2 days – sleeping one night •
3 days – sleeping two nights
4 days – sleeping three nights •
Adventure Toure •
OPTION 1
2 days – sleeping one night
Main features:
Cango Caves • Ostrich Farm • Balloon Drifting optional
Cango Wildlife Ranch • Klein Karoo International
Itinerary:
Day 1
- Arrive Oudsthoorn early afternoon and check-in at Hlangana Lodge to collect your travel vouchers at reception.
- Visit the world famous Cango Caves – Africa’s largest show cave and one of the Seven Wonders of Southern Africa. (Annexure A )
- Back to Oudtshoorn, stop at the Cango Ostrich Farm where you have the opportunity to “ hug and kiss” an ostrich. For those brave enough - ride an ostrich. (Annexure B )
- Back at Hlangana Lodge, spend the rest of the afternoon relaxing around the large salt water swimming pool while soaking up the African sun.
- For dinner, enjoy local cuisine at one of the top restaurants in town.
Day 2
- After breakfast, depart for a daring wildlife experience at the Cango Wildlife Ranch. Touch a cheetah or Cage Dive with a real Nile Crocodile. (Annexure D )
- Return to town and visit the Klein Karoo Co-op’s “Hallmark of Quality” for a large selection of Ostrich leather and feather products. Treat yourself with a new ostrich leather handbag, ostrich leather shoes or perhaps a feather boa.
- After the wild experience and some shopping, time to depart for your next destination.
Annexure A:
Ecologically significant and impressively beautiful, the Cango
Caves – Africa’s largest show caves and one of the Seven Wonders
of Southern Africa – are the archaeological and historical highlight
of the Klein Karoo.
The Cango Caves is one of the worlds great natural wonders, sculptured
by nature through the ages - fascinating limestone formations in a
wide variety of colours. An underground wonderworld.
Trained guides are at hand to conduct visitors along the magic paths
of the world's finest stalactite cave. According to legend the caves
were discovered during 1780. Early visitors had to brave the pitch
darkness of the vast caverns from the poor light of self made candles.
Over the years improvements took place and today modern technology
makes it possible that all the wonders of the cave are skillfully
illuminated for the benefit of visitors.
The Cango Caves are an absolute must for all domestic and/or foreign
tourists - if you miss the Caves, you might as well have stayed home.
Annexure B:
Cango Ostrich Farm is located in the lush Cango Valley, 14 km outside
of Oudtshoorn on the main route towards the world famous Cango Caves -
making it easy to find and your trip more time efficient.
Cango Ostrich Farm offers comprehensive and complete information
regarding the ostrich - and ostrich industry.
Information and tour includes:
- the eggs, incubators and chicks (in season)
- to hug and kiss our super friendly female - Linda
- to feed the ostriches by hand
- to sit on the ostriches
- and for the daring type, to ride the ostriches (within weight limits)
and to stand on the eggs (no weight restrictions).
Farm tour every 20 minutes and the duration of a tour is +/- 45 minutes. Multi-lingual guides available (English, Afrikaans, German and French.)
The style ensures a "hands-on" experience during the guided tour.
The spacious authentic Curio Shop offers a range of Ostrich products:
- Exclusive leather golf - and handbags feather boas
- Biggest variety of decorated and plain Ostrich eggshells
- A large variety of trinkets and souvenirs
- Ostrich pate's, biltong and other delicatessen also available.
The Wine House offers Little Karoo wines from a large variety of the
local cellars. A wine tasting session of the local wines is available
with meals - pre-booking is essential.
The farm environment is visitor & disabled friendly and easily accessible.
The farm layout ensures shady conditions for those who want it.
Annexure D:
Explore it! Cango Wildlife Ranch is just like the name says: a ranch,
where most of the animals are free to roam in their natural habitat.
They love all the attention from our visitors, and care provided by staff.
THE GOOD.....
Cango Wildlife Ranch is international recognized for its far-reaching
conservation efforts. We are the leading breeders of cheetah in Africa,
and one of the largest in the world. Go ahead, touch a furry friend.
( Our cheetahs are as tame as kittens! ) To touch a cheetah an entry fee
towards our conservation fund is required - minimum age is 16 years.
Take the Catwalk, a raised walkway which leads you through natural bushveld
where Africa's Big Cat live. Here you will see cheetah, lion and jaguar
in action in their natural habitat.
You'll discover their habits and find out fascinating facts about these
noble creatures. ( Did you know the cheetah is the fastest mammal on
earth? Or that jaguars are expert fisherman? Or that cougars can leap 13 meters? )
THE BAD.....
Then there are the ones you don't want to cuddle with. Slithering
snakes alive! They're huge, they're tiny, they're colorful and they're
slimy. They will amaze you. Snakes from al over the world, from the 4 meter
boa constrictor to the 40 cm Copperhead Viper. Look but don't touch!
AND THE UGLY!!
Imagine more than 400 crocodiles and alligators lounging leisurely in all
their prehistoric ugliness. We breed our own crocs. Zindago is our biggest
beast - a man eater boasting 4,6 meters from the biting end to the tip of
the tail. They're awfully nice characters, really. As long as you don't
get too close!
EXPERIENCE THE THRILL
Our other friends include Clyde the Camel, Winston the Warthog
( a real beauty ), Herbert and Hilda the Pygmy Hippos, Twinkle and
Tarok the Otters, many flamboyant flamingos, pretty proud peacocks
and many more...
You will love the croc-kebab and the croc and ostrich meals.
( Surf and Turf ) You guessed it: our friends the animals, grazing
contently while you have your meal at our fully licensed restaurant.
