Region: Little Karoo

Properties in the Little Karoo region.

Karoo and Little Karoo Region

Little Karoo & Karoo

Weather in Little Karoo

Summer (November – March) Temperatures can rise to 40C but evening and overnight temperatures will be a pleasant 19C. It will be very dry with little humidity at this time.

Autumn (May/June) Temperatures will rise to a high of 27C but overnight temperatures can fall to 4C. There may be the odd day of rain

Winter (June – August) Temperatures can rise to 18C  and overnight are likely to be close to 4C. Rain, although not prevalent, is more likely at this time of year. there will be some beautiful days and cold, crisp nights.  Snow is very rare at low levels but can fall on the mountains in July and August.

Spring (September/October) Temperatures will rise to 18C and at night can go as low as 4C. There is likely to be some rain.

The Little Karoo is sandwiched between the Outeniqua and Swartberg mountains. The climate is much hotter and drier than the coast but is ideal for rearing Ostriches. There are excellent luxury boutique hotels as well as more affordable bed & breakfast lodges with a truly South African welcome. Oudtshoorn is the centre of the Ostrich industry and you will see numerous extravagant ‘Feather Palaces’ built during the boom years at the beginning of the 20th century. But these amazing creatures are not all the region offers. At the Cango Wildlife Ranch you can spend time with Cheetahs which are a part of a breeding and conservation programme. For the more adventurous, the Cango Caves are an extensive system with spectacular stalactites and stalagmites. There are frequent tours and, for the fit, there is a chance to experience some ‘real’ caving. The area is a hiker’s paradise. Hiking in the beautiful mountain passes or even a trek down into Die Hel (The Hell). This secluded valley and isolated farming community, reached from the top of the Swartberg Pass, was largely untouched until the gravel road was built in the 1960s. The Karoo is known by the original Khoisan (Bushman) inhabitants as ‘The Place of the Great Dryness This is the vast central area of South Africa, semi desert, dotted with hills (kopjes) and bounded by great mountain ranges. Prince Albert is just one of the delightful little towns that are a feature of this impressive landscape.

Places to go in Karoo & Little Karoo

  • Towns  Oudtshoorn is the centre of the Ostrich industry, sleepy Calitzdorp is renowned for its Port wineries and Prince Albert is a green oasis with fine Victorian architecture.
  • Wildlife  The main Ostrich show farms and Feather Palaces are close to Oudtshoorn which also boasts the Cango Wildlife Ranch where you are able to play with the cheetah cubs!
  • Crafts  Ostrich leather and fine handmade Karoo wool rugs in Prince Albert.
  • Mountains & Hiking The region has some of the best hiking in the country but we recommend spring & autumn.
  • Festivals  The annual Ostrich Festival in Oudtshoorn takes place in June and in Prince Albert the Olive Festival takes place in August.

Accommodation in Little Karoo

There are excellent luxury boutique hotels as well as more affordable bed & breakfast lodges with a truly South African welcome. You will be truly amazed at the quality of accommodation!

Swartberg Hotel, Prince Albert

Traditional style in the Victorian gem of Prince Albert

The Swartberg Hotel has been operating for 150 years, is a national monument and has been fully refurbished and updated.  This is a great country hotel offering  accommodation in reasonably sized en suite rooms with air conditioning and many with beautiful antique furniture complimenting the beautiful wood floors. The restaurant is well regarded locally and in the warm summer evenings a cool beer on the stoep dripping with colourful bougainvillea is a must.

About the Location

Prince Albert is the town where time has stopped. Established in the Victorian era, the area specialises in rearing Karoo Lamb (also a local delicacy), citrus fruit and olives. The town boasts an excellent, small, leather shop and an outlet, which specialises in hand made rugs and other woollen items all made in Prince Albert. You are close to the spectacular Swartberg Pass and Meiringspoort Pass.


Saxe Coburg Lodge

Saxe Coburg Lodge, Prince Albert

Old world charm in a comfortable lodge with excellent service

We love the hospitality at this small seven-room lodge – almost opposite the Swartberg Hotel. Some of the rooms are in the historic old house and four are in cottages in the grounds overlooking the distant Swartberg Mountains. There is also the possibility of accommodating a family in a suite of 3 bedrooms with two bathrooms, a small kitchen and a room housing memorabilia from the Boer War. A sumptuous breakfast is served by the owners either in the dining room or on the stoep overlooking the gardens.

