The Garden Route's inland detour, an hour over the mountains into the dry Little Karoo. The limestone chambers of the Cango Caves, the ostrich farms that made the town rich, and the Swartberg Pass for anyone who likes a mountain road.
Oudtshoorn is the Garden Route’s detour inland, and a complete change of scene. An hour over the Outeniqua mountains from the coast, the green of the route gives way to the dry, hot Little Karoo, a half-desert of scrubby plains under big skies. It earns the turn-off for two things above all: the caves and the ostriches.
The Cango Caves are the headline. Thirty kilometres north of town, in the foothills of the Swartberg, a series of limestone chambers runs deep into the rock. The Heritage tour is an easy hour through the lit show halls; the Adventure tour pushes on through the tight squeezes of the deeper passages, which rules it out for anyone with claustrophobia or a larger frame. Either way, book the one you want before you go.
The town itself is built on ostriches. Oudtshoorn boomed in the Victorian feather trade, and the grand “feather palaces” still stand from it. Ostrich farms run tours and feeding, and many have sensibly dropped the old rides on welfare grounds. The Cango Wildlife Ranch works with cheetahs and crocodiles in town, the gravel Swartberg Pass climbs over the mountains to Prince Albert as one of the country’s great drives, and the dry night air gives some of the clearest stargazing anywhere. It works as a long day trip from George or Wilderness, or a night for those who want the pass and the stars.
Caves, ostriches and a mountain pass, an easy inland detour from the coast.
The Cango Caves run deep into the Swartberg foothills, 30 km north of town. The Heritage tour is an easy hour through the big show halls, all stalactites and lit chambers. The Adventure tour pushes on for 90 minutes through the tight squeezes of Cango 1, which isn't for claustrophobia or larger frames.
Oudtshoorn grew rich on ostrich feathers, and the farms still run tours and feeding (many no longer offer riding, on welfare grounds). The Cango Wildlife Ranch in town works with cheetahs and crocodiles, and the gravel Swartberg Pass climbs over the mountains to Prince Albert, one of the great South African drives.
The Heritage tour is easy and suits everyone; the Adventure tour involves real squeezes and crawls and isn't for claustrophobia, mobility issues or larger frames.
A farm tour explains the feather boom and gets you close to the birds, with feeding. Many farms have stopped offering rides, which is the kinder choice anyway.
The gravel pass over the mountains is spectacular and well worth the detour. Check the road is open, and don't drive it straight after heavy rain.
The Cango Wildlife Ranch runs conservation programmes with cheetahs and crocodiles, an easy stop in Oudtshoorn itself.
The dry Karoo air gives some of the clearest night skies in the country. A guided stargazing session is a fine way to end the day.
Oudtshoorn is about an hour from George and Wilderness, easy as a long day trip, or stay a night to add the pass and the stars.
Book the caves, the farms and the pass through our trusted partners, at the same price as booking direct.
A private full day in the Little Karoo built around the Cango Caves and an ostrich farm, the easy way to do the detour.
Book on GetYourGuide →A guided drive over the gravel Swartberg Pass into the Karoo, with a country lunch along the way.
See the pass tour →A guided stargazing session under the clear Karoo skies, with telescopes and the southern-hemisphere constellations.
See stargazing →Guesthouses and Karoo farm stays in and around town, for an overnight on the inland detour.
Find a stay →We may earn a commission when you book through our partner links — at no extra cost to you.
Oudtshoorn is the Garden Route's dry, surprising detour. See the rest of what the route holds.