Like the rest of the Ranch, its open every day of the year.
Run the race against extinction with us whilst having the time of you
life – Cango Wildlife Ranch, the conservation heart of the Little Karoo!
Rate: 01/11/2005 – 31/10/2006
R811 pp
R981 single
Rate: 01/11/2006 – 31/10/2007
R830 pp
R1008 single
Rate includes:
- Pre-paid vouchers to listed tourist attractions
- Up-market 4 Star accommodation at Hlangana Lodge ( B&B )
Excludes:
- Snacks and drinks
- All other activities not mentioned on tour program.
- Transport to and from tourist attractions and restaurants.
- Dinner at local restaurant
Optional:
Hot Air Balloon ride as an early start the next morning.
The Balloon Drifters team offer an unforgettable adventure while you
experience peace and tranquility as you float over the Karoo landscapes.
Minimum 2 guests. ( Pre-booking essential )
More info
Experience - the unique sensation of Hot Air Ballooning in the Klein Karoo.
Drifting on a gentle breeze, you will enjoy a sense of peace and tranquility;
Enjoying the panoramic view of Oudtshoorn and the majestic Swartberg Mountain
range, which will stay with you forever.
Balloon Flights, enjoyable by all - It requires no special effort or training
other than rising a little earlier than usual for some; to meet early-morning at
the launch site. While you enjoy a cup - we prepare the Balloon for the flight.
Shortly before sunrise, and the pre-flight briefing, you will join the pilot in
the basket for take-off. Your adventure begins when we gently rise and float away
in the crisp morning breeze! After landing the retrieve crew will meet us and
whisk you off to a sumptuous breakfast.
OPTION 2
4 days – sleeping three nights
Main features:
Cango Wildlife Ranch • Buffelsdrift Game farm • Hot Air Ballooning
De Rust • Meiringspoort • Prins Albert • Swartberg Pass
Cango Caves • Ostrich Farm • CP Nel museum
Grundheim Wines • Klein Karoo International
Itinerary:
Day 1
- Arrive Oudsthoorn early afternoon and check-in at Hlangana Lodge
to collect your travel vouchers at reception.
- After refreshments, depart for a daring wildlife experience at
the Cango Wildlife Ranch. Touch a cheetah or Cage Dive with a real Nile Crocodile. ( Annexure A )
- Back at the lodge, freshen up and depart for Buffelsdrift Game
Farm for a closer view of game roaming the vast open Karoo plains.
After the sundowner game drive, dinner will be served at either the Buffelsdrift
bush restaurant or one of the top restaurants in town. ( Annexure B )
Day 2
- Early morning, a hot cup of tea / coffee awaits you at the launching
site of the Balloon Drifters team.
They offer an unforgettable adventure while you experience peace and
tranquility as you float over the Karoo landscapes. ( Annexure C )
- After a hearty breakfast, depart for a little town called Prins Abert
via Meiringspoort. ( Annexure D )
- Have your camera handy to capture the breathtaking views of the Little
Karoo when traveling back from Prins Albert to Oudtshoorn via the Swartberg Pass. ( Annexure E )
- Visit the world famous Cango Caves – Africa’s largest show cave
and one of the Seven Wonders of Southern Africa. (Annexure F )
- On your way back to Oudtshoorn, stop at the Cango Ostrich Farm where
you have the opportunity to “ hug and kiss” an ostrich. For those brave
enough….. ride an ostrich. (Annexure G )
- Return to Hlangana Lodge, spend the rest of the afternoon relaxing
around the large salt water swimming pool while soaking up the African sun.
- For the evening, enjoy local cuisine at one of the top nearby restaurants.
Day 3
- After breakfast, visit the CP Nel Museum to experience some of
Oudstshoorn’s historical moments ( Annexure I ).
- Just outside Oudtshoorn, visit the Grundheim wine celler.
Apart from the Muscadel and the Port, the cellar is also renowned
for its “witblits” made in a traditional brandy-still. ( Annexure J )
- Return early afternoon to visit the Klein Karoo Co-op’s “Hallmark
of Quality” to view a large selection of Ostrich leather and feather
products. Treat yourself with a new ostrich leather handbag or ostrich leather shoes.
- After shopping at the Co-op, spend some time in the sun or enjoy a well deserved siesta.
- Enjoy the last evening, dining under the Karoo stars at one of the local restaurants.
Day 4
- After breakfast, time to say good-bye and depart for your next destination.
Annexure A:
Explore it! Cango Wildlife Ranch is just like the name says: a ranch, where most
of the animals are free to roam in their natural habitat. They love all the
attention from our visitors, and care provided by staff.
THE GOOD.....
Cango Wildlife Ranch is international recognized for its far-reaching
conservation efforts. We are the leading breeders of cheetah in Africa,
and one of the largest in the world. Go ahead, touch a furry friend.
( Our cheetahs are as tame as kittens! ) To touch a cheetah an entry fee
towards our conservation fund is required - minimum age is 16 years.
Take the Catwalk, a raised walkway which leads you through natural bushveld
where Africa's Big Cat live. Here you will see cheetah, lion and jaguar in
action in their natural habitat.
You'll discover their habits and find out fascinating facts about these
noble creatures. ( Did you know the cheetah is the fastest mammal on earth?
Or that jaguars are expert fisherman? Or that cougars can leap 13 meters? )
THE BAD.....
Then there are the ones you don't want to cuddle with. Slithering snakes
alive! They're huge, they're tiny, they're colorful and they're slimy.