About the Location

In the grounds you will see the property’s own dam, which stores water for irrigation purposes. This is fed by the interesting channels which go down each side of the main street and once a fortnight a sluice is opened allowing the owners to replenish their dams. As this indicates this is a very dry area with limited rainfall. The owner can arrange guided hiking tours into the Swartberg Mountains and into the mysterious Gamkaskloof (called ‘The Hell’ locally) which is a valley cut off from the rest of civilisation until the early 1960s. Alternatively you can enjoy the local produce based on Karoo Lamb, Olives and citrus fruit.


Queen’s Hotel, Oudtshoorn

Queen’s Hotel, Oudtshoorn

Traditional South African Country Hotel with a regal history

A delightful oasis set in the centre of hot, dusty Oudtshoorn. This is a timeless, if slightly impersonal, hotel frequented in 1947 by the British Royal Family on their trip to the, then, Union of South Africa. The hotel has  undergone extensive renovation and the 40 rooms are clean cut with extensive use of cooling white most with en suite bathrooms. The lounge and dining room are beautifully decorated and the reception area with its black and white floor tiles and rich yellowwood staircase is a local landmark. There is a small pool in a very private garden.

About the Location

This is a good base from which to explore the sights of the region including Ostrich leather workshops and retail outlets, Cango Wildlife Ranch where you can stroke Cheetah (5 minutes drive), Ostrich show farms (a number within 10 minutes’ drive), The Cango Caves (20 minutes’ drive and the Swartberg Pass (45 minutes away).


Rosenhof, Oudtshoorn

Rosenhof, Oudtshoorn

Luxury Boutique Hotel in Oudtshoorn

This is a charming, and popular, small hotel on the outskirts of Oudtshoorn. The 12 bedrooms and two executive suites are mostly arranged in small cottages around a central, gassy courtyard set aside from the principal Manor House. This has the beautiful dining room and lounge as well as the reception area. As you can see from the pictures the rooms are of a generous size with big bathrooms.  The emphasis is on luxury and this shown to great effect in the two bed roomed executive suites, which are complete with their own plunge pool. There is a pool for general use. This is a property, which continues to get very good reviews from our clients and this is in part to the great hospitality shown by the staff.

About the Location

The lodge is on the edge of Oudtshoorn in a quiet residential location. The Cango Wildlife Ranch is a 5 minute drive and the Cango Caves are 15 minutes away. There are several ostrich ‘Feather Palaces’ within a short drive as is the great headquarters of ‘Ostrich International’ for an amazing variety of ostrich leather goods.


Eight Bells Mountain Inn

Eight Bells Mountain Inn, Robinson Pass, Garden Route

Eight Bells Mountain Inn is great for families in a beautiful location

Eight Bells is a charming, well-established country inn in the midst of the beautiful Robinson Pass over the Outeniqua Mountains between Mossel Bay (30 minutes’ drive) and Oudtshoorn (20 minutes’ drive).  Accommodation is very comfortable mainly in cabin style rooms and suitable for children. The Inn is unusually well equipped for children with a good pool, snooker table and horse riding. For the energetic, the surrounding countryside is good for hiking particularly in the spring and autumn (September / October and April / June). The restaurant provides good food and we recommend trying their milk tart.

About Eight Bells’ Location

The inn is close to two Ostrich show farms. These are based on two ‘Feather Palaces’ built at the end of the 1800s and  you will be able to experience these intriguing birds up close. In the nearby town of Oudtshoorn you can find some excellent outlets for goods made out of ostrich leather. You are also fairly close to the beaches between Mossel Bay (rather industrial) and Wilderness (approximately a 30 minute drive). If you are feeling energetic, drive the Swartberg Pass. The pass is a mainly gravel road approximately 45 minutes’ drive from Eight Bells. Just before you arrive at the pass, you will see the world renowned Cango Caves which are definitely worth visiting. Once on the pass, at the summit (in Afrikaans called Die Top) you will see a road to Die Hel. You can drive 2 1/2 hours into a valley that was left undisturbed by modern life until 1962. At the far end of the pass, you will arrive at pretty Prince Albert. A shorter drive will take you to Calitzdorp which is the centre of South African port production. You will be able to visit some excellent port wineries.

