Anex
LOCAL ATTRACTIONS
Mooiplaas Guesthouse is situated within an hours’ drive from most of the Oudtshoorn Attractions. Below is a list of the popular tourist attractions.
The Cango Caves
The Cango Caves in Oudtshoorn is one of the world’s great natural wonders, an underground wonderworld. Sculptured by nature over 20 million years, it has fascinating limestone formations in a wide variety of colours.
Read more information about the Cango Caves.
Visit the official website of the Cango Caves.
Horse Riding
Horse riding is available at Le Petit Karoo Ranch. Inexperienced riders are welcome, and they offer one, two or three hour rides into the wild Karoo.
Visit Le Petit Karoo Ranch.
Camel Rides
Wilgewandel offers camel rides and is a perfect place for a family outing. It is located on the way to the Cango Caves. Other Activities include: trampoline, donkey cars, fairy forest, slide over dam, feeding of animals and much more.
Visit Wilgewandel.
Show Ostrich Farm Visits
Chandelier Game Lodge & Ostrich Show Farm:
Chandelier Game Lodge & Ostrich Show Farm is an ostrich show farm where guests are invited to participate in the daily activities on the show farm, like feather clipping. Ostrich riding is also available for the brave, while the professional jockeys at Chandelier compete in the famous Chandelier ostrich race. Chandelier also offers quad biking.
Visit Chandelier.
Highgate Ostrich Show Farm:
Experience face-to-face encounters with ostriches, learn more about these fascinating birds, sit on an ostrich, and enjoy everyone’s favourite – ostrich racing! This is the world’s first, finest and most original ostrich show farm. Start your visit to Oudtshoorn at Highgate! Tel: 044 272 7115
Visit Highgate Ostrich Show Farm.
Wildlife Nature Reserves
Cango Wildlife Ranch:
Tucked away in the Little Karoo you will find a place offering sanctuary to a number of endangered species such as cheetah and Bengal tiger. No visit to Oudtshoorn is complete without having visited the Cango Wildlife Ranch in Oudtshoorn – the conservation heart of the Little Karoo.
Visit Cango Wildlife Ranch.
Meerkat Adventures:
Wouldn’t it be great if you could walk with wildlife, without disturbing, without interfering, but still, interacting? Now you can. Devey Glinister is an experienced, conservation guide. Through his intensive research and relentless dedication, Devey now offers you the opportunity to benefit from his unique approach to wildlife conservation – to walk with meerkats.
Visit Meerkat Adventures.
Wine Tasting
The Klein Karoo Wine Route in the Southern Cape is arguably the most diverse of South Africa’s wine regions. It is the easternmost wine-producing region in the country, stretching along the Cape Route 62 from Montagu in the west to the Langkloof in the east.
Visit Cape Route 62.
Visit the Klein Karoo Wine Route website for details on the wines and suggested routes and trips.
Oudtshoorn Hiking Trails
The Klein Karoo is a hiker’s heaven! There are so many different kinds of hikes in the area that cater for everyone – whether you want a demanding and rugged adventure, or if you prefer a short gentle walk, and everything in between. Oudtshoorn hiking trails offer beautiful scenic views.
The Swartberg Trail
Where: Swartberg Nature Reserve (one of the beautiful Oudtshoorn hiking trails)
Distance / Difficulty: 52 km/5 days (various shorter options are available)
No. of persons: 18 (max)
Best Time to Go: April / May and September / October
Features: Opportunities for Sailing, Fishing, Canoeing
Find out more about Swartberg Nature Reserve Trail provided by Cape Nature.
Gamkaskloof
Where: Gamkaskloof is 90 km from Oudtshoorn and is only accessible from the Swartberg Pass via Otto Du Plessis Road
Distance / Difficulty: 6 km/3 hours, moderate, circular interpretation trail with various options available
Best Time to Go: April / May and September / October
Features: Great for picnicking and angling. There are no shops or fuel stations on the road so visitors should take everything they need for their trip.
Gamkaberg Nature Reserve
Gamkaberg and Rooiberg
Distance / Difficulty: Various available from 20 minutes to 6 hours, easy
Best Time to Go: NOT recommended during December – February
Features: Great for picnicking and angling. There are no shops or fuel stations on the road so visitors should take everything they need for their trip.
Tierkloof Hiking Trail
Gamkaberg Nature Reserve
Distance / Difficulty: 23.5 km/2 days, moderate
Number of Persons: 12 (max)
Best Time to Go: NOT recommended in December – February
Features: Hike through deep forested ravines and mountain plateaus with fynbos. Enjoy great views of the Swartberg and Outeniqua mountains.
Find out more about Tierkloof Trail in Gamkaberg with Cape Nature.
Minwater Trails
Minwater means ‘Little Water’Where: Minwater Private Nature Reserve which is 24 km south west of Oudtshoorn on the Gamkaberg foothills.
Distance / Difficulty: 1 – 20 km hikes available
Features: Owner Louis Jordaan is an expert on more than 500 different plan species found in the nature reserve. Guided plant and birding tours.
Find out more on the Minwater website.
The Donkey Trail
Where: Die Hel in the Gamkaskloof Valley was first inhabited by farmers in 1830. It was accessible only by foot until 1963 when a road was built into the valley. This historic trail follows the original ‘donkey trail’ over the Swartberg Mountain from Calitzdorp to Die Hel which was the valley’s only commercial link with the outside world.
Distance / Difficulty: 26 km/4 days (moderate to strenuous)
Visit The Donkey Trail site.
Eco Hiking
Swartberg ECO EXPLORE Hikes
Where: Swartberg mountains
Features: Explore the historical, geological and natural treasures of the Swartberg mountains and the Klein Karoo. Another one of the stunning Oudtshoorn hiking trails.
Visit the Swartberg Explore website for more information.
Cycling
Backpacker’s Paradise Adventure centre offers really great Mountain Bike trips. Cycle down the spectacular Swartberg pass (1 584m above sea level) visiting the Cango Caves, camel rides, ostrich farms and wildlife ranch on the way back to town.
A golfer’s heaven
Oudtshoorn Golf Course
St. Saviour Street
TEl: 044 272 4201
The par-72, 6 210 m layout is a challenging and enjoyable one and surprisingly green and lush for this part of the world.
Links Golf Course; Holes: 18; Par: 72; Length: Championship: 6 210 m, Ladies: 5 190m
Course Rating
Men Par Rating 72; SAGA Rating 72
Women Par Rating 72; SAGA Rating 72
Oudtshoorn Golf Course
4 x 4
Swartberg 4×4
Distance: 68 km
Route Grading: 2-3
Facilities: Picnic, Chalet, Camping
Minwater
Rating: 2-3
Nearest Town: Oudtshoorn (24 km)
Best Time of Year: Year Round
Maximum Vehicles: 10
Route Distance: 30 km (6-10 Hours)
Grading: Easy to Moderate
Waterfall Kloofing (canyoning)
Backpacker’s Paradise: Adventure offers: fishing, micro lighting, abseiling and rock climbing, hiking and waterfall kloofing.
Scenic Flights
Swartberg Scenic Flights allow you to experience the breathtaking views and scenery of the Little Karoo as never seen before. Enjoy a sunset flight with panoramic views along the base of the Swartberg Mountains, over the lush Schoemanshoek Valley with unobstructed views of the Outeniqua Mountains in the background. There is no wing strut to block your view, allowing for excellent photo opportunities.