They will amaze you. Snakes from al over the world, from the 4 meter boa
constrictor to the 40 cm Copperhead Viper. Look but don't touch!
AND THE UGLY!!
Imagine more than 400 crocodiles and alligators lounging leisurely in all
their prehistoric ugliness. We breed our own crocs. Zindago is our biggest
beast - a man eater boasting 4,6 meters from the biting end to the tip of
the tail. They're awfully nice characters, really. As long as you don't get
too close!
EXPERIENCE THE THRILL
Our other friends include Clyde the Camel, Winston the Warthog ( a real beauty ),
Herbert and Hilda the Pygmy Hippos, Twinkle and Tarok the Otters, many flamboyant
flamingos, pretty proud peacocks and many more...
You will love the croc-kebab and the croc and ostrich meals. ( Surf and Turf )
You guessed it: our friends the animals, grazing contently while you have your
meal at our fully licensed restaurant. Like the rest of the Ranch, its open
every day of the year.
Run the race against extinction with us whilst having the time of you life –
Cango Wildlife Ranch, the conservation heart of the Little Karoo!
Annexure B:
In September 2005 the best-kept secret in the Klein Karoo opened its gates
to all nature lovers and wild life enthusiasts.
Buffelsdrift Game Lodge is a sprawling game farm in the Cango Valley at the
foot of the Swartberg Mountains. Pristine bushveld, lush vegetation and a 5
ha dam is a haven for 20 game species and more than 217 bird species.
Situated 7 km outside Oudtshoorn, en route the Cango Caves, the lodge is in
the heart of ostrich country, half-an-hour's drive from the Swartberg Nature
Reserve.
Trained guides will escort you on the bush safari drive of your choice,
getting you close to nature. Ice-cold sundowners are served on the deck
of the open bar against African sunsets in the company of kudu, giraffe,
elephant, Cape Mountain zebra, hippos and other water creatures. The a la
carte restaurant (120 people) offers some of the best local cuisine and for
those who prefer lingering under the stars next to an open fire, the Lapa
is the perfect choice.
Annexure C:
Experience - the unique sensation of Hot Air Ballooning in the Klein
Karoo. Drifting on a gentle breeze, you will enjoy a sense of peace and
tranquility; Enjoying the panoramic view of Oudtshoorn and the majestic
Swartberg Mountain range, which will stay with you forever.
Balloon Flights, enjoyable by all... - It requires no special effort or
training other than rising a little earlier than usual for some; to meet
early-morning at the launch site. While you enjoy a cup - we prepare the
Balloon for the flight. Shortly before sunrise, and the pre-flight briefing,
you will join the pilot in the basket for take-off. Your adventure begins
when we gently rise and float away in the crisp morning breeze! After landing
the retrieve crew will meet us and whisk you off to a sumptuous breakfast.
Annexure D:
Meiringspoort - Soaring cliff walls with spectacular rock formations line
the 25 km tarred road which winds along the floor of the gorge, crossing the
Groot River 25 times. Each crossing, or drift, has its own name and story -
stop at the Waterfall information site to learn more. Following spectacular
floods which caused great damage, the road has been reconstructed over the
past two years at a cost of R70 million. Meiringspoort was officially re-opened
by the Western Cape Premier, Gerald Morkel, on 20th October 2000.
The first road through the poort was constructed between 1856 and 1858. by
Adam de Schmidt. The road through the poort is a remarkable engineering feat,
but the overwhelming features of a drive through Meiringspoort are the wonders
of nature. The folds of the Table Mountain sandstone strata tower above the
road, constantly changing colors as you move through sunlight and shade. Hardy
plants, including indigenous pelargoniums, cling to the precarious rock faces
while birds, baboons and smaller fauna abound in the protected kloofs and
crevices. Among the most scenic spots is the Skelm tumbling into a dark pool
which, legend has it, is bottomless. (In 1938 it stopped flowing for the first
time in human memory). A beautiful mermaid was said to live in the pool at
the foot of the waterfall. During the 1996 floods a story circulated that
she had been washed out of the pool, down the Groot and Oliphants rivers
and out to sea. She had been caught in a fisherman's net and taken to the
CP Nel Museum in Oudtshoorn, where she was preserved in spirits! The Museum
was overwhelmed with telephone calls and visitors keen to see the mermaid!
Annexure E:
Once considered impenetrable, there are now three gateways, Swartberg Pass,
Meiringspoort and the Seweweekspoort, linking the Central Karoo with the
Little Karoo and the coast. Both Meiringspoort and the Swartberg Pass
falls within the Swartberg Nature Reserve. Both offer geological and
natural splendors and both were spectacular engineering feats.
Swartberg Pass, considered as one of the most spectacular mountain passes
in the world, is a hard surface gravel road winding up to the Swartberg
summet about 1 583 meter above sea level. This mountain range divides
the Great Karoo from the Little Karoo area. Driving up the zig zag road,
breath-taking views awaits you at every turn.
You can wonder at the folds of the Table Mountain sandstone strata which
constantly changing colour as you move through sunlight and shade.
Look out for the bright green lychen - an indicator of the sparkling
clear, pollution-free air which we enjoy.
Swartberg boast 130 species of bird-life. Watch out for black eagles.
Baboons, klipspringers and dassies are often seen along both routes.
You might also see kudu and grey rhebuck. Leopard, karakal and jackals
also roam the mountains, but are rarely seen.
