Oudtshoorn Tourism (2024) - South Africa > Top Places, Travel Guide

Oudtshoorn Travel Packages

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7 Days / 6 Nights

7 Days 6 Nights Cape Town With Wilderness Package

Cape Town (4N) → Wilderness (2N) → Oudtshoorn (0N)

$ 1,172

17% off

$967/person

12 Days / 11 Nights

South African Essence with Tsitsikamma: 12-Day ...

Johannesburg (1N) → Kruger (2N) → Johannesburg (1N) → George (3N) → Tsitsikamma (0N) → Plettenberg Bay (0N) → Oudtshoorn (0N) → Cape Town (4N)

$ 2,280

11% off

$2,027/person

14 Days / 13 Nights

14 Days South Africa's Natural Wonders and Adve...

Cape Town (2N) → Stellenbosch (0N) → Hermanus (1N) → Mossel Bay (1N) → Knysna (0N) → Tsitsikamma (2N) → Oudtshoorn (1N) → Cape Town (1N) → Kruger (3N) → Johannesburg (2N)

$ 2,536

2% off

$2,471/person

10 Days / 9 Nights

10-Day Cape Town, Garden Route & Addo Backpacke...

Cape Town (1N) → Struisbaai (1N) → Sedgefield (2N) → Oudtshoorn (0N) → Knysna (0N) → Tsitsikamma (0N) → Jeffrey's Bay (1N) → Addo (0N) → Sedgefield (1N) → Albertinia (0N) → Cape Town (3N)

$ 1,273

5% off

$1,203/person

4 Days / 3 Nights

4 Day Garden Route Adventure

Cape Town (0N) → Oudtshoorn (1N) → Knysna (0N) → Plettenberg Bay (1N) → Tsitsikamma (0N) → Albertinia (1N) → Hermanus (0N) → Cape Town (0N)

$ 683

15% off

$577/person

7 Days / 6 Nights

Garden Route, Cape Point, and Winelands Adventu...

Cape Town (0N) → Oudtshoorn (1N) → Addo (1N) → Jeffrey's Bay (1N) → Knysna (0N) → Tsitsikamma (0N) → Sedgefield (1N) → Wilderness (0N) → Mossel Bay (1N) → Paarl (0N) → Stellenbosch (0N) → Franschhoek (0N) → Cape Town (1N)

$ 943

3% off

$907/person

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Oudtshoorn Travel Essentials

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Weather:

Ideal duration: 1-2 days

Best Time: April - September Read More

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"Ostrich Capital and Cango Caves"

Oudtshoorn Tourism

Oudtshoorn is the largest town in Little Karoo, South Africa, situated between the Swartberg and Outeniqua mountain ranges. It is famously known as the "ostrich capital of the world" due to its extensive ostrich farms and thriving ostrich feather industry.

Additionally, the town plays a significant role in agricultural trade, specializing in dairy products, alfalfa (lucerne), fruit, vegetables, and tobacco. Oudtshoorn offers a mix of adventure, culture, and natural beauty, attracting visitors with attractions like the Cango Caves, the Klein Karoo wine route, and numerous nature reserves and trails, making it a popular destination in the Klein Karoo region.

Pre-Booking: It is advisable to make advance reservations for tours of the Cango Caves, as the number of visitors allowed is limited. Regular tours have a duration of 60 minutes, while the "adventure" tours last for 90 minutes.
Commuting within the City: Oudtshoorn can be explored on foot due to its small size. Additionally, transportation options like taxis, car rentals, and bicycle rentals are available, but public transport facilities are limited.
Drinking Water: Tap water in Oudtshoorn is safe for consumption, eliminating the need to purchase bottled water.
Fuel: Prior planning of the route and fuel consumption is recommended. It is essential to note that cash payments are necessary for fuel, as credit cards are only accepted at some gas stations.
Language: The primary languages spoken in Oudtshoorn are Afrikaans and English, facilitating communication with the locals.
Payment Mode: While various payment methods are accepted, it is suggested to carry some cash, considering that certain smaller establishments may not accommodate card payments.
KKNK Festival: Visitors may consider aligning their travel plans with the KKNK (Klein Karoo Nasionale Kunstefees), an annual Afrikaans arts festival in Oudtshoorn. The festival spans eight days in March or April and showcases over 1,000 artists in 200+ productions and exhibitions.
Electricity: Oudtshoorn operates on 220/230 volts AC at 50 cycles per second. Tourists should carry an adapter for three-pronged plugs, and some hotels may offer 110-volt outlets for specific electric devices such as shavers and small appliances.

