Photo by Vberger – Own work, Public Domain, Wikipedia
Winter has arrived with a vengeance and the Klein Karoo is bristling with fresh growth and greenery after the bountiful rain of the previous week. And even though the damaging floods are humbling at best, the people of the Klein Karoo will always remain grateful for the much-needed water in a region whose name literally translates to the Khoikhoi phrase, ‘The Land of Thirst’.
Winter marks the end of the bustling tourist season, which means that visitors to the region can now enjoy its offerings without feeling rushed. Gone are the busses full of camera-wielding holidaymakers, the queues at activities and sights, and that feeling of just being a face in a crowd. Now travellers can move at their own pace, easily get that table at the local restaurant, and “have the place to themselves”, so to speak!
Winter provides the crisp and chilly weather that calls for large log fires, hearty soups and stews, glasses of local wine and the visual splendour of the occasional snow-capped mountain peak. The Swartberg Mountain Range, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, offers top-notch experiences like Seweweekspoort, Meiringspoort, Die Hel, the Swartberg Pass and the infamous Cango Caves – enough to keep any wanderer busy for at least a day or three.
Winter also means the start of the ostrich breeding season. Eggs weighing up to 1.2kg each are guarded by mom during the day and by dad at night, keeping them warm and safe until the little ones hatch. In addition, the hatcheries are filling up and getting ready for the imminent season, providing visitors with the unique opportunity to witness this magical process.
So, if your winter holiday plans are still a little vague, think no further. Book your accommodation at Berluda in Schoemanshoek outside Oudtshoorn and let us pamper you with the best of local food and wine, Meerkat encounters and Ostrich Farm tours, and the most central proximity to all that the Klein Karoo has to offer.