Vegetation includes renosterveld, mountain fynbos, Karoo-veld, spekboom
veld and numerous geophyte species. Tenacious succulents, pelagoniums and
other hardy plants cling to rock faces. On the plateau at the top of the
Swartberg Pass and down towards the Oudsthoorn side you will drive through
mountain fynbos, in autumn this stretch is bright with erica's and
proteas - lookout for sugar birds and sunbirds.
In winter you can see snow on the Swartberg - where temperatures drop
well below freezing. (in summer we experience temperatures of 40oC and more.)
The natural characteristics of the Pass are magnificent – as are the
man-made features. This was Thomas Bain's last engineering masterpiece.
His construction philosophy, which has stood the test of time was:
"Good hat and good boots".
Annexure F:
Ecologically significant and impressively beautiful, the Cango Caves –
Africa’s largest show caves and one of the Seven Wonders of Southern
Africa – are the archaeological and historical highlight of the Klein Karoo.
The Cango Caves is one of the worlds great natural wonders, sculptured
by nature through the ages - fascinating limestone formations in a wide
variety of colours. An underground wonderworld.
Trained guides are at hand to conduct visitors along the magic paths of
the world's finest stalactite cave. According to legend the caves were
discovered during 1780. Early visitors had to brave the pitch darkness
of the vast caverns from the poor light of self made candles.
Over the years improvements took place and today modern technology makes
it possible that all the wonders of the cave are skillfully illuminated
for the benefit of visitors.
The Cango Caves are an absolute must for all domestic and/or foreign
tourists - if you miss the Caves, you might as well have stayed home.
Annexure G:
Cango Ostrich Farm is located in the lush Cango Valley, 14 km outside of
Oudtshoorn on the main route towards the world famous Cango Caves -
making it easy to find and your trip more time efficient.
Cango Ostrich Farm offers comprehensive and complete information regarding
the ostrich - and ostrich industry. Information and tour includes:
- the eggs, incubators and chicks (in season)
- to hug and kiss our super friendly female - Linda
- to feed the ostriches by hand
- to sit on the ostriches
- and for the daring type, to ride the ostriches (within weight limits)
and to stand on the eggs (no weight restrictions).
Farm tour every 20 minutes and the duration of a tour is +/- 45 minutes.
Multi-lingual guides available (English, Afrikaans, German and French.)
The style ensures a "hands-on" experience during the guided tour.
The spacious authentic Curio Shop offers a range of Ostrich products:
- Exclusive leather golf - and handbags feather boas
- Biggest variety of decorated and plain Ostrich eggshells
- A large variety of trinkets and souvenirs
- Ostrich pate's, biltong and other delicatessen also available.
The Wine House offers Little Karoo wines from a large variety of the local
cellars. A wine tasting session of the local wines is available with
meals - pre-booking is essential.
The farm environment is visitor & disabled friendly and easily accessible.
The farm layout ensures shady conditions for those who want it.
Annexure I:
The CP Nel Museum owes its origin to the private collection of Colonel
Charles Paul Nel, who was a successful businessman and a collector of
antiquities. A day before his death in 1951, he officially entrusted
his collection to a Board of Trustees. Over the years the collection
has been considerably enlarged.
In 1972 the CP Nel collection was brought to its present home - the
former Oudtshoorn Boys' High School. As a result of this, the sandstone
building, with its beautiful clock tower, was saved from demolition. It
was designed by Charles Bullock and erected in 1906. The School Hall,
designed in the New Republican style, was erected in 1912. The building
as a whole dates back to the second "ostrich feather boom" (1900 - 1914)
and was declared a National Monument in 1981.
The museum is essentially cultural-historical in nature and endeavours to
collect, preserve, research and exhibit the unique heritage of Oudtshoorn
and the Klein Karoo.
A unique feature of the museum is the reconstruction of the St John Street
Synagogue (1896). A large jewish community, primarily from Lithuania,
immigrated to Oudtshoorn (1881 - 1890) and played a large role in the
world wide marketing of ostrich feathers.
Annexure J:
GRUNDHEIM WINE CELLAR - Just outside Oudtshoorn lies the vineyard of
Sandkoppies, home of Grundheim wines. The farm has a historic wine
cellar that is more than a hundred years old and today, wine maker Danie
Grundling builds on his forefathers’ skills and vision. Apart from the
Muscadel and the Port, the cellar is also renowned for its “witblits”
made in a traditional brandy-still.
Rate: 01/11/2005 – 31/10/2006
R 3481 pp
R 3991 single
Rate: 01/11/2006 – 31/10/2007
R 3538 pp
R 4072 single
Rate includes:
- Pre-paid vouchers to listed tourist attractions
- 4 Star accommodation at Hlangana Lodge ( B&B )
Excludes:
- Snacks and drinks
- All other activities not mentioned on tour program.
- Transport to and from tourist attractions and restaurants
- Dinner at local restaurants.
Option 3
3 days – sleeping two nights
Main features:
Cango Wildlife Ranch • Klein Karoo International • De Rust • Meiringspoort
Prins Albert • Swartberg Pass • Cango Caves • Ostrich Farm
CP Nel museum • Balloon Drifting – optional.
Itinerary:
Day 1
- Arrive Oudsthoorn early afternoon and check-in at Hlangana Lodge
to collect your travel vouchers at reception.
- After refreshments, depart for a daring wildlife experience at
the Cango Wildlife Ranch. Touch a cheetah or Cage Dive with a real
Nile Crocodile. (Annexure A )
- Return to town and visit the Klein Karoo Co-op’s “Hallmark of
Quality” for a large selection of Ostrich leather and feather products.
Treat yourself with a new ostrich leather handbag, ostrich leather shoes
or perhaps a feather boa.
