"Oudtshoorn - the ostrich capital " a Oudtshoorn Travel Page by MikeAtSea

Oudtshoorn is the tourist capital of the Little Karoo, a region bordered in the south by the Outeniqua and Langeberg Mountains and in the north by the Swartberg Range.
The boom of the golden days when everyone around the world bought Ostrich Feathers can still be found today. Old charming houses built with the boom money of the 1920’s when the chic of France, Britain and Germany wore what was produced here in the heart of the Southern Cape – Ostrich feathers.
However the boom collapsed when other fashion articles took over Europe but even today this is undoubtedly the capital of the Ostrich production world wide with numerous ostrich farms still running today and others that operate as show farms allowing you as the visitor to see and learn all about the ostrich.
The town offers a lot of charm and can be used as the base to explore the entire Little Karoo and the mountain ranges surrounding it.
Some of the highlights in the region are the impressive Cango Caves north of the city, en-route is one of my favourite places in South Africa – the Cango Wildlife Range who are leaders in the preservation of Cheetahs in Southern Africa.
If you travel along the Garden Route, and most visitors will do so along the N2 national road that runs parallel to the Indian Ocean, you should really take the time and cross over from Mossel Bay and visit this region before heading back over the stunning mountain passes to the Garden Route towards George (If you come from Cape Town – from Port Elizabeth vice versa). It is not only an interesting alternative but also a beautiful and very different part of South Africa, to explore this arid country side right next to some of the wettest regions of the country – the Garden Route.
Hospitality is also renown here. You will find plenty of Bed and Breakfasts, Guesthouses and Hotels in the region to ensure you sample some of South Africa’s own hospitality.