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Get to Know Oudtshoorn
Race an ostrich, cage dive with crocodiles, crawl through the Devil’s Chimney and drive one of South Africa’s most scenic mountain passes.
Oudtshoorn in South Africa’s Western Cape is home to a collection of rather quirky attractions. The Karoo town lies in the foothills of the Swartberg mountains and is an ideal place to base yourself when you are exploring the Klein, or Little, Karoo, a semi-arid region in the interior.
Prepare to be overwhelmed by ostriches; Oudtshoorn is the global capital of these large birds, with the biggest population of ostriches in the world. Attend an ostrich derby, sample some ostrich-neck stew (it tastes better than it sounds) at one of the town’s many excellent restaurants, or visit one of the “volstruis paleis” or ostrich palaces, the mansions of the ostrich feather barons who once flourished here. Most of these elaborate Victorian houses have since been converted into guesthouses or restaurants.
