Little Karoo

The Little Karoo (or Klein Karoo) is a fertile valley enclosed by several mountain ranges. To the north of the region are the Swartberg mountains, while to the south, obscuring the ocean, stands the Langeberg-Outeniqua range. Easily accessible from the coast, it is an ideal extension to any trip along the famous Garden Route.

The Little Karoo is typified by its semi-arid climate, which supports a rich variety of plants and succulents. The short winter rains are followed by warm spring and summer weather that creates a stunning show of colour in the vineyards, mountains and passes that define the region.

The main town in the Little Karoo is Oudtshoorn. This quaint town, steeped in history, is a perfect base from which to explore the wider region. Also of note are Montagu, an old spa town dating back to the 1850s, and Calitzdorp, which is famous for its wines and ports.

In and around Little Karoo, South Africa
It is possible to travel through most of the Karoo region via Route 62, which runs parallel to the Garden Route - the coastal route between Port Elizabeth and Cape Town. This inland route is one of the most scenic journeys in South Africa, covering dramatic mountain passes and fertile foothills. Yet it attracts relatively few visitors, and feels less developed and touristy than the Western Cape's coastal hotspots.

This is changing, and recent years have seen a number of hotels and guesthouses open up in the Klein Karoo. For many years the region was regarded as a bit of a backwater, a bastion of Afrikaner conservatism, but as with much of South Africa the last 20 years have brought great change.

Little Karoo's main attraction is its beautiful scenery and pleasant climate, but there are also a number of places to stop and sights to experience. Oudtshoorn is home to the largest Ostrich population in the world and a number of specialist Ostrich breeding/show farms. A network of wine routes also runs through the region linking many of the wineries - rustic little spots compared to the upmarket wineries found in the Cape Winelands.

The labyrinthine Cango Caves, located just outside Oudtshoorn at the base of the Swartberg Mountain range, can be explored on a guided tour. There are no national parks in the Klein Karoo, but on the opposite side of the Swartberg range you'll find Karoo National Park, more notable for its dramatic scenery than its game.