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Shopping in Oudtshoorn

In Oudtshoorn, shopping offers a unique experience with ostrich leather goods, feathers, and local crafts available in speciality stores, craft markets, and quaint streets like Baron van Reede Street. There are also small shopping centres at the Highgate Ostrich Show Farm and Cango Caves complex.
Additionally, visitors can explore places like Klein Karoo Ostrich Emporium, MOI Gallery, Cali Craft & Gems, Bella-Mia Pottery, Lugro Ostrich Leather Products, Latana Cheese, and Ostrich International, where a diverse range of items from ostrich products and leather goods to local crafts and exquisite cheese can be bought.

Nightlife in Oudtshoorn

Oudtshoorn's nightlife is relaxed with a few popular pubs like Barons Sports Bar and Karusa Vineyards offering live music. For a taste of local culture, try Buffelsdrift Game Lodge's traditional South African braai nights. For livelier options, nearby towns like George or Knysna have more vibrant nightlife scenes.

History of Oudtshoorn

Oudtshoorn, located in South Africa's Little Karoo region, has a fascinating history. It started as a settlement in the 18th century with farmers and pastoralists. However, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, it boomed due to the ostrich feather industry, becoming the "ostrich capital of the world." The demand for ostrich feathers brought immense wealth, leading to the construction of grand Victorian-style mansions, earning Oudtshoorn the nickname "the feather palace of the world." Though the feather trade declined after World War I, Oudtshoorn remains important for ostrich farming and is now a popular tourist destination known for its unique cultural heritage, natural beauty, and adventurous activities.

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How to Reach Oudtshoorn

How to Reach Overview

To get to Oudtshoorn, travellers can fly to Cape Town (423 kilometres away) or use the smaller airports in Port Elizabeth (380 kilometres) or George (62 kilometres). Another option is taking a bus from Cape Town or Port Elizabeth, and there are minivan taxis available from George.

How to reach Oudtshoorn by flight

To reach Oudtshoorn, travellers can fly into Cape Town's International Airport with multiple domestic and international flights. From Cape Town, it's about 423 kilometres away, taking around 5 hours by car.

Alternatively, smaller airports in Port Elizabeth (380 km away) and George (62 km away) offer limited domestic flights. A daily bus from George to Oudtshoorn is available through Greyhound ZA, costing $15 - $20 per ticket. Taxis can also be hired at the airports.

For flights, Skyscanner offers international bookings, while FlySafair and AirLink handle domestic ones.

How to reach Oudtshoorn by road

From Cape Town, the distance to Oudtshoorn is approximately 430 kilometres, and the drive takes about 4.5 to 5 hours. One recommended route from Cape Town to Oudtshoorn is via Paarl, Worcester, and Montagu, following the scenic journey route No. 62.

If travelling from Port Elizabeth, the distance is around 360 kilometres, and the journey by car typically takes 3.5 to 4 hours.

How to reach Oudtshoorn by bus

Several bus companies, including Intercape, Greyhound, and Translux, offer cost-effective transportation from Cape Town and Port Elizabeth to Oudtshoorn, with fares ranging from $20 to $40. There are minivan taxis to and from George that cost around $3.

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Oudtshoorn Travel Packages

7 Days 6 Nights Cape Town With Wilderness Package

South African Essence with Tsitsikamma: 12-Day ...

14 Days South Africa's Natural Wonders and Adve...