Oudtshoorn
Two of the most prominent tourist attractions in South Africa belong to Oudtshoorn. Its world fame centres around the Cango Caves and the ostrich-feather boom during the Victorian and Edwardian eras.
The town is situated astride the Grobbelaars Riveron the fertile plain known as the Little Karoo, which lies between the great Swartberg and the forest-clad Outeniqua Mountains. Only 67 kilometres from the coast, Oudtshoorn is at an altitude of 305 metres and enjoys a healthy climate with invigorating dry winters and humid free hot summers. The annual rainfall average is 250 millimetres.
Oudtshoorn's name commemorates Baron Pieter van Rheede van Oudtshoorn, an appointed governor of the Cape who died at sea in 1773 before he could asume office.
Oudtshoorn is the principal centre of the Little Karoo, a prosporous farming district notable for the production of ostriches, lucerne, tobacco, grain, fruit, wine and cheese.
A modern Civic Centre, theatre, library, sports stadium; which is the venue for South Western Districts Rugby; and bowling greens; which are floodlit for night play are all in Baron van Rheede Street. An interesting 18-hole championship golf course fringes the town and is approached from the far end of Voortrekker Street. Squash courts adjoin the golf club-house. There are two tennis clubs and a flying club. Visitors to Oudtshoorn are made welcome at all sporting clubs.
Arbeidsgenot, the home of Senator Cornelius Jacob Langenhoven, (1873-1932) is in Jan van Riebeeck Road, near the corner of Church Street. Langenhoven, perhaps the most popular of all writers in Afrikaans, was a great poet and champion of the Afrikaans language. In 1918 he wrote 'Die Stem van Suid-Afrika' which was set to music by the Reverend M.L. de Villiers and became the South African National Anthem. The modest old house is a museum of Langenhoven's personal belongings which include a number of carvings of his literary creation, the elephant Herrie. In the garden there is a sundial designed by Langenhoven in 1926.
The C.P. Nel Museum contains an interesting collection of local antiquities illustraing life in the Oudtshoorn district during the ostrich feather boom and before. There is a representative collection of firearms and the vehicle section includes an ox-wagon made in 1837 and a chain-drive motorcar of 1898. There are also archaeological and geological exhibits and a collection of stuffed birds. The museum is housed in the original building of the Boy's High School; established in 1881. It is opposite the Civic Centre. The facade of the building is considered the finest stone-masonry workmanship in South Africa.
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