Hotels in Oudtshoorn

Oudtshoorn: Ostrich Farms and Karoo Semi-Desert

Oudtshoorn sits in the Klein Karoo, a semi-arid valley in South Africa's Western Cape, roughly 60 km north of George and 430 km east of Cape Town via the N12. The town built its wealth on ostrich feathers during the late 19th-century fashion boom, and the ornate feather palaces — sandstone mansions dating from the 1890s — still line the older residential streets. Today, working ostrich farms such as Highgate and Safari Ostrich Farm receive visitors year-round, offering tours, riding demonstrations, and direct product sales.

Where to Stay and Getting Around

Most hotels and guesthouses cluster along Baron van Rheede Street and the surrounding blocks, within walking distance of the town's main restaurants and the C.P. Nel Museum. The Cango Caves — a 4 km limestone cave system — lie 29 km northwest of town and draw roughly 150,000 visitors annually. The Swartberg Pass, a 27 km gravel road engineering achievement completed in 1888 and designed by Thomas Bain, connects Oudtshoorn to Prince Albert and the Great Karoo plateau.

Practical Tips

• Climate: Summer temperatures (Dec–Feb) regularly exceed 40 °C; spring and autumn are more comfortable for outdoor activities.
• Getting there: George Airport (GRJ), 65 km south, handles daily flights from Cape Town and Johannesburg.
• Cango Caves: Book the Adventure Tour slot in advance during South African school holidays (June–July, December).
• Currency: South African rand (ZAR); most businesses accept major credit cards.