Little Karoo

The Little Karoo lies behind the coastal Garden Route and it’s altogether different. It is drier country than the Garden Route with majestic rugged mountains, country roads and lots of farmland. (Indeed it is often dry and sunny in the Little Karoo when the Garden Route is cloudy).

As its name suggests, the Little Karoo is the younger sister of the Great Karoo. It is a long and scenic valley that lies between the Swartberg and Langeberg mountain ranges. The Klein Karoo, (it's name in Afrikaans), supports the biggest variety of succulent plants in the world. This fascinating part of South Africa is where you’ll find the Cango Caves, a truly spectacular natural wonder.

You can sample the excellent wines of the Little Karoo over lunch at a working ostrich farm or visit the Cango Caves, a labyrinthine complex of some of the largest limestone caverns in the world. The intrepid will be captivated by the wild beauty of the Swartberg Pass to Prince Albert and the mysterious hidden valley of Die Hel. Whilst children will adore seeing the big cats at the Cango Wildlife Ranch, learning about ostriches, and cringing at the crocodile and snake farm.

We recommend staying at least one night at accommodation in the Little Karoo as it is quite a drive from Knysna, let alone Plettenberg Bay. We especially recommend the Little Karoo for families and people who enjoy being active and on the go. Accommodation in the Little Karoo ranges from working ostrich farms, to country lodges to even game lodges.

Articles to Read:

Things to do with Kids on the Garden Route (and Little Karoo)