The Langeberg Mountain
range along the eastern part of the historic Route 62, forms a natural barrier
between the fertile farmlands of the Breede River valley and the sunburned
rock garden of the Little Karoo. Fertile valleys are linked to the Garden
Route on the one side and the ‘Groot Karoo’ on the other side by rugged,
beautiful mountain passes such as the spectacular old “Seweweekspoort
Pass”, the “Huisves Pass” and Schoemanspoort.
Along the Klein Karoo
part of Route 62 you pass through the picturesque towns of Barrydale known for
its Joseph Barry Potstil Brandy; Ladismith at the foot of the Swartberg
mountain; and the historic mission stations of Amalienstein and Zoar where
life goes on in the traditional way.
CALITZDORP is reknowned
as the Port wine capital of South Africa but offers a variety of other
attractions including Bushmen rock art and hot mineral springs.The Boplaas
Brandy Cellar has been exporting brandy to London since the 1800s and at the
Grundheim Brandy Cellar the Grundling family have farmed the land for more
than a 100 years.
OUDTSHOORN the capital
of the Ostrich feather industry was the world centre for ostrich farming in
Victorian times. Many grand houses ("feather palaces") date from
1810 and are kept in pristine condition.
The CANGO CAVES is an
enormous complex of caves where strange and wonderful shapes are formed by the
stalactites and stalacmites and stretch deep into the Swartberg Mountains. A
visit to THE CANGO OSTRICH FARM, on the Cango caves/Oudtshoorn road will give
you insight into the history of this strange bird – the ostrich.
Continue east on Route
62 with the Kammanassie Mountains and the Kouga Mountain ranges flanking the
long fertile valley called ‘Langkloof’, one of South Africa’s oldest
farming communities. This eventually narrows down to a small valley in the
shadow of the Tsitsikamma mountains as you make your way back to the coast
crossing the N2 Highway to Port Elizabeth.
It is also possible to
return to the coast from Oudtshoorn through the R328 and the scenic ROBINSON
PASS to Mossel Bay or on the OUTENIQUA PASS to George, Wilderness lakes and
Knysna.
