Klein Karoo - "Route 62" East

The Langeberg Mountain range forms a natural barrier between the fertile farmlands of the Breede River valley and the sunburned rock garden of the Little Karoo. Fertile valleys are linked to the Garden Route on the one side and the ‘Groot Karoo’ on the other side by rugged, beautiful mountain passes such as the spectacular old “Seweweekspoort Pass”, the “Huisves Pass” and Schoemanspoort. Pass through the picturesque towns of Barrydale known for its Joseph Barry Potstil Brandy; Ladismith at the foot of the Swartberg mountain; and the historic mission stations of Amalienstein and Zoar where life goes on in the traditional way.

CALITZDORP is reknown as the Port wine capital of South Africa. The Boplaas Brandy Cellar has been exporting brandy to London since the 1800s and at the Grundheim Brandy Cellar the Grundling family have farmed the land for more than 100 years.

OUDTSHOORN the capital of the Ostrich feather industry was the world centre for ostrich farming in Victorian times. Many grand houses ("feather palaces") date from 1810 and are kept in pristine condition. Visit the Cango Caves – an enormous complex of caves where strange and wonderful shapes are formed by the stalactites and stalagmites and stretch deep into the Swartberg Mountains.

Continue east on Route 62 where the Kammanassie and the Kouga Mountain ranges flank the long fertile ‘Langkloof’ valley - one of South Africa’s oldest farming communities. This narrows down to a small valley in the shadow of the Ttsitsikamma Mountains as you make your way back to the coast and the N2 Highway to
Port Elizabeth.

It is also possible to return to the coast from Oudtshoorn through the R328 and the scenic ROBINSON PASS to Mossel Bay or on the OUTENIQUA PASS to George, Wilderness lakes and Knysna.