through the Klein Karoo. For those looking for more adventure, the Klein Karoo offers many hiking, mountain biking, horse riding and 4x4 trails with unsurpassed views. 

For more information visit the local tourism information office.