After spending a few wonderful days in Mossel Bay, it was onto Oudtshoorn (pronounced oats-hor-on) via the small city of George. Oudtshoorn felt a lot like my home in Adelaide, it has a much warmer climate than any of the coastal towns along South Africa’s garden route, and had a very dry, dusty and arid landscape, much like that of South Australia. Oudtshoorn often gets missed by those travelling along the garden route, but it is very much worth the (semi) slight detour.
The Cango Caves are one of several notable attractions to the Oudtshoorn area. Located about a 30 minute drive out of Oudtshoorn, the Cango Caves are absolutely amazing limestone caves, with incredible natural formations that are guaranteed to take your breath away. There are two tour options, the Heritage tour and the Adventure tour, and I am sure that you can guess which tour I chose to join! The Adventure tour is somewhat physically demanding in that it soon becomes incredibly hot and humid within the caves, and there are a LOT of steps to climb. There are several narrow and shallow caves that require kneeling, crouching, sliding and climbing, but even those of average fitness levels shouldn’t struggle with this. I found that the biggest difficulty was not slipping over on the wet and slippery cave floors! Hot tip: wear closed toed shoes with some heavy duty grip.
I should also say that my photographs definitely do not do the caves justice! They are far more large and magnificent than I was able to capture.
Next on the agenda was a short drive to the Cango Ostrich Farm where the main attraction is that you can attempt to ride one of these enormous animals. It certainly isn’t an easy feat and it should be noted that only people weighing less than 75kg are eligible to ride. If riding ostriches isn’t your thing, you can feed them, hug them and stand on real eggs to test the claim that they will be able to support your weight.
Next it was onto my final destination, and the real reason that I had come to Oudtshoorn, the Cango Wildlife Ranch. The ranch is a bit like a zoo, offering guided tours through to see and observe all the animals, but the main difference is that the park offers animal encounters, allowing you to get up close and personal with selected animals, including crocodiles! Crocodile cage diving was what I had really come for, and I could not wait to get up close and personal with one of these magnificent creatures. For only around $34 AUD you are able to spend quite a while observing a huge croc! I must admit, I should have found the experience at least a little bit scary, but in true Ellen style, I was more excited than nervous!
After my crocodile dive I also took the time to hang out with some cheetahs and lemurs before walking back to the centre of Oudtshoorn.
When I returned to my hostel – Karoo Soul – I discovered that buying milk in bags is apparently a thing in South Africa and witnessed what is hands down one of the most beautiful sunsets I have ever seen.
THE LOWDOWN
Nights spent in Oudtshoorn: 3
Number of days over 40 degrees celcius: 3
Don’t forget to pack: Sunscreen
Mode of transport: Shuttle organised with Backpacker’s Paradise hostel
Crocodile cage diving – am I totally nuts or would you be brave enough to give it a go?
That all looks freaking awesome. The caves looked amazing (normally yawn) that massive croc, gorgeous cheetahs. Ostriches which are so gangly and weird but still awesome. All so good 🙂
What a journey! I think I might be brave enough to try being so up close and personal with the crocs! 🙂
Of course I would try it! Why not! Looks like you had a great time! Loved the pictures!
Ok, I HAVE to hand it to you – I’d way way way rather swim with a crocodile (in a cage like yours…) than interact with ostriches. They terrify me! Haha! Your whole excursion looks so incredibly fun. Aside from the cheetah, the lemurs looked like they were probably the most fun! How cool! And the crocodile encounter… just wow! What was your favorite part?
Well done for diving with crocodiles! Don’t think I would do that – shark diving doesn’t do it for me either 🙂 You are right that Oudtshoorn is worth taking a detour to do. Interesting that it reminded you of Adelaide. (I have not been there but will put it on the list for my next trip to Oz.)
Wow, cheetahs are my favorite. Great pics, I’m jealous.
Just wow! Diving with crocodiles! I’ve seen it done in Darwin too, but I would just be way too scared! Good in you
No crocs but I’d like to pet the cheetahs and lemurs 😀
The ostrich riding looks SO fun, I would love to try that! Definitely would do the crocodile cage diving as well.
Awesome post! Now that I saw you survived I would totally dive with the crocks! Good going!
And yet another adventure to add to the bucket list :-).
Reblogged this on James' World 2.
Wow! I don’t know that I would be brave enough to get in that water with the crocodile. Even though he would have to get through the cage first. Great photos! Looks like quite the adventure. 🙂
Awesome journey my friend. I think this little piggy will just live through you and your pictures 🙂 Happy travels – can’t wait to see what you do next. XOXO – Bacon
I love your enthusiasm, but I will skip the close up and personal with crocodiles and go right to petting the cheetahs! You walk the line and your blog is beautiful with a nice balance of photos and story.
I am super jealous, it’s one of my favourite places in South Africa! I went twice as a child (once as part of the grade 7 school camp) and I enjoyed it so much. Dying to go back again as an adult to experience it all again. My highlight at the school camp was doing the Cango Caves adventure tour in pitch darkness, all the lights were switched off and all we had were our torches to light the way… so exciting 😉
Those crocodile photos are incredible.
Those Lemurs are the cutest things ever!
You are an amazing human being! I would love to go diving with crocodiles (I’ve gone diving with sharks!), ride an ostrich, and hang out with a cheetah. You know how to live life, woman!
You should definitely do it all! A trip to South Africa is something you wouldn’t regret 😊
Is it true, crocodiles are more afraid of you than you are of them? No? Then, do they say, “You know, human beings taste just like chicken!” Explanation of the latter idea may be the result of people becoming chicken in such circumstances.
I don’t think so! With teeth like they have they mustn’t fear much!
Wow i follow your blog have been for a while, and you do some amazing things that i could only dream of doing, your my new inspiration from now on id love to know your secret, your just amazing and do amazing things!!! x x x
Yea! Caves 🙂
You are a daring girl! Congratulations for that.
I remember a zoology professor telling us that the largest single-cell being on land was the size of an ostrich egg. That is because it is the ostrich egg.
When I do this someday, I am going to do the cheetah and lemur thing.