If you and your family are looking for some quality time, off the beaten track, plan a Klein Karoo road trip to Oudtshoorn. Secret Getaway Co-Founder Andrea Britt recently celebrated her birthday with a family getaway at Swartberg Country Manor.
As vegans, they were inspired by the rave foodie review shared by a Secret Getaway member. But they found so much more to enjoy in the Little Karoo. Andrea shares these highlights from her family travel trip...
Swartberg Manor's Patat Restaurant is a gem
"There are quite a few quaint country stays to enjoy in the area but Swartberg Country Manor has the one unique gem, which is its Patat Restaurant," says Andrea.
GETAWAYS >> Explore Country Stays
"We did have foodie expectations as one of our members Jess Barker (thanks, Jess!) had travelled to Swartberg Country Manor earlier in the year and raved about her stay. Her whatsapps were exactly the motivation I needed to explore Oudtshoorn, instead of just using it as a pitstop to somewhere else."
The food prepared by chef Pierre Basson is a definite highlight, adds Andrea.
The irony of the Karoo being well-loved for its lamb is not lost on her, describing her family's Vegan food journey to be as tricky as the area's famous Swartberg Pass itself.
"As vegetarians aspiring to be full vegans, I always worry whether our dietaries will be too complex.
"On the first night Pierre served us an incredible pasta dish, home style, in the middle of the table. It had a ratatouille sauce enhanced with roasted aubergine.
"I think my husband had three servings! The girls loved it as well. That first family meal just set us up to relax and feel very welcome."
"We had a biker group join us in the restaurant one night and they had huge pizzas served up as their mains, which looked incredible.
"Pierre (and the whole team) were warm, personal with guests sharing tables and the hub of the whole establishment really is the restaurant and deck in front."
Klein Karoo Organic Foodie Heaven
Andrea shares that the appeal of this rather underrated vegan foodie destination is further enhanced by the Swartberg Manor's "incredible veggie garden, right next to the ostrich pen and sheep enclosure".
"It gave me proper garden envy. They have a massive pomegranate tree at one end, and garden beds overflowing with rows of courgettes, red peppers, and all the herbs imaginable."
Secret Insider Vegan Traveller Tip:
Andrea says, "Being a healthy vegan isn't always possible! My advice is to call in advance. It helps to prepare the establishment and your expectations.
"And the various dietaries vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free get well confused. I'd say so far we were most surprised at staying at Kagga-Kamma, which was amazingly well-prepared with plant based menu options."
Swartberg Mountain Views for Days...
"My family stayed in one of the Swartberg Country Manor's Karoo Style Cottages. And my goodness, what views! The gardens are incredibly well-manicured, which frames the horizon perfectly," says Andrea.
There are a total of three Karoo Style Cango Cottages. Each Cottage has a built-in-braai facility and a comfortable veranda overlooking the Swartberg Mountains.
"When you sit on the verandah you can watch the occasional car snake up the Swartberg Pass in the far distance.
"There is a fully stocked bar with reasonably priced wines, a good selection as well, and board games. This means you can just chill at Swartberg. If it was warmer we might have enjoyed the pool as well," says Andrea.
What to do in the area?
For Andrea and her family, Swartberg Manor was the ideal base from which to explore the surroundings of Oudtshoorn.
Swartberg Nature Reserve
"As you head out of the farm and turn left, you go to Oudtshoorn and the Cango Caves. Or you can turn right and drive past the Swartberg Nature Reserve, " says Andrea.
The Swartberg Nature Reserve falls under Cape Nature. They renovated the abandoned cottages into self-catering units for extreme adventurers who come to tackle the infamous Gamkaskloof's Die Hel 4x4 road.
"There are just so many viewpoints along the dirt roads of 'Die Hel', so I imagine it would be super fun to mountain bike along as well," adds Andrea.
There is also the Swartberg Game Reserve in the area, home to two of the Big 5: Buffalo and Leopard. Other sightings include Giraffe, Cape Mountain Zebra as well as over 20 species of other antelope. It's also a birdwatchers must-do with a staggering 887 bird species, and counting.
This, however, is not a self-drive game reserve and you need to book to experience the 1.5hr scenic game drive across its slopes of the Swartberg Mountain.
If you do Swartberg Nature Reserve's Die Hel:
- Swartberg 4x4 Route R200 per vehicle
- Contact: 087 087 9262 | Instagram: @giraffe_walks
If you go to Swartberg Game Reserve:
- Game Drive: R550 pp. 16h00 daily
- Giraffe Walk: R650 pp. 08h00 and 15h00 daily
- Contact: [email protected] | 079 254 7000 |
Instagram: @giraffe_walks
A Special Cango Caves Experience
"The Cango Caves was super quiet for once, with much fewer tourists, but that in itself was an experience amazing to witness.
"I doubt we will ever feel like the only people in there, ever again."
The 20 million year-old Cango Caves system located in Precambrian limestones at the foothills of the Swartberg is one of SA's most popular tourist caves and usually attracts hundreds of visitors, including school tours. The numbers dropped considerably due Covid-19 restrictions, but the tours are now fully operational.
If you go to:
- Website: cango-caves.co.za
- Tour details:
The Heritage Tour - Daily from 09h00 – 16h00 | Admission Fees: Adults: R 170.00, Children: R 120.00
The Adventure Tour visiting the deepest sections of Cango one. Daily from 9:30 am – 3:30 pm | Admission Fees: Adults: R 240.00, Children: R 170.00 - Contact: (0)44 272 7410 | Email:[email protected] | Instagam: @cango_caves
Explore the surrounding quaint towns
Andrea adds, "We've never travelled to Oudsthoorn as a final destination. It has always been a stop on the way towards Plett or Addo. So it was a revelation to stop and really explore the area.
"Just past the reserve, there are incredibly quaint little towns, like Kruisriver, with wonderful art galleries.
This renovated school building is the home to the exhibition of Roger Young’s hand carved wooden pieces Other works include creative bags; hats and baskets from "Wildest Dreams', made by Phyllis Midlane.
If you go:
- Website: Everyoungphotography.co.za
- Open: Daily 9h00-17hoo, but close for Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Years day
- Contact: [email protected]
The Swartberg Pass lends itself to exploring the many stops, so well. Andrea adds, "That road is so breathtaking. It is an incredible visual reminder of the natural splendour all around us in South Africa, and also how crazy road builders used to be!"
"We descended into Prince Albert, yet another Karoo gem."
Prince Albert is on the Swartberg Circle Route, linking the Great Karoo to the Klein Karoo.
Meiringspoort with its soaring cliffs and astounding rock formations are favourite with extreme adventure enthusiasts. Other interesting villages include Klaarstroom and the small town of Leeu-Gamka.
Insider Road-Trip Tip:
Andrea adds, "This was a spontaneous family holiday very much worth repeating... perhaps in summer this time so we can enjoy the pool, instead of the very cosy fireplace inside (and on our stoep- which we didn't use).
"For the kids it really was an amazing destination to be able to run on the lawns, gorge themselves on the pomegranates and visit the 'crazy' ostriches as they pirouette around and chase their own tail feathers.
"This felt like a road trip but best of all even the dirt roads were easy to drive and had plenty of stops on the way."
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