- Return to Hlangana Lodge, spend the rest of the afternoon relaxing
around the large salt water swimming pool while soaking up the African sun.
- For the evening, enjoy local cuisine at one of the top restaurants nearby.
Day 2
- After a hearty breakfast, depart for a little Karoo town called Prins
Abert via Meiringspoort. ( Annexure B )
- Have your camera handy to capture the breathtaking views of the Klein
Karoo when traveling back from Prins Albert to Oudtshoorn via the
Swartberg Pass. ( Annexure C )
- Visit the world famous Cango Caves – Africa’s largest show cave and
one of the Seven Wonders of Southern Africa (Annexure D )
- On your way to Oudtshoorn, stop at the Cango Ostrich Farm where you
have the opportunity to “ hug and kiss” an ostrich. For those brave
enough….. ride an ostrich. (Annexure E )
- After the full days sightseeing, spend some time in the sun on the
verandah or around the swimming pool.
- Enjoy local cuisine at one of the top restaurants in town.
Day 3
- After breakfast, visit the CP Nel Museum. Travel back to the past and
experience some of Oudtshoorn’s historical moments. ( Annexure G )
- Depart Oudtshoorn for your next destination.
Annexure A:
Explore it! Cango Wildlife Ranch is just like the name says: a ranch,
where most of the animals are free to roam in their natural habitat. They
love all the attention from our visitors, and care provided by staff.
THE GOOD.....
Cango Wildlife Ranch is international recognized for its far-reaching
conservation efforts. We are the leading breeders of cheetah in Africa,
and one of the largest in the world. Go ahead, touch a furry friend.
( Our cheetahs are as tame as kittens! ) To touch a cheetah an entry fee
towards our conservation fund is required - minimum age is 16 years.
Take the Catwalk, a raised walkway which leads you through natural bushveld
where Africa's Big Cat live. Here you will see cheetah, lion and jaguar
in action in their natural habitat.
You'll discover their habits and find out fascinating facts about these
noble creatures. ( Did you know the cheetah is the fastest mammal on
earth? Or that jaguars are expert fisherman? Or that cougars can
leap 13 meters? )
THE BAD.....
Then there are the ones you don't want to cuddle with. Slithering
snakes alive! They're huge, they're tiny, they're colorful and they're
slimy. They will amaze you. Snakes from al over the world, from the 4
meter boa constrictor to the 40 cm Copperhead Viper. Look but don't touch!
AND THE UGLY!!
Imagine more than 400 crocodiles and alligators lounging leisurely in
all their prehistoric ugliness. We breed our own crocs. Zindago is our
biggest beast - a man eater boasting 4,6 meters from the biting end to
the tip of the tail. They're awfully nice characters, really. As long
as you don't get too close!
EXPERIENCE THE THRILL
Our other friends include Clyde the Camel, Winston the Warthog
( a real beauty ), Herbert and Hilda the Pygmy Hippos, Twinkle and
Tarok the Otters, many flamboyant flamingos, pretty proud peacocks
and many more...
You will love the croc-kebab and the croc and ostrich meals. ( Surf and Turf )
You guessed it: our friends the animals, grazing contently while you have
your meal at our fully licensed restaurant. Like the rest of the Ranch,
its open every day of the year.
Run the race against extinction with us whilst having the time of you
life – Cango Wildlife Ranch, the conservation heart of the Little Karoo!
Annexure B:
Meiringspoort - Soaring cliff walls with spectacular rock formations
line the 25 km tarred road which winds along the floor of the gorge,
crossing the Groot River 25 times. Each crossing, or drift, has its
own name and story - stop at the Waterfall information site to learn
more. Following spectacular floods which caused great damage, the road
has been reconstructed over the past two years at a cost of R70 million.
Meiringspoort was officially re-opened by the Western Cape Premier, Gerald
Morkel, on 20th October 2000.
The first road through the poort was constructed between 1856 and 1858.
by Adam de Schmidt. The road through the poort is a remarkable engineering
feat, but the overwhelming features of a drive through Meiringspoort are
the wonders of nature. The folds of the Table Mountain sandstone strata
tower above the road, constantly changing colors as you move through
sunlight and shade. Hardy plants, including indigenous pelargoniums,
cling to the precarious rock faces while birds, baboons and smaller fauna
abound in the protected kloofs and crevices. Among the most scenic spots
is the Skelm tumbling into a dark pool which, legend has it, is bottomless.
(In 1938 it stopped flowing for the first time in human memory). A beautiful
mermaid was said to live in the pool at the foot of the waterfall. During
the 1996 floods a story circulated that she had been washed out of the pool,
down the Groot and Oliphants rivers and out to sea. She had been caught in a
fisherman's net and taken to the CP Nel Museum in Oudtshoorn, where she was
preserved in spirits! The Museum was overwhelmed with telephone calls and
visitors keen to see the mermaid!
Annexure C:
Once considered impenetrable, there are now three gateways, Swartberg Pass,
Meiringspoort and the Seweweekspoort, linking the Central Karoo with the
Little Karoo and the coast. Both Meiringspoort and the Swartberg Pass
falls within the Swartberg Nature Reserve. Both offer geological and
natural splendors and both were spectacular engineering feats.
Swartberg Pass, considered as one of the most spectacular mountain
passes in the world, is a hard surface gravel road winding up to the
Swartberg summet about 1 583 meter above sea level. This mountain range
divides the Great Karoo from the Little Karoo area. Driving up the zig
zag road, breath-taking views awaits you at every turn.
