Things to Do in Oudtshoorn: A Surprisingly Quirky Adventure Destination
If you’re looking for a South African getaway to somewhere a little offbeat and charming, Oudtshoorn in the Western Cape is the place to go. While it is known as the “ostrich capital of the world” and has a reputation as a sleepy historical town that had a feathery heyday a century ago (two feathery heydays actually), there’s so much more to this place. Oudtshoorn is the perfect destination for some quirky, unconventional and exhilarating adventures.
Here are some suggestions for fun and unusual things to do in Oudtshoorn:
*I was a guest of Cape Country Routes, Cango Caves and Ford but all thoughts and opinions are my own.
Experience an Ostrich Neck Massage
Oudtshoorn’s ostriches are not just useful for their feathers and meat. Remember those fish pedicures where fish eat the dead skin off your feet? Well, those are so five years ago! If you’re looking for an unconventional self-care experience, “Ostrich neck massages” are the next big thing!
At Safari Ostrich Farm you can embark on an ostrich tractor safari (yes, really). Then, with your back to these pretty intimidating-looking creatures, you can hold a container of ostrich food in one or both of your hands and “enjoy” (if that’s the right word) the sensation of these birds vigorously rubbing their necks against yours as they devour the food. It may not be the most relaxing massage that you will ever experience but you won’t forget it in a hurry.
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| Tractor safari |
You’ll also get to stand on an ostrich egg and pose for a photo with ostrich feather accessories. I found the “things found inside an ostrich's stomach” display to be rather fascinating. (Keep your eye on your car keys during that massage.)
You Can Go on a Walking or Mountain Biking Safari
If you’re looking for an unconventional safari experience and the ostrich tractor safari didn’t quite do it for you, Wildehondekloof Private Game Reserve is a massive 4000-hectare reserve with no dangerous predators, so visitors can experience wildlife by mountain bike or on foot. — I’m not saying I did, I’m just saying you can. I tried to do a walking safari but then I got rained on so I did a traditional game drive instead - which was also amazing!
Then I participated in a human safari for the animals where they came to our accommodations to graze in the late afternoons to see how many humans they could spot having tea or sundowners on their verandas as the sun sets.
Read about my stay at Wildehondekloof here:
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You Can Climb up the Devil’s Chimney at the Cango Caves
To describe the Cango Caves as impressive or awe-inspiring is a bit of an understatement. I’ve yet to see any pictures or videos that do this place justice. Considering the sheer size of these caves and the spectacular rock formations found in them, even its title as one of the Seven Wonders of Southern Africa doesn’t quite cut it.
Two tours are available. While just visiting these 20-million-year-old limestone caves on the Heritage tour makes for a memorable experience, for the adventurous, you can also do the Adventure Tour which means going deeper into the caves and braving your way through their somewhat daunting crawl spaces.
Here, you can squeeze yourself through the “Tunnel of Love” where the rocks feel like they’re hugging you from both sides and then manoeuvre your way through “the Devil’s Chimney” (yes, it’s every bit as scary as it sounds). On the other side, you can slide through a formation known as “the Letterbox”. It feels like the rocks are rebirthing you as a braver version of yourself.
You Can Be Serenaded by a Viral Sensation
While the Devil’s Chimney at the Cango Caves makes the list of the scariest things I’ve ever put myself through (kicking sky-diving to number two), you may not even have to do the Devil’s Chimney to have your mind blown.
Leigh-Ann is a tour guide who had been working at the Cango Caves for 23 years when she was catapulted into the spotlight when a travel blogger in her tour group happened to record her “testing the acoustics” with a rendition of Ave Maria. This lady can sing! The story was published on many a news platform after the TikTok video (by someone who goes by the handle @theSharonicles - sounds familiar) wracked up 300,000+ views.
@thesharonicles Orchestra performances used to take place in this cavern and it's not hard to see (or rather hear) why. It's hard to tell from this video, but I was awestruck by the sheer volume of this "hall" which could easily accommodate an orchestra and an audience. It turns out there is one here that's three times the size (but not accessible to the public). Thanks so much, Leanne, for singing for us. #cangocaves #acoustics #avemaria #chills #bucketlist #oudtshoorn #travelsouthafrica ♬ original sound - Sharon Waugh
Get Up Close to a Meerkat
If you want to see wildlife of a different kind, at 5 Shy Meerkats (that is the name of the company - there are actually a lot more meerkats than just five) you can witness these elusive and adorable creatures.
This experience requires getting to 5 Shy Meerkats just before dawn. After your guide (in our case JD Glinister) directs you to where the meerkat family has their burrow and you arrange your camping chair in full view, it’s not too long before the meerkats come looking for the same early morning sunbeam that you are basking in. I got to see a family of 15 surprisingly vertical meerkats!
One of the best things about this experience is you get to see these creatures up close in a completely ethical way. Absolutely no touching or feeding is permitted and the company goes to great lengths to ensure that the human visitors don’t have any negative effects on the animals’ well-being. I went on a winter morning and while it was a bit chilly, seeing these adorable creatures in their natural environment is sure to warm your heart.
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| Unlikely animal friends: Rodrigo and Timon |
You Can Drive Route 62
This picturesque route, often dubbed South Africa's answer to Route 66, winds its way through the heart of the Little Karoo. As you drive, you'll be greeted by rolling landscapes, quaint towns and stunning mountain vistas. The drive itself is an adventure, filled with opportunities to taste local wines, sample delicious Karoo cuisine and simply soak in the tranquillity of the South African countryside. There are also a number of quirky roadside attractions along the way like Diesel & Crème, Smitswinkel and the famous Ronnie's Sex Shop.
Diesel & Crème
Smitswinkel
Wildehondekloof Private Game Reserve, Safari Ostrich Farm and 5 Shy Meerkats are all members of the Cape Country Routes, a curated selection of high-quality accommodation and activity offerings that are owner-run and managed. If you do decide to road trip, check out some of their other offerings in Oudtshoorn and along Route 62.
My group traveled in the Ford Everest 3.0 V6 Platinum which added to the adventure. The 12-inch touchscreen for our GPS helped us find our way there. We also had plenty of space for five ladies, comfortable seats and all the features you could want in a car like USB charging stations and cupholders for our roadside coffee.
While we’re on the subject of driving, Oudtshoorn is only a 1 hour 40 min drive from Knysna, so if you want to extend your adventure, I have some suggestions:
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So there you have it – Oudtshoorn in all its quirky, feathered glory! Whether you’re getting up close and personal with ostriches, spelunking through cave chimneys or basking with meerkats at dawn, this little town packs a surprising punch. Just remember: embrace the weirdness, pack a sense of humour and keep an eye on your car keys!
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