The Retreat, Groenfontein, Nr Calitzdorp

The Retreat is one of our favourites for getting away from it all

The owners, who live on site, have developed this property as a farm and a haven for guests who want something a little different. The atmosphere is very relaxed and The Retreat is located along the quiet and almost timeless Groenfontein Valley.  There are 8 rooms including two sizeable suites. 5 of the rooms have wood fires for those cooler winter nights. They are beautifully appointed with the decor harking back to an historic farmstead. The lounge and dining room lead onto a stoep (veranda) overlooking the sweeping gardens and the majestic Swartberg Mountains. Food is a specialty at The Retreat and the owners pride themselves on very high standards of local cuisine. There is a very welcoming pool in the luxuriant gardens that is a haven after the heat of the day. Rates include a three-course dinner and a traditional hearty South African breakfast – vegetarians are particularly welcome.

About The Retreat’s Location

The well-maintained gravel road runs between Calitzdorp and Schoemanshoek. You will be welcomed by the owners who can arrange hiking of all grades in the Swartberg Mountains that dominate the horizon. At certain times of the year, spring and autumn, they can also arrange a three-day hike into the mysterious, hidden valley known as Die Hel!   Calitzdorp is approximately 20kms away and is renowned as the unofficial ‘capital’ of South Africa’s Port industry. The Cango Caves are close by and can afford a worthwhile excursion. The caves can be hot and humid and there is an extended excursion for the adventurous that include some real, if fairly modest, caving. Note that in mid summer (January & February) this location can be exceptionally hot although very dry.


De Opstal

De Opstal, Schoemanshoek, Nr. Oudtshoorn

De Opstal is an unusual, generally high standard accommodation at a very affordable price in a great location
De Opstal is a unique and comfortable accommodation in historic converted typical Little Karoo farm buildings. There are 21 rooms and suites to choose from. These include a converted milking shed and cow stable to large Pool, Pond and Garden Suites each with their own private patio. Many of the rooms have beautiful cape reed ceilings and are furnished in country style – all with large en suite bathrooms. The property dates back to 1830 and has been owned by the same family for the entire period. Some of the rooms are suitable for families. For some people the age of the buildings may be regarded as rather rustic and you should not expect 5 star luxury. Breakfasts are a hearty meal. In the evenings you can enjoy the excellent local cuisine (Ostrich is a feature) in atmospheric surroundings.

 About De Opstal’s Location

Schoemanshoek is one of those idyllic locations, which are so rare. The village is set in the foothills of the Swartberg mountain range near the stunningly attractive Schoemanspoort Pass.  This is approximately 10 minutes drive from Oudtshoorn on the road to the Cango Caves. Hiking can be arranged and you can visit the Swartberg Pass with its extraordinary road to Die Hel (The Hell) from the summit. This was an isolated community until the 1960s and is now a living museum. Close to De Opstal, you will find Ostrich Farms. It is a short drive to some extraordinary ‘Feather Palaces’, The Cango Wildlife Ranch and retailers that specialise in Ostrich leather.


Altes Landhaus, Schoemanshoek, Nr. Oudtshoorn

Altes Landhaus is an oasis in the Little Karoo set among lush gardens

Altes Landhaus is a hundred year old farmhouse that was originally built as a rectory for the local church. The house is surrounded by beautiful gardens and is set among the grandeur of the Swartberg Mountains as a backcloth. In season (normally October / November) the soft lilac blooms of the Jacaranda trees add a distinctly exotic touch. This is a small, exclusive hotel with seven suites and two double rooms. The owners provide every luxury and the rooms are air-conditioned. Dinner can be provided on request.

 

About Altes Landhaus’ Location

This is an excellent base from which to explore the surrounding countryside and Little Karoo region. This is the centre of the once booming Ostrich industry producing feathers and leather for the fashion industry. At the turn of the 1900s, vast fortunes were made supplying the fashion houses in Paris, London and New York. Wealthy farmers built grand houses known as Ostrich Palaces. A number of these still exist and remain Ostrich farms that you can visit and learn about these fascinating creatures. You can buy Ostrich products such as belts, purses, shoes and handbags. You will be paying a fraction of the price you will pay in Europe or North America. From Altes Landhaus  it is a short drive to the world renowned  Cango Caves. Here you can experience the main cave system with relative ease but for the fit, there is also an extended trip which will introduce you to more challenging caving – not for the faint-hearted or those who suffer from claustrophobia! While you are here, you should drive the spectacular Swartberg Pass. This is a gravel pass with sweeping views over the little Karoo in one direction and the great Karoo in the other. At the other side of the pass you can visit charming Prince Albert which seems to be caught in a Victorian time warp. It is also the centre of South Africa’s olive industry and you will also be able to indulge your taste buds in some excellent restaurants. Be sure to try the Karoo lamb!

You can also visit South Africa’s Port capital of Calitzdorp where there are a number of wineries where you can taste the product.