You can wonder at the folds of the Table Mountain sandstone strata which
constantly changing colour as you move through sunlight and shade.
Look out for the bright green lychen - an indicator of the sparkling
clear, pollution-free air which we enjoy.
Swartberg boast 130 species of bird-life. Watch out for black eagles.
Baboons, klipspringers and dassies are often seen along both routes.
You might also see kudu and grey rhebuck. Leopard, karakal and jackals
also roam the mountains, but are rarely seen.
Vegetation includes renosterveld, mountain fynbos, Karoo-veld, spekboom
veld and numerous geophyte species. Tenacious succulents, pelagoniums
and other hardy plants cling to rock faces. On the plateau at the top of
the Swartberg Pass and down towards the Oudsthoorn side you will drive
through mountain fynbos, in autumn this stretch is bright with erica's
and proteas - lookout for sugar birds and sunbirds.
In winter you can see snow on the Swartberg - where temperatures drop
well below freezing. (in summer we experience temperatures of 40oC and more.)
The natural characteristics of the Pass are magnificent – as are the
man-made features. This was Thomas Bain's last engineering masterpiece.
His construction philosophy, which has stood the test of time was: "Good
hat and good boots".
Annexure D:
Ecologically significant and impressively beautiful, the Cango Caves –
Africa’s largest show caves and one of the Seven Wonders of Southern
Africa – are the archaeological and historical highlight of the Klein Karoo.
The Cango Caves is one of the worlds great natural wonders, sculptured
by nature through the ages - fascinating limestone formations in a wide
variety of colours. An underground wonderworld.
Trained guides are at hand to conduct visitors along the magic paths of
the world's finest stalactite cave. According to legend the caves were
discovered during 1780. Early visitors had to brave the pitch darkness
of the vast caverns from the poor light of self made candles.
Over the years improvements took place and today modern technology makes
it possible that all the wonders of the cave are skillfully illuminated
for the benefit of visitors.
The Cango Caves are an absolute must for all domestic and/or foreign
tourists - if you miss the Caves, you might as well have stayed home.
Annexure E:
Cango Ostrich Farm is located in the lush Cango Valley, 14 km outside of
Oudtshoorn on the main route towards the world famous Cango Caves - making
it easy to find and your trip more time efficient.
Cango Ostrich Farm offers comprehensive and complete information regarding
the ostrich - and ostrich industry. Information and tour includes:
- the eggs, incubators and chicks (in season)
- to hug and kiss our super friendly female - Linda
- to feed the ostriches by hand
- to sit on the ostriches
- and for the daring type, to ride the ostriches (within weight limits)
and to stand on the eggs (no weight restrictions).
Farm tour every 20 minutes and the duration of a tour is +/- 45 minutes.
Multi-lingual guides available (English, Afrikaans, German and French.)
The style ensures a "hands-on" experience during the guided tour.
The spacious authentic Curio Shop offers a range of Ostrich products:
- Exclusive leather golf - and handbags feather boas
- Biggest variety of decorated and plain Ostrich eggshells
- A large variety of trinkets and souvenirs
- Ostrich pate's, biltong and other delicatessen also available.
The Wine House offers Little Karoo wines from a large variety of the local
cellars. A wine tasting session of the local wines is available with
meals - pre-booking is essential.
The farm environment is visitor & disabled friendly and easily accessible.
The farm layout ensures shady conditions for those who want it.
Annexure G:
The CP Nel Museum owes its origin to the private collection of Colonel
Charles Paul Nel, who was a successful businessman and a collector of
antiquities. A day before his death in 1951, he officially entrusted
his collection to a Board of Trustees. Over the years the collection
has been considerably enlarged.
In 1972 the CP Nel collection was brought to its present home - the
former Oudtshoorn Boys' High School. As a result of this, the sandstone
building, with its beautiful clock tower, was saved from demolition. It
was designed by Charles Bullock and erected in 1906. The School Hall,
designed in the New Republican style, was erected in 1912. The building
as a whole dates back to the second "ostrich feather boom" (1900 - 1914)
and was declared a National Monument in 1981.
The museum is essentially cultural-historical in nature and endeavours to
collect, preserve, research and exhibit the unique heritage of Oudtshoorn
and the Klein Karoo.
A unique feature of the museum is the reconstruction of the St John Street
Synagogue (1896). A large jewish community, primarily from Lithuania,
immigrated to Oudtshoorn (1881 - 1890) and played a large role in the
world wide marketing of ostrich feathers.
Rate: 01/11/2005 – 31/10/2006
Rate: 01/11/2006 – 31/10/2007
Rate includes:
- Pre-paid vouchers to listed tourist attractions
- 4 Star accommodation at Hlangana Lodge ( B&B )
Excludes:
- Snacks and drinks.
- All other activities not mentioned on tour program.
- Transport to and from tourist attractions and restaurants.
- Dinner at local restaurants.
Optional:
This package offers the option to include a Hot Air Balloon flight on
the second morning. The Balloon Drifters team offer an unforgettable
adventure while you experience peace and tranquility as you float over
the Karoo landscapes.
Minimum 2 guests. ( Pre-booking essential )
More info…..
Experience - the unique sensation of Hot Air Ballooning in the Klein
Karoo. Drifting on a gentle breeze, you will enjoy a sense of peace and
tranquility; Enjoying the panoramic view of Oudtshoorn and the majestic
Swartberg Mountain range, which will stay with you forever.
