mzanzi addition 6 digital text2

Country lane, Calitzdorp Grobler du Preez/Shuttersock
De Rust, another charming little village that has been preserved from a
bygone century.
Now you are in ostrich country, and although the heyday of the feather
industry together with the fabulously wealthy ostrich barons have gone,
the ostrich meat, feather and leather industry is still a lucrative and vibrant
one, still forming much of the economic backbone of the district.
A number of ostrich farms in the area are open to visitors. Also dotted
throughout the district and the town are still many of the palatial homes of
the erstwhile ostrich barons, who formed such a large Jewish community
here that it was sometimes called Little Jerusalem.
Oudtshoorn also still has many fine examples of the sandstone architecture
unique to the area and the ostrich feather era, including the CP Nel
Museum. The museum houses exhibits depicting the role of the ostrich
trade in the town’s history and many other interesting displays in a building
that was once the Oudtshoorn Boys’ High School.
The town also has a rich cultural history and was the home of the great
Afrikaans language poet, playwright and author, CJ Langehoven. He wrote
the words of Die Stem, South Africa’s pre-1994 national anthem which still
forms part of the current national anthem. His house on Jan van Riebeeck
Drive is now a museum. As part of its ongoing cultural contribution,
Oudtshoorn annually hosts the Klein Karoo National Arts Festival, one of
South Africa’s largest and oldest arts festivals.
Other attractions in and around Oudtshoorn include the world-famous
Cango Caves, a crockodile and cheetah farm, the towering rock formations
of the beautiful Meiringspoort, hikes in the surrounding mountain ranges,
the Swartberg Pass with access to The Hell (Gamkaskloof), 4X4 routes,
wine tours, arts and crafts, and much more.
Like Rome, all roads lead to and from Oudtshoorn, with several roads
connecting it across the mountains to nearby Mossel Bay, George, Prince
Albert, Knysna and the Garden Route, and of course, along the R62 to
Uniondale, the start of the second, eastern section of Route 62. But that is
another story for another day and edition.