4 Best Hotels in Oudtshoorn, The Garden Route and the Little Karoo

The warmest of welcomes awaits you at this homey guest farm surrounded by the Swartberg and Outeniqua mountains. Choose to stay in the historic manor house, the lodge, or in one of the attractive stone cottages with private viewing decks. All the accommodations are comfortably furnished with wooden furnishings. The restaurant serves delicious meals sourced from the freshest local ingredients. Try some homemade soup, an ostrich fillet, or the traditional Malva pudding. Whatever you do, don’t miss the Meerkat Adventure. You’ll go out at dawn with accredited guides to a meerkat burrow. There you sit and wait until the first little sentinel pops his head out of the burrow, does a few quick stretches in the rising sun, then calls out to tell his family it’s all safe to come out. It's a wonderful way to start a morning.

Conveniently situated on the road out to the Cango Caves, this warm and friendly lodge has bright, airy rooms with modern furnishings. An attractive garden surrounds a boomarang-shaped swimming pool. In case you're wondering, the lodge's name is pronounced shlang-a-na ("meet" in Zulu).

On a working ostrich farm, this stylish guesthouse has rooms that are individually decorated with beautiful antiques, including claw-foot tubs in the bathrooms. Guests are greeted with welcome drinks in the elegant lounge of the 1902 Victorian manor house or on the verandah overlooking the valley. You'll enjoy scrumptious home cooking in the attractive restaurant. If you're keen on seeing what ostrich farming is all about, you can take an informal but informative tour with the owner. The turnoff to the farm is 7 km (4 miles) west of Oudtshoorn and is well marked from the R62.

The world's oldest working ostrich farm is still owned and managed by descendants of the original Potgieter family. This former feather palace is surrounded by spectacular red mountains and has authentically furnished accommodations. Guests can visit some of the farm’s working ostrich camps and come nose-to-beak with these magnificent birds. Be sure to book the farm visit to learn an accurate history of the ostrich industry. And spoil yourself—what about a gorgeous ostrich purse or feather boa? The restaurant serves delicious lunches and dinners of locally sourced produce.