Balloon Flights, enjoyable by all... - It requires no special effort
or training other than rising a little earlier than usual for some; to
meet early-morning at the launch site. While you enjoy a cup - we prepare
the Balloon for the flight. Shortly before sunrise, and the pre-flight
briefing, you will join the pilot in the basket for take-off. Your adventure
begins when we gently rise and float away in the crisp morning breeze!
After landing the retrieve crew will meet us and whisk you off to a
sumptuous breakfast.
OPTION 4
Adventure Toure -3 days – sleeping two nights
Main features:
Cango Wildlife Ranch • Buffelsdrift Game Farm • Hot Air Ballooning
Swartberg Pass • Cango Caves • Ostrich Farm
Itinerary:
Day 1
- Arrive Oudsthoorn early afternoon and check-in at Hlangana Lodge
to collect your travel vouchers at reception.
- After refreshments, depart for a daring wildlife experience
at the Cango Wildlife Ranch. Visit the Valley of the ancients - touch
a cheetah or Cage Dive with a real Nile Crocodile. Please do not forget
your swimwear and a towel!! (Annexure A )
- Back at the lodge, freshen up and depart for Buffelsdrift Game Farm
for a closer view of game roaming the vast open Karoo plains. After
the sundowner game drive, dinner will be served at either the Buffelsdrift
bush restaurant or one of the local restaurants in town. ( Annexure B )
Day 2
- Early morning, a hot cup of tea / coffee awaits you at the launching
site of the Balloon Drifters team. They offer an unforgettable adventure while
you experience peace and tranquility as you float over the Karoo landscapes. ( Annexure C )
- After breakfast, time to explore the Swartberg Pass. Joyrides depart
daily and starts by bus from Backpackers Paradise to the top of the Swartberg
Pass (1584m above sea level) The team supply mountain bikes and a back-up
vehicle while you back to town. ( Annexure D )
- On your way back to Oudtshoorn, visit the world famous Cango Caves
– Africa’s largest show cave and one of the Seven Wonders of Southern Africa,
for the adventure tour. (Annexure E )
- After stopping for some refreshments at Wilgewandel Holiday Farm,
the next destination allows you to ride and ostrich, the place to do it:
Cango Ostrich Farm where you have the opportunity to “ hug and kiss” an
ostrich and for those brave enough….. ride an ostrich. (Annexure F )
- After the full days sightseeing, spend some time in the sun
on the verandah or around the swimming pool while soaking up the African sun.
- Dinner will be served at one of the top restaurants in town.
Day 3
- After a well deserved late start, time to visit some of the
curio shops in town. Visit the Klein Karoo Co-op’s “Hallmark of Quality”
to view a large selection of Ostrich leather and feather products. Treat
yourself with a new ostrich leather handbag or ostrich leather shoes. At
Bushman’s Curios you will find a large selection of high quality African
curios.
- After some shopping, time to say goodbye and depart for your next destination.
Annexure A:
Explore it! Cango Wildlife Ranch is just like the name says: a ranch,
where most of the animals are free to roam in their natural habitat.
They love all the attention from our visitors, and care provided by staff.
From 15 November 2005 visitors to the Cango Wildlife Ranch will enjoy
a crocodile tour taking you back in time when the earth was young and
the ancients ruled, when man and reptile were on equal footing and
nature the only goddess.
Heart-stopping crocodile tours will be at the order of the day. Jumping
Jaws will show off the natural ability of these beasts as they leap out
of the water. Snapper Gorge will offer the adventure of a lifetime to
visitors brave enough to venture over the hang bridge.
Lemur Island will take you to exotic Madagascar and give you a peek at
the endangered ring-tailed lemur. Pygmy Hippo Village will entice you
into the heart of Africa where Pygmy people and Pygmy Hippos fight for
survival. Croc Cage diving is sure to take your breath away even if you
are only a spectator.
Included in the tour is the ever-popular Cheetahland where Tiger
Demonstrations showing you the unique bond between the trainers and
their rare white Bengal tigers will leave you in awe.
We are instigating a totally new experience in interactive tourism
combined with conservation. The new developments taking place at the
Ranch will incorporate fun into conservation and a much more hands on
experience will be offered to visitors both local and international.
Cango’s Valley of Ancients promises to be much more than you expect for
much less than you anticipate.
Jumping Jaws
The crocodile training is readying these beasts and the guides for
these demonstrations. On tour, guides will get the crocodiles to jump
out of the water grabbing strips of meat from their hands. The catch
is; the guide will be standing on a jetty in the crocodile pool while
doing these demonstrations!
Snapper Gorge
This gorge will connect you with the wooden ‘croc walk’ by means of
a hang bridge going over the dreaded Croc Cage Diving pool! Four meter
Nile crocodiles will be resident in this pool and brave visitors 12
years and older will have the opportunity of Croc Cage Diving with
these reptiles.
Lemur Island
We are welcoming ring tailed lemurs to the ranch. Lemur Island and the
lemur night house take on the look and feel of exotic Madagascar. Next
to Lemur Island a flamingo exhibit has been build which will host these
pink birds.
Pygmy Hippo Village
Herbert and Hilda’s new home complete with pygmy huts showing visitors,
Congo, the home of the Pygmy Hippo.
Spotted neck otters and Marabou storks
Little spotted neck otters are moving into their new rock pool next to
the Pygmy Hippo Village. Marabou Storks are also taking up residency in
the Valley of Ancients.
Annexure B:
In September 2005 the best-kept secret in the Klein Karoo opened its gates
to all nature lovers and wild life enthusiasts.
Buffelsdrift Game Lodge is a sprawling game farm in the Cango Valley at
the foot of the Swartberg Mountains. Pristine bushveld, lush vegetation
and a 5 ha dam is a haven for 20 game species and more than 217 bird species.
Situated 7 km outside Oudtshoorn, en route the Cango Caves, the lodge is
in the heart of ostrich country, half-an-hour's drive from the Swartberg
Nature Reserve.
Trained guides will escort you on the bush safari drive of your choice,
getting you close to nature. Ice-cold sundowners are served on the deck
of the open bar against African sunsets in the company of kudu, giraffe,
elephant, Cape Mountain zebra, hippos and other water creatures. The a la
carte restaurant (120 people) offers some of the best local cuisine and for
those who prefer lingering under the stars next to an open fire, the Lapa
is the perfect choice.
Annexure C:
Experience - the unique sensation of Hot Air Ballooning in the Klein
Karoo. Drifting on a gentle breeze, you will enjoy a sense of peace and
tranquility; Enjoying the panoramic view of Oudtshoorn and the majestic
Swartberg Mountain range, which will stay with you forever.
Balloon Flights, enjoyable by all... - It requires no special effort
or training other than rising a little earlier than usual for some; to
meet early-morning at the launch site. While you enjoy a cup - we prepare
the Balloon for the flight. Shortly before sunrise, and the pre-flight
briefing, you will join the pilot in the basket for take-off. Your
adventure begins when we gently rise and float away in the crisp morning
breeze! After landing the retrieve crew will meet us and whisk you off to
a sumptuous breakfast.
Annexure D:
Once considered impenetrable, there are now three gateways, Swartberg Pass,
Meiringspoort and the Seweweekspoort, linking the Central Karoo with the
Little Karoo and the coast. Both Meiringspoort and the Swartberg Pass
falls within the Swartberg Nature Reserve. Both offer geological and
natural splendors and both were spectacular engineering feats.
Swartberg Pass, considered as one of the most spectacular mountain
passes in the world, is a hard surface gravel road winding up to the
Swartberg summet about 1 583 meter above sea level. This mountain range
divides the Great Karoo from the Little Karoo area. Driving up the zig
zag road, breath-taking views awaits you at every turn.
You can wonder at the folds of the Table Mountain sandstone strata which
constantly changing colour as you move through sunlight and shade.
Look out for the bright green lychen - an indicator of the sparkling
clear, pollution-free air which we enjoy.
Swartberg boast 130 species of bird-life. Watch out for black eagles.
Baboons, klipspringers and dassies are often seen along both routes.
You might also see kudu and grey rhebuck. Leopard, karakal and jackals
also roam the mountains, but are rarely seen.
Vegetation includes renosterveld, mountain fynbos, Karoo-veld, spekboom
veld and numerous geophyte species. Tenacious succulents, pelagoniums
and other hardy plants cling to rock faces. On the plateau at the top
of the Swartberg Pass and down towards the Oudsthoorn side you will drive
through mountain fynbos, in autumn this stretch is bright with erica's
and proteas - lookout for sugar birds and sunbirds.
In winter you can see snow on the Swartberg - where temperatures drop
well below freezing. (in summer we experience temperatures of 40oC and more.)
The natural characteristics of the Pass are magnificent – as are the
man-made features. This was Thomas Bain's last engineering masterpiece.
His construction philosophy, which has stood the test of time was:
"Good hat and good boots".
Annexure E:
Ecologically significant and impressively beautiful, the Cango Caves –
Africa’s largest show caves and one of the Seven Wonders of Southern
Africa – are the archaeological and historical highlight of the Klein Karoo.
The Cango Caves is one of the worlds great natural wonders, sculptured
by nature through the ages - fascinating limestone formations in a wide
variety of colours. An underground wonderworld.
Trained guides are at hand to conduct visitors along the magic paths
of the world's finest stalactite cave. According to legend the caves
were discovered during 1780. Early visitors had to brave the pitch
darkness of the vast caverns from the poor light of self made candles.
Over the years improvements took place and today modern technology makes
it possible that all the wonders of the cave are skillfully illuminated
for the benefit of visitors.
The Cango Caves are an absolute must for all domestic and/or foreign
tourists - if you miss the Caves, you might as well have stayed hom
Annexure F:
Cango Ostrich Farm is located in the lush Cango Valley, 14 km outside
of Oudtshoorn on the main route towards the world famous Cango Caves -
making it easy to find and your trip more time efficient.
Cango Ostrich Farm offers comprehensive and complete information
regarding the ostrich - and ostrich industry. Information and tour includes:
- the eggs, incubators and chicks (in season)
- to hug and kiss our super friendly female - Linda
- to feed the ostriches by hand
- to sit on the ostriches
- and for the daring type, to ride the ostriches (within weight limits)
and to stand on the eggs (no weight restrictions).
Farm tour every 20 minutes and the duration of a tour is +/- 45 minutes.
Multi-lingual guides available (English, Afrikaans, German and French.)
The style ensures a "hands-on" experience during the guided tour.
The spacious authentic Curio Shop offers a range of Ostrich products:
- Exclusive leather golf - and handbags feather boas
- Biggest variety of decorated and plain Ostrich eggshells
- A large variety of trinkets and souvenirs
- Ostrich pate's, biltong and other delicatessen also available.
The Wine House offers Little Karoo wines from a large variety of the
local cellars. A wine tasting session of the local wines is available
with meals - pre-booking is essential.
The farm environment is visitor & disabled friendly and easily accessible.
The farm layout ensures shady conditions for those who want it.
2 days – sleeping one night •
3 days – sleeping two nights
4 days – sleeping three nights •
Adventure Toure •
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