.jpg)
Safari Holidays to South Africa and Namibia for independent travellers.
Contact Phone Numbers
0845 838 2450
Local rate in the UK
0800 981 420
Toll free in SA
Other +44 1932 268230
Route 62 is the tourist route that meanders between Cape Town and the Garden Route and onto Port Elizabeth, offering the scenic alternative to the N2 highway. The ever-changing colours of the majestic mountains, scenic passes, rivers, vineyards and orchards offers an unforgettable drive.
Montagu is very popular with overseas visitors. Approximately a 2 hour drive from Cape Town, this peaceful town is steeped in history and is famous for its awe inspiring rock formations, orchards, vineyards, local herbs and healing hot mineral springs.
Sanbona Wildlife Reserve
At the foot of the Warmwaterberg between Montagu and Barrydale on the Route 62 lies the stunning Sanbona Wildlife Reserve - 54,000 hectares of undulating mountains and plains, indigenous fauna and flora, rock formations and rock art.
The sheer expanse and stark beauty of the reserve gives one a sense of humbleness, the realization of the inconsequentialities of life, and a temporary release of the daily stresses of everyday living.
Overnight guests here can traverse the landscape of the reserve with a qualified ranger in comfortable open Land Rovers. During the drive, be it in the early morning or for sundowners, various species of plants, animals, big game and birds can be seen. Sundowner evening drives offer spectacular displays of light as the evening sun sets over the Little Karoo.
Sanbona has also initiated a unique conservation programme that aims to breed the white lion for release into the wild.
Oudtshoorn
Oudtshoorn is about a 5 hour drive from Cape Town, and just 55 km north of George on the Garden Route. This is the tourist 'mecca' of the Little (or Klein) Karoo, and is famous for its ostrich farms.
Before the First World War, thousands of ostriches were bred on farms across the area, primarily to service the growing fashion trend for ostrich feathers. Today, there are still many breeding farms, but the main tourist attraction are the Ostrich Show Farms. The most popular ones are the Highgate Ostrich Show Farm, the Safari Ostrich Show Farm and the Cango Ostrich Show Farm.
Daily 2 hour tours include a visit to the hatcheries, where you can see the eggs and the chicks (in season), as well as close up encounters with the ostriches themselves - there is nothing quite like 'kissing' an ostrich for a unforgettable 'wildlife' experience ! Or if this doesn't appeal, try standing on an ostrich egg - it is pretty impossible to break one, so you don't have to worry about embarrassing yourself! Several farms also finish their tours with a 'Derby' style ostrich race, ridden by local jockeys.
Cango Caves
The impressive Cango Caves are 30 km from Oudshoorn. The caves are illuminated to show some of the biggest stalagmite formations in the world.
The standard tour, which lasts about an hour, enables visitors to experience the best and largest of the chambers and cave formations on offer.
The 90 minute Adventure tour leads to a series of confined and mysterious tunnels and interspersed chambers with names like Lumbago Alley, the Crystal Palace, Tunnel of Love, Coffin, Post Box and the famous Devils Chimney. Because of the popularity of this tour among the young (and adventurous!) at heart, the numbers are limited and it is strongly advised to book in advance to avoid disappointment.
You can quite easily visit both an ostrich farm and the Cango Caves in a morning, and then head off towards Cape Town or the Garden Route to continue your holiday adventure.
About Us | Travel Links | Site Map | Privacy | Terms & Conditions | Contact Us | ©2003-2008 Travel Butlers Ltd.