The Karoo

The Karoo is a vast semi-desert, which is bounded by the coastal mountain ranges in the south and west and by the Orange River in the south and east. In total the Great Karoo covers about 400.000 square kilometres, which is about one third of South Africa.

The word “Karoo” comes from the San word “kuru” meaning “dry” or “rough” describing the climate and the vegetation of the high plateau. The vegetation of the Karoo is dominated by the wide steppe – grassland that is preventing the soil from drying out.
Dolphin and Whale Cruise Click Here

Some big parts of the Karoo lost its original vegetation because of agricultural use – mostly through sheep farming. But the Karoo is still growing and they recon that the semi-desert almost doubled it size in the last 100 years.

There are two major attractions in the Karoo showing the original beauty of this rough and dry landscape – the “Karoo National Park” and the “Karoo Nature Reserve”.

Graaf Reinet
Graaf Reinet, founded 1786 and named after the governor of that time "Cornelis Jacob van de Graaff", lies in the middle of the Karoo National Reserve where another wonder of nature, Valley of Desolation, keep silent memories of times gone by.
Driving Adventures Click Here

Oudtshoorn & Cango Caves
Inland – about 55km north of George, Oudtshoorn is the Ostrich Capital of the world – about 400 ostrich farms are surrounding the town. Three of them are “show farms” where you can touch, feed, ride and eat the biggest bird in the world
LINK: www.oudtshoorninfo.com
Cango Caves:
Breathakting limestone formations in a huge natural cave – great fun when join a guided tour through it.
LINK: www.cangocaves.co.za
Flying Adventures: Click Here

Port Elizabeth Backpackers Travel Centre Budget tours, transport and accomodation, local and countrywide free travel advise from well travelled staff >> Click For More Details & Pictures

Not too far from the Karoo region is Addo National Park, home to roundabout 400 elephants. If you don't have the chance to go further north to see and explore Hluhluwe-Umfolozi or Kruger National Park, visit Addo. Addo is also home to the so-called BIG 7 (Elephant, rhino, lion, buffalo, leopard + whales and the Great White Shark). Also see www.addoadventure.com for some additional info and stuff to do in the Addo NP area.
also see the new tra:mag reports #4 "Addo Elephant National Park"

Check the tra:guide accommodation board for comments
Check the tra:guide trips & tours board for comments

tra:guide link tip (Karoo) http://www.owlhouse.info
see "Trips into the Addo National Park" further down the page