Little Karoo

Home World Africa South Africa Little Karoo

Little Karoo

is a pleasant scenic area

of open ranges and historic villages

a great alternative to the busy coast road

Little Karoo is located in the Western Cape region of South Africa.

Throughout this region the Cape Folds Mountains lie in long east-west bands, pushed up over the millennia as the African continent has gently collided with the Antarctic plate.

These mountain ridges serve as barriers to the seasonal rains that come in from the ocean. South of the first ridge lies the Garden Route, a green and pleasant land of thick forest and rich farmland. North of the last ridge lies the Great Karoo, an endless desert which extends all the way north to meet the Kalahari Desert.

Sandwiched in between these two areas lies the Little Karoo, a wonderful mix of arid landscapes and irrigated farmlands, with a light smattering of characterful small villages and centred on the ostrich capital of Oudtshoorn.

There’s no really big attractions in this region, more an accumulation of subtle experiences which add up to make it one of the most alluring places in the country.

It’s one of our favourite areas to visit and the R62 route that navigates west to east through the area is definitely preferable to the busy N2 highway of the Garden Route to the south.

Our usual favourite routing is to drive out from Cape Town to a stop at Franschhoek in the Cape Winelands, before continuing east to enter the Little Karoo at Montagu. After a suitable amount of weaving along the various back tracks of the area and staying in at least one lovely little guest-house, you can then cut down to the coast through the fabulous Prince Albert Pass (a very dramatic dirt road indeed) to pop out at the far end of the Garden Route and the lovely Nature’s Valley area. Now that’s a proper road trip!

The R62 highway is an alternative inland route to the busy N2 coastal road east from Cape Town.

It provides access to the beautiful landscapes, characterful small towns and wildlife reserves of the fabulous Little Karoo.

Although the R62 is relatively quiet, the real pleasure comes in diverting onto the smaller dirt roads.

Montagu is a pleasant little town which guards the pass at the western entrance to the Little Karoo.

Sanbona is the best safari area within easy driving distance of Cape Town.

Calitzdorp is a modest little town, but with some interesting accommodation options.

The main town of Oudtshoorn is of great historic significance, but busy and rather touristy these days.

Gallery

Map

Set in the Little Karoo, Calitzdorp is a modest agricultural town with an historic centre and some pleasant traditional guest houses. The area contains some great scenery, interesting back road routes and one particularly good rural lodge on the scenic drive below the dramatic Swartberg Pass.

remote area renowned for heavier port wines

Calitzdorp is a moderately interesting little place which is best known as a centre for the production of port wine.

South of the busy main road lies an historic quarter of relaxed streets and well maintained buildings.

But the real joy of the Calitzdorp area is staying at one of the remote and off the beaten track farmsteads.

Our favourite is Groenfontein Retreat, which is tucked away in its own private valley.

Another real highlight is to traverse the epic Swartberg Pass over the mountains to Prince Albert in the Great Karoo.

Go to Calitzdorp

Set in the Little Karoo, Montagu is a substantial town that guards a pass through the Langeberg Mountains. It’s a pretty little place with some decent Victorian architecture, which is particularly renowned for the production of dried fruit.

a pretty town, renowned for dried fruit

Montagu guards the northern end of an important pass through the Langeberg Mountains, entrance to the Little Karoo.

It is a genuinely pleasant little place with a nice compact centre around the main church.

The locals are extremely proud of the quality dried fruit that is produced here.

The village contains several pleasant little guesthouses.

Whilst the out of town Galenia Estate offers some decent hiking.

Most of our guests simply pass through Montagu, but it can certainly feature in slower paced explorations of the region.

Go to Montagu

Set in the Little Karoo, Oudtshoorn is a substantial and busy agricultural town, whose impressive Victorian architecture dates back to when this place was the world centre for the production of ostrich feathers. These days the place is a little bit touristy, but not without charm and interest.

a major town, renowned for ostrich farming

Oudtshoorn is a large town, set along a ribbon of rich agricultural land, famous for once being the ostrich capital of the world.

Also in this area are the famous and popular Cango Caves.

Another real highlight is to traverse the epic Swartberg Pass over the mountains to Prince Albert in the Great Karoo.

The area has a good number of decent places to stay, notably in the village Schoemanshoek just to the north.

Go to Oudtshoorn

Set in the Little Karoo, Sanbona is a relatively large 540 square kilometres reserve, containing a good range of wildlife, including lions and elephants. Guest accommodation is in a handful of high quality lodges. A nice way to slide a bit of wildlife into a Cape only trip.