Swartberg Mountains
From Hermanus we drove to Oudtshoorn (see our map in earlier blog). Oudtshoorn is surrounded by ostrich farms and is known as the “ostrich capital of the world.” Apparently the warm climate and loamy soil are perfect conditions for growing the alfalfa type plant that is the favorite diet of ostriches. In the late 1800s during the Victorian era, feathers were in style. Farmers in this area grew wealthy.
We were not particularly interested in the town itself but we wanted to drive through the Swartberg Pass and on to Prince Albert. Sally Jo had read that “through the loops and switchback of the Pass, the entrance to Prince Albert is considered one of the most dramatic drives and entries to a town imaginable.” It was! On the circular drive back to Oudtshoorn we stopped at a small waterfall.
As we left Oudtshoorn the next day, we drove past a private wildlife reserve. From the road we saw giraffe and gazelle.
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- ostrich farm
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- foothills
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- Swartberg Mts
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- road heading to Pass
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- checking the view
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- heading to Pass
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- together
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- at the Pass
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- Mountains
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- roads!
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- after the Pass
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- in a gorge
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- waterfalls
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- foothills
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- in the valley
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- giraffe
