This section is dedicated to take away all your "I wish someone had told me that before I went!" experiences. This way, you can spend less time settling in, and more time making new friends in your chosen hostel. We share our insider knowledge of tips, tricks and important things to look out for in Oudtshoorn.
Located in the Klein Karoo region, Oudtshoorn, South Africa, is just over sixty kilometers north of George and the N2 highway that runs from Durban all the way to Cape Town. Oudsthoorn is sandwiched between the Outeniqua and Swartberg Mountains, offering hikers a number of trails ranging from day walks to overnight hikes. The scenery is spectacular, especially during the winter months when the mountain ranges get snow. If you have wheels, then a recommended drive is over the Swartberg Pass via the Cango Caves, down into Port Albert with its gorgeous old townhouses, then back to Oudtshoorn via De Rust and Meiringspoort Waterfall. This route has mountains continuously in view, great views from the passes, and the beautiful route through the mountains via a gorge carved out by the ancient river, towards tiny De Rust.
Oudtshoorn is also the ostrich farm capital of South Africa, and any drive in or out of the town will pass at least one working farm, many of them offering tours.
The Cango Caves are a short drive out of town. These are the only show caves in Africa and reveal amazing stalagmite and stalactite formations that have taken hundreds of thousands of years to form. The caves also housed the original San Bushmen inhabitants of the region some eighty thousand years ago.
Oudtshoorn is a high point on any traveler's South African trip and has a wide range of accommodation. Budget travelers will find an excellent choice of hostels in Oudtshoorn, South Africa, all of which can organize trip into the mountains, the caves, ostrich farms, or wildlife reserves. Oudtshoorn, South Africa hostels are a great place to meet up with other travelers to split the cost of a car, or to catch a lift around the Klein Karoo.
There's so much to see and to in and around Oudtshoorn, travelers should budget for at least two full days here, particularly if hiking in the beautiful mountain scenery takes your fancy. All the hostels in Oudtshoorn, South Africa, can link you up with guides and they all have discount vouchers to the caves, farms, and some restaurants for their guests.
Oudsthoorn is a terrific place to spend time and should be an essential stop on any traveler's itinerary, but wrap up warm in the winter months -- it gets below zero at night!
Written by local enthusiast for Oudtshoorn hostels
LondonroadMa
