4 Best Sights in The Garden Route and the Little Karoo, South Africa

Between Oudtshoorn and Prince Albert, the huge and stunningly beautiful 20-million-year-old Cango Caves, filled with weird and wonderful stalactite and stalagmite formations, are deservedly one of the most popular attractions in the area. Only a small fraction of the caves, which extend for several miles through the mountains, is open. There's some damage from vandals, especially to the first chamber, but things get more magnificent the more the tour progresses. One of the highlights is Cleopatra's Needle, which stands 29 feet high and is at least 150,000 years old. You can choose between two tours: the hour-long standard tour and the aptly named adventure tour, which lasts 1½ hours. The latter is exhilarating, but the temperatures and humidity are high, there's not much oxygen, and you'll be shimmying up narrow chimneys on your belly, wriggling your way through tiny tunnels, and sliding on your bottom. Wear old clothes and shoes with a good tread.

This museum focuses on Oudtshoorn's boom period at the beginning of the 20th century when ostrich feathers were all the rage. There’s a section on the contributions of Lithuanian Jews to the economic development of Oudtshoorn that contains a reconstruction of the town's first synagogue. The most interesting remnants of the glory days are the magnificent palaces built by successful farmers. Most are private homes, but you can visit the Le Roux family's townhouse, built in 1909 and furnished in period style. Check out the Art-Nouveau stained glass panels. It forms part of the C. P. Nel Museum.

One of the least commercialized ostrich farms, Cango has guides that explain the bird's extraordinary social and physical characteristics. There are lots of interactive opportunities, including feeding and petting the ostriches and posing with one for a photo. From September to February, you may see babies hatching. The farm is conveniently located en route to the Cango Caves. 

The name is a bit misleading, as this is really just a glorified zoo, crocodile farm, and cheetah-breeding center, but it is great fun, especially for kids. In addition to the crocodiles and cheetahs, you may see white Bengal tigers and lions. Other attractions include a snake park, a tropical house with giant fruit bats, and enclosure with pygmy hippos. In short, there are loads of different animals to keep the little ones